Guess you could say the late Anthony Bourdain had a love-hate-love relationship with Buffalo.
In an episode of his Travel Channel series, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, that aired in 2009, he visited some typical Rust Belt cities, Detroit and Buffalo, as well as Baltimore.
In the segment featuring Buffalo, he visits Ulrich’s Tavern, the oldest continuously operating tavern in Western New York (since 1868!). As he walks in, Bourdain describes Buffalo’s charm: “Experience the basic, delightful duality of the Buffalo experience – cold and harsh outside, warm and hospitable inside.”
Although Bourdain’s show features the abandoned and desolate areas of Buffalo, he does reference our amazing architecture: “What is surprising to me is how much of its former glory still stands. I wasn’t expecting to see so many architectural treasures.” And of course, as a chef, he has to try our local specialties, preferring beef on weck over chicken wings!
By the time he ended his stay here, he said, “There is a perverse joy of being alive and living in Buffalo even in the coldest part of winter at night in what I call a blizzard.”
That same year, in the interview, Chewing the Fat: No Reservations’ Anthony Bourdain with WAMU 88.5, American University Radio, Bourdain talked about the Buffalo No Reservations episode:
“Buffalo is a different culture. I look at Buffalo and Buffalonians as a different culture now. Ten years ago, I would have looked at them as those poor guys who live upstate, and I’m lucky enough to live in Manhattan. That’s the way I would have seen it 10 years ago. Now I see it as a very distinct personality, a very distinct culture with its own architecture, its own kinda feel. It’s actually a weirdly wonderful place. Even in the winter. I think it took me traveling around the world to get to that point.”
Thanks Mr. Bourdain, for recognizing the City of Good Neighbors for who we really are and what makes Buffalo so special!
Read More: What Anthony Bourdain Said About Buffalo Is Spot On | https://961thebreeze.com/what-anthony-bourdain-said-about-buffalo-is-spot-on/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referralThanks Mr. Bourdain, for recognizing the City of Good Neighbors for who we really are!