With that, there is absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind that the best middle eastern episodes of No Reservations took place in Beirut. Tony first travels to the city in 2006, where he must quickly evacuate due to the outbreak in violence between the Israelis and the Hezbollah. Not until 2010 are Tony & Co. able to return to fully experience the "Paris of the East." Not only are these two episodes the best of the Middle East, but they may just be the most compelling in the entire series. And why is that?
1. War. This one is easy. Anthony Bourdain is stuck in a hotel while violence breaks out around him. From planning escape routes to hanging out in a luxury hotel watching bombs fly through the air, it is scary stuff and tough guy Tony is appropriately scared out of his wits.
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| Aftermath of the 2006 conflict |
2. Redemption. Once Tony actually gets to return to Beirut in 2010, we finally get to see why this crazy place, where war is often the norm, was actually compared to Paris at one time. Tony has a good time when he returns and it's certainly heartwarming. He visits a vineyard, he talks to the locals, and most importantly he shows that Beirut is a place where real people live, just like any other.
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| Beirut. |
3. Food. Lebanese food may be one of my very favorite cuisines. Lamb kibbeh, hummus, falafel, lamb in sweet cherry sauce (this cherry sauce, which I've had in one of my very favorite Lebanese restaurants, is to die for, which seems oddly inappropriate to say considering the context of the show...)
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| Mmmm. Falafel. |
Tony really sums it up best when he says “This country seems to have it all, incredible food, good wine…and yet they just can’t seem to catch a break.” Indeed. But it still remains one of those places I would really like to visit one day. Plus, any place formerly referred to as "Paris" is required to be high on Mrs. Fashionista's places to experience.
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