ElectricBoogaloo November 3, 2015 Share November 3, 2015 The cliché East meets West rings true in Istanbul as Bourdain explores its confluence of food, culture and politics, featuring a Turkish breakfast with old friend Esra, an oil wrestling tournament, and lunch at an Armenian restaurant near the Golden Horn. Bourdain leaves the urban sprawl of Istanbul for Sedef Island and a meal with author and philosopher Gündüz Vassaf and celebrated Turkish actress Serra Yilmaz. Link to comment
ElectricBoogaloo November 4, 2015 Author Share November 4, 2015 And now I will have this song stuck in my head all week! 1 Link to comment
Snarklepuss November 10, 2015 Share November 10, 2015 I was sorry to see the turn Istanbul has taken since Tony was last there. It seemed to me that he was putting extra effort into remaining politically correct while on camera. That cab driver was hamming it up for the camera, I'm sure, although he does seem a little bonkers. My stomach turned at that wrestling. I was fascinated by that poached egg in yogurt dish so I found a recipe online: http://hapanom.com/cilbir-turkish-poached-eggs-in-yogurt/ Link to comment
Julia November 10, 2015 Share November 10, 2015 And now I will have this song stuck in my head all week! First place I went too :) Link to comment
Padma November 10, 2015 Share November 10, 2015 (edited) I was sorry to see the turn Istanbul has taken since Tony was last there. It seemed to me that he was putting extra effort into remaining politically correct while on camera. That cab driver was hamming it up for the camera, I'm sure, although he does seem a little bonkers. My stomach turned at that wrestling. I was fascinated by that poached egg in yogurt dish so I found a recipe online: http://hapanom.com/cilbir-turkish-poached-eggs-in-yogurt/ Interesting dish, cilbir, thanks for posting that. Sounds like something I'd never have tried otherwise, but that blog makes it sound/look pretty interesting. Haven't seen the episode yet. Istanbul has been so highly recommended to me as a destination that I was very disappointed when Tony went there for No Res. Maybe something else was wrong, but he really seemed to hate it for no reason. Sounds like he was trying a fresh look with CNN, but why do so many of his shows now involve martial arts, wrestling, etc.? It can't just be because he's taken up..is it jiu-jitsu?...casually. Is it really -that- integral to the culture vs. some other things? There's something about the CNN shows that doesn't appeal to me as much as No Res did, even when they go to the same place. Not sure why. Edited November 10, 2015 by Padma 1 Link to comment
biakbiak November 10, 2015 Share November 10, 2015 (edited) He has often featured martial arts even before he started practicing. However, oil wrestling is huge in Turkey. I have actually been to Kırkpınar which is the longest running sports competition in the world. Edited November 10, 2015 by biakbiak Link to comment
Snarklepuss November 11, 2015 Share November 11, 2015 Haven't seen the episode yet. Istanbul has been so highly recommended to me as a destination that I was very disappointed when Tony went there for No Res. Maybe something else was wrong, but he really seemed to hate it for no reason. Sounds like he was trying a fresh look with CNN, but why do so many of his shows now involve martial arts, wrestling, etc.? It can't just be because he's taken up..is it jiu-jitsu?...casually. Is it really -that- integral to the culture vs. some other things? There's something about the CNN shows that doesn't appeal to me as much as No Res did, even when they go to the same place. Not sure why. Interesting that you should bring that up. I've actually liked his CNN shows but they are from a different angle. The No Res. shows were definitely more focused on food and chefs, which I miss in this incarnation. I find that the CNN shows are definitely "grittier" if that makes any sense. Not that he didn't get pretty gritty on No. Res. but I'm talking in general. We just had two shows in a row in places he's been before but I sensed a darker note on each compared to his earlier visit. Perhaps that's because of specific changes in the political climate or culture in those places, but it could also be what the show chooses to emphasize. As far as martial arts goes, I think he's always had an interest in that even before he took it up in any real way and has featured it on his show going back at least a decade. His wife is obsessed with it and I'm sure she had an influence on him to get into it himself. I have to hand it to him because it can't be easy at his age. I'm 2 years younger and I wouldn't want to be just now starting that. Link to comment
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