Part 5: Best of Bourdain in the Middle East: Beirut I and II

Dear hearts, it is very likely we will not be able to provide all of our "best of Bourdain" posts prior to the 100th episode tonight. We will, however, try to get one more in (and we will also finish up the segment throughout the week).

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.

Aftermath of the 2006 conflict

Madame Portia's Crystal Ball: The Future of Brad and Angie

Happy Labor Day dear hearts!

Instead of lazing about the house, let us take a journey together to Madame Portia's House of Charms for a very special fortune telling session with two of our fave celebs, Brad and Angie. Come along now little ones. No need to be frightened...

As we enter her abode, Madame P takes one look at Mr. Pitt and freezes at  his uncanny resemblance to now director, former actor/ heartthrob Robert Redford ( Madame P informs us all that Mr. Redford once interviewed her about her powers of the occult for research on the Horse Whisperer).  After recovering her senses, Madame P informs our young Achilles that his resemblance to Bobby grows stronger everyday and shows him a photo of the young Redford to convince him of this fact. (Very similar to Pitt, is he not? Particularly that killer smile.)

 A Young Robert Redford.

Who is the Fiercest Fashionista in Hollywood?

Gentle People,

Recently, certain young starlets have been getting attention for being snazzy dressers, when they don't perhaps deserve such high praise--we're looking at you Lea Michele.While we very much appreciate Lea's style and her fantastic rendition of Don't Rain on My Parade, she doesn't really take a lot of chances with her attire. Don't get me wrong, we love most of her fashion choices, we just think there are others more worthy of our Fashionista title. All of our nominees for fiercest fashionista take chances with their wardrobe which we think the media all too often punishes them for. The media is, of course, wrong and Mrs. Fashionista is, of course, always right. And the nominees are:

1. Zoe Saldana

Here is the dress that first made us take notice of this Latina fashionista. A good bit of the press gave her hell for it.  For me, this was the dress at the 2010 Oscars. Zoe also made a statement in this beautiful orange Lanvin earlier this year.

Givenchy Couture

Lanvin