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Blunt-spoken Bourdain is bliss

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I have a new love in my life — Anthony Bourdain, the star of CNN’s Parts Unknown. If you happen to be my husband, you may want to stop reading now.

Bourdain is a tall, lanky Yank with sufficient irreverence for the world of mucky-mucks to make my black heart quiver. The fact that he has a sexy little overbite and curly grey hair just adds buckets to his charm.

His show, for anyone who’s never seen it, is a travelogue/social commentary. So far I’ve taken a road trip to Colombia and heard the sorrow of the people harmed by the drug trade. I’ve been part of a journey to the Punjab in India on a mountain road that made my heart stand still. We’ve been to Peru, and many more — all while seeing what people really eat.  In fact, nothing is off-limits for Bourdain to chow down on — except maybe humble pie.

But the thing that really attracts me is his honesty. He’s not afraid to tell the fat cats (some literally) of the Food Network just how lame he thinks their efforts to bring crappy cuisine to the American masses really are. He even takes on the reigning princess of the sighing sect — Rachael Ray, the cute little New Yorker who uses lots of spice to cover up a lack of talent.

The reason I bring up his gutsy outspoken trait is because I envy it.

I also like his efforts to uncover the seamy side of cities he visits like Tokyo and, most recently, Mexico City. There he tag-teamed with a photographer who goes out every night to take pictures of the latest citizens to lose their lives in the ongoing highly unsuccessful war on drugs. The level of corruption in that beautiful country is mind-boggling as well as sad beyond belief. It was horrible to learn the plight of journalists there who dare to expose that criminality. In the last while, over 80 reporters have been murdered. The ones still alive who’ve written exposés live in secret under armed guard.

As critical as we are of every level of government in this country, I personally cannot think of one instance where a journalist has been killed for doing their job in Canada. I’m pretty sure there’s probably more than one politician who’s entertained thoughts of mayhem, but to the best of my knowledge that remains just an idle thought on a bad day.

The other thing that amazes me about Bourdain is his admission to being a drug addict in the past. He’s clean now but he doesn’t take that fact for granted. Because of his history, he’s able to offer a unique focus on that world.

 

I think we could use more of his kind in this world — talented, timely and talkative. In a world of shallow super stars, Bourdain has my vote for sexiest man of the year anytime.