Thoughts on Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown in Detroit?

**old guy** · November-11-13, 11:13 PM

I thought it was pretty good. Found it interesting and I thought it made the city interesting as well.

**Spartan** · November-12-13, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by dmike76

It doesn't have to be Eastern Market. My point is, show one thing, one. thing. that was rehabbed or shows that Detroit is not 'Chernobyl' as he put it. But, whatever....there's nothing we can do about it now and life in the D goes on.

You mean like the new pop up dining that is run by a top-notch chef that moved back to the city to be part of the recent "comeback"? His show focused on the gritty nature of Detroit and the unique entrepreneurial environment that exists here. Showing a high-end restaurant in Downtown/Midtown or something would not really fit that POV. Showing the "non-Chernobyl" parts of Detroit likens it much more to other cities around the country. The show was not trying to prove that parts of Detroit were like Chicago, NY, Buffalo, or wherever else, it was aimed at exploring the unique aspects of the city.

**eno** · November-12-13, 12:05 PM

I was hoping for more exposure to restaurants and eateries in Detroit and less on the abandoned houses. Bourdain was hung up on the ruin all around him and trying to explain it. What food was found at the Packard plant?

Coneys are way overrated in this town. It's a glorified hot dog.

**Spartan** · November-12-13, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by eno

I was hoping for more exposure to restaurants and eateries in Detroit and less on the abandoned houses. Bourdain was hung up on the ruin all around him and trying to explain it. What food was found at the Packard plant?

Coneys are way overrated in this town. It's a glorified hot dog.

You spelled glorious wrong

**noise** · November-12-13, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by eno

I was hoping for more exposure to restaurants and eateries in Detroit and less on the abandoned houses. Bourdain was hung up on the ruin all around him and trying to explain it. What food was found at the Packard plant?

Coneys are way overrated in this town. It's a glorified hot dog.

The show isn't strictly a food show.

**Bobl** · November-13-13, 01:58 AM

I liked it. He showed the ugliness, but also respect. He could do another half hour completely about food, though. That, along with live music, might be the least ugly part of this mean little town.

**noula** · November-13-13, 02:07 AM

Does anyone know the location for Greedy Greg's featured onBourdain's Parts Unknown? I could not make out any of the street signs in the clip.

Thanks

**East Detroit** · November-14-13, 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by noula

Does anyone know the location for Greedy Greg's featured onBourdain's Parts Unknown? I could not make out any of the street signs in the clip.

Thanks

Seymour, across Chalmers from Mt Calvary.

**sturge** · November-14-13, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by noula

Does anyone know the location for Greedy Greg's featured onBourdain's Parts Unknown? I could not make out any of the street signs in the clip.

Thanks

I am curious as well.

**sturge** · November-14-13, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by eno

I was hoping for more exposure to restaurants and eateries in Detroit and less on the abandoned houses. Bourdain was hung up on the ruin all around him and trying to explain it. What food was found at the Packard plant?

Coneys are way overrated in this town. It's a glorified hot dog.

He was here before on his old show, No Reservations. That concentrated more on the eateries. I know Polonia was one of them.

**swingline** · November-15-13, 05:07 PM

Fox 2 Let It Rip segment last night had some pretty good debate on Bourdain's show. http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/category/237114/let-it-rip

Steve Hood thought the show was racist in its portrayal of black Detroiters, and in its musings about whether the community building efforts of some of our more recently arrived citizens [[read, white folks) would save the city from further collapse. He is pissed at Charlie LeDuff and wants him to turn in his black card. Hilarious.

Mr. Hood made some good points though, and at a minimum exposed the show's kind of muddled thesis. In other words, the show didn't explain very well it's purpose in traveling to Detroit in the first place. On the other hand, the show never suggested that it was seeking to present a comprehensive "balanced" look. Where indeed is the law that says that all media doing a Detroit story has to inform the country that not all Detroit black folks are poor and downtrodden. All in all, the LIR folks had a decent debate. Good TV.

**401don** · November-15-13, 07:40 PM

I think Bourdain did mention that the middle class, both black and white, left the city when he was listing the many reasons for the city's problems and I agree it's not his job to explain everything. That being said, it brings up a good point. Most outsiders don't realize that it wasn't the white people leaving that pushed the city into bankruptcy. That happened a long time ago. It was when 200,000 black middle class packed up and left that pushed the city over the edge.

**Danny** · November-15-13, 08:45 PM

Anyone can to make documentary about Detroit. Most of the journalists and filmmakers just reports on the negative views of its black and blighted hoods. Anthony Bourdain didn't get enough facts about our city. If he wants to document Detroit, stay in its hoods and explore it and read some history. Detroit back then did have its rich history now its long gone. Bourdain will not get a Pulitzer, Murrow or a Peabody Award for a long time. His report on Detroit SUCKS!

To all of your journalists who document about the Detroit. Put some hope in our hoods. Detroiters want to see people from all over the world come to our city to live, work and play.

**Detroitdave** · November-16-13, 09:06 AM

Hum... What are my thoughts on Mr Bourdains parts unknown.
Predictable and Disappointing . The packard plant and the ruin porn has been covered for YEARS ! people from Berlin to Beijing are fully aware of the ruin porn .
Thge only thing he didn't cover was the train station , maybe it was too easy
by choosing Mr Le Duff as his "guide" he pick the perfect person to show the "parts" unknown .
Mr Le Duff reminds me of the Circus ringmaster of the side show balker.
"come see the dying city of Detroit ! step right up "
This was neither fair or balance nor do I think it was going to .
Charlie is good at a lot of stuff like busting the wayne county exc balls , and charile has a Glee about showing the ugly side of Detroit .
But like some one said earlier , when is this gonna get old for Charlie ?
So much more could have been shown , I notice very little in the way of positive .
If I was seeing this in the international market , I would think " why in the would would anyone want to visit Detroit "
Great Job Mr Le Duff and crew !

**NoHeartAnthony** · November-19-13, 12:35 PM

The fact that people need a thesis or some sort of statement from Bourdain just speaks to the lack of critical thinking in today's culture.

I thought it was pretty obvious. You have a city that has been ravaged and groups of people dealing with it in certain ways. From the guy inhabiting the Packard Plant, to the chef who feels he can transform the food scene, to the firefighters who bond together through their love for each other and meals. The insulated Salvadorans who share their own little secrets compared to the random BBQ joint waving people in.

**NoHeartAnthony** · November-19-13, 12:36 PM

Racist? Greedy Greg and his wife was about the best, most genuine portrayal on there.

**noise** · November-19-13, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitdave

If I was seeing this in the international market , I would think " why in the would would anyone want to visit Detroit "

In reality, why would anyone? Would you fly to France for their equivalent of Eastern Market?

**Detroitdave** · November-19-13, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by noise

In reality, why would anyone? Would you fly to France for their equivalent of Eastern Market?

I know several people from Europe that HAVE ,visit Detroit, and I know a couple that currently live here.

One of my European friends , who has lived here for 5 years ,also saw the show and was disappointed , thinking he could have shown more interesting side of the city I.e Moca ect

Surprisingly , despite a lot of negative press, lot of Europeans and Americans are very interest in visiting Detroit and curious as how we are getting along and once here know better than to believe "all is lost"

To answer your other question I have visited Rome for the equivalent of Eastern Market ,Campo de Fiorio , the forum ect .

I would gladly visit Seattle's market or another city's market to compare , I believe it's a part of a city's history and charm.

Just a thought

**noise** · November-19-13, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Detroitdave

I know several people from Europe that HAVE ,visit Detroit, and I know a couple that currently live here.

One of my European friends , who has lived here for 5 years ,also saw the show and was disappointed , thinking he could have shown more interesting side of the city I.e Moca ect

Surprisingly , despite a lot of negative press, lot of Europeans and Americans are very interest in visiting Detroit and curious as how we are getting along and once here know better than to believe "all is lost"

To answer your other question I have visited Rome for the equivalent of Eastern Market ,Campo de Fiorio , the forum ect .

I would gladly visit Seattle's market or another city's market to compare , I believe it's a part of a city's history and charm.

Just a thought

Yes, obviously we have tourists.

But will any television show be enough in most cases? Did you travel to Rome for only the market? I surely doubt that.

Detroit is struggling. This is no secret. A television show isn't going to make the difference. Most people would rather vacation in a better place.

**Pam** · November-26-13, 06:28 AM

Found it on You Tube:

http://youtu.be/xRWCfk4VzvQ

**southofbloor** · November-30-13, 01:12 PM

Loved Bourdain. I think he enjoyed and respects Detroit and Detroiters - I thought that came through on the show.

Originally Posted by East Detroit

Seymour, across Chalmers from Mt Calvary.

Thanks for locating Greedy Greg's EastD. One of the things I miss most about Detroit is a great set of ribs, and arguing about ribs. Most people in Windsor Detroit have strong opinions about who has the best ribs, what the right way to prepare them might be, and what kind of sauce or dry rub might be the right finisher. My Aunt Naine's dry rub is phenomenal...

I managed to find a decent Kentucky bbq place here in the deep white north called "Aft" so am getting by.

**WaCoTS** · December-06-13, 11:06 AM

finally watched this on Youtube [[i dont have TV). anyway, thought i'd share my impressions:

LOL you dont eat a coney with your hands

i think they were fuckin with him at Duly's haha. you eat a chili dog with your hands. anyway, Duly wasn't even there.

hmmm....yeah, my thoughts by the first commercial break are that this is lame. lots of typical ruin footage, the typical elegiac babbling, coney faux pas, and now gay colored lights on the ruins. [[sorry if i just offended any gays).

ok, so now theyre in Cutters, but instead of having the amazing stuffed burgers and bucket of beer, theyre drinking vodka and rehashing Kwame shit.

ok, hitting corner party store & drinking outdoors, thumbs up; choosing Stella Artois instead of Colt45, thumbs down. more ruins instead of food.

neighborhood bbq, cool, commercial break.

more shots of ruins means we're back. ok now we're talking about the fire department instead of food...

oh wait, we're eating with the men of Engine 23. cool. but something tells me that they dont usually have lamb & crab, except when TV stars are around...

commercial break.

ok, now its hip Guns & Butter silliness time. Charlie LeDuff seems confused and sarcastic. thumbs up for him, down for Bourdain.

Charlie LeDuff is a philistine. thumbs up. caviar shit, thumbs DOWN. Charlie works in some more sarcasm which Bourdain may have caught on to, or not. Continues to make mockery of yuppy cuisine & establishment, thumbs up. yuppy chick off to the right seems highly amused. Bourdain calls fancy chef a hero for coming back to Detroit from NYC to set up shop. several more minutes of Midtown backslappery and localvore bragging...failure to explain the social factors in play, ie, why would there be an epicurean restaurant like this, with affluent patrons in the middle of a poverty area. on second thought, this might be for the best.

commercial break

ok, we're eating with latinos in SW now, thankfully, no more caviar.

more wailing about the problems of detroit. Mower Gang. cool. i dont see myself in the background for a change. thumbs up.

commercial break.

urban farming. audio curiously cuts out during the part where he is narrating what sounded like its about to be his take on whether Detroit will be taken over by "entrepreneurs" or stay working class.

overall im not super impressed, but i dont feel like demanding my 45min back. he was clearly wayyy too distracted by the ruinzzzzz though.