Part 7: Best of Bourdain in Africa: Liberia

So, choosing an African episode for No Reservations is difficult. Why? Well, because they are usually quite serious and the Tony humor we love somehow flies out the window.  And Tony is particularly affected by the violence of Liberia's past. Yet, we chose this episode as the best of Africa, you say? Well, yes we did and here's why.

Market in Monrovia

1. The Women at Duala Market. Tony arrives in the capital of Liberia, Monrovia, and travels to Duala Market, which features all kinds of exotic food items, including, but not limited to monkey meat. While there, we learn that ladies hold the power at this market and one woman describes how the women at Duala Market stood up to the soldiers, ending the final battle of the Civil War. Tears.


2. Ties to America. Before leaving for Liberia, Tony initially visits a Liberian expat named Joe in NYC, who had to leave his children behind during the civil war and has not seen them since. Once in Liberia, Tony meets up with Joe's son, Rochford. Rochford is planning to attend college and asks Tony to take a family keepsake, a bottle with pictures of Joe and his wife, back to his father. Tony tells Rochford he would be honored to deliver this gift to Rochford’s father Joe in Staten Island. More tears.


3. Hang Ten. Finally, we see Tony at the beach. He takes a surf lesson with Liberia's first professional surfer. Tony's got food poisoning and the lesson's a bust, but afterwards, he helps local fishermen pull in their catch, while the local kids take turns going out into the surf on a surfboard for the first time. Loved this. More tears. But happy ones this time.

And so, that is the best of Liberia and the best of Africa. And it provides for a lot of very special moments, not too many laughs, but excellent t.v.