S04.E01: Shanghai

[ElectricBoogaloo]

In the season 4 premiere of "Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown," Tony visits Shanghai, witnessing firsthand the effects of China's booming economy on the vast nation. He explores aspects of Chinese history and culture that still resonate today amid the modern city's flashing lights and newly-minted status as China's capitalist cornerstone. And in true Bourdain fashion, he seeks out the best street food.

Man, this episode made me hungry!

[terrymct]

I enjoyed this one.  He showed high end and every day eating and did a good job discussing the changes happening in the city.   I want to go to everyone one of those little local places she showed.

[COESpiral]

All of his China shows turn out to be total food porn shows.  I've made it a mission in life to find someplace in the US that can make dumplings like the ones found in that restaurant or the one he showed during his No Reservations Szechwan show.  Or his Harbin show.  Or Beijing.  In other words, he needs to visit China more often so I can live vicariously.

[Julia]

My daughter is studying mandarin, and she went to Shanghai last summer on a school trip. She said that because of Shanghai's status as a newly rich city, the only restaurants their group could afford to eat in were not very good tourist restaurants (which sort of broke my heart, because Shanghai is my favorite regional cuisine). 

[Athena]

I always enjoy his Asia episodes. I was in China (but not Shanghai) earlier in the year. The cost of living has become expensive there and buying food can be more expensive than in NA actually. It's a shame that small, local places are dieing out.

 

I was slightly annoyed by the investment banker because he had a patronizing air. I've seen this kind of behaviour in Chinese culture before and it applies to any group that becomes rich fast. Still, I didn't enjoy him making Tony do the accent or the whole wine flaunting business. The whole segment felt awkward and slightly gauche. 

[ElectricBoogaloo]

All of his China shows turn out to be total food porn shows.

This is so true! There are some episodes that are more about the culture and the politics but whenever he goes to China my major takeaway is that I am hungry and I want to eat everything that I just saw.

 

I agree that the capitalist guy was a bit much but that his type of behavior is very common with people who are more new money. Even when you disregard the obscene amount of money he is spending, what I find more irritating attitude behind it. I guess it just seems very high school to me. I mean, it's your money so do what you want with it but I feel like a lot of it is rooted in wanting to show other people how much money you have (rather than spending the money because something is your passion and you obsess about it 24/7).

[Athena]

One commentary Tony made that I liked was the remark about being a "foodie". I'm not crazy about this term myself, and Tony is right, when applied to most East Asians or Chinese, it feels like an oxymoron. I don't think I've ever met more than one or two Chinese people who don't enjoy good food. It's really important in the culture. Food is talked about a lot. Everyone has opinions on where to get the best of such and such. I always find it funny when people ask if I am a foodie because it's a given. I'm not a big fan of the actual name of it though.

 

I mean, it's your money so do what you want with it but I feel like a lot of it is rooted in wanting to show other people how much money you have (rather than spending the money because something is your passion and you obsess about it 24/7).

 

I think this is fairly typical of most newly developed groups and cultures, but I see this a lot in Chinese culture as well. It bugs my Dad and did when we watched the episode together. It's just something the nouveau riche do I guess.

[Julia]

I think this is fairly typical of most newly developed groups and cultures, but I see this a lot in Chinese culture as well. It bugs my Dad and did when we watched the episode together. It's just something the nouveau riche do I guess.

Yeah, New York has been kind of a temple of that for the last thirty years or so. I guess my question is, is it a newly rich thing or a newly not poor thing?

[Surrealist]

Man, this episode made me hungry!

 

Me too!

 

I just started watching this show last week because I watch Lisa Ling's show after.

 

This show made me want to head to Shanghai to find those restaurants and food stalls. And yeah, it's nice to see that China's nouveau riche are just as obnoxious as ours are.

 

My daughter is studying mandarin, and she went to Shanghai last summer on a school trip. She said that because of Shanghai's status as a newly rich city, the only restaurants their group could afford to eat in were not very good tourist restaurants (which sort of broke my heart, because Shanghai is my favorite regional cuisine).

 

Julia: How lucky for your daughter to study in Shanghai. That sucks about the expensive cuisine. I guess it'll be years before I try to visit if it's that expensive. ;)

 

What else did she say about her residency?

Edited October 7, 2014 by Surrealist

[Julia]

Julia: How lucky for your daughter to study in Shanghai. That sucks about the expensive cuisine. I guess it'll be years before I try to visit if it's that expensive. ;)

 

What else did she say about her residency?

 

She was studying in the bedroom suburb of Flushing :)

 

She loved it, with the exception of the smog.

[Surrealist]

She was studying in the bedroom suburb of Flushing :)

She loved it, with the exception of the smog.

I think that's a fantastic opportunity for any person. I would love to visit Shanghai.

I have heard the smog is really bad there. :(

[Julia]

Her school does summer semesters in China. I'm looking at sending her.

[Hana Chan]

I agree that the capitalist guy was a bit much but that his type of behavior is very common with people who are more new money. Even when you disregard the obscene amount of money he is spending, what I find more irritating attitude behind it. I guess it just seems very high school to me. I mean, it's your money so do what you want with it but I feel like a lot of it is rooted in wanting to show other people how much money you have (rather than spending the money because something is your passion and you obsess about it 24/7).

 

That's very much an aspect of Chinese culture, that Anthony has explored before. You feel an obligation to show your wealth. That's why weddings tend to be so large and so lavish and you serve things like shark fin soup - just to show that you can afford it. Lavish, even garish displays of wealth are more than expected because the last thing you want to appear to be is cheap or worse... poor. I agree that a lot of that display was about just showing off a rather obscene amount of wealth and it was telling that Anthony was trying to point out that while China is still (technically) a communist country, what's happening on the ground is very different and there are people who are amassing huge amounts of wealth.

[HurricaneVal]

I am waaaaay late to this party.  I had no idea that Tony had a new show on CNN, but I've caught the last two episodes and I like it.  It is certainly edgier than his last show (The Layover) and I think it has more bite than No Reservations.  I see this is the fourth season.  Wow.  Have I been out of touch, but I really cannot stand cable news, so I have it selected out of my channel lineup and TV listings.

 

But...but...I'm going to have to look up this Shanghai episode from On Demand.  I was in Shanghai in May 2014 for three days on business, and I'd love to see if Tony went to any of the places or walked past anything familiar.  I had a blast in Shanghai, and would love to go back.