BOURDAIN's stunning love letter to Mexico and Mexicans

[Atman]

11. Latest episode of his show is Mexico City.

Last edited Mon May 5, 2014, 11:33 AM - Edit history (1)

Stunning. A little tough to watch at first, as it opened with the mind-blowing number of drug cartel related deaths in the city, complete with some pretty shocking video footage. But man, once he moved off into surrounded areas like Oaxaca it was amazing. I was very hungry! I've only been to Cancun (and Tulum and Playa Del Carmen)...Cancun is totally not "Mexico." It felt more like I was in Miami. I've had more authentic Mexican food here in Connecticut than we were able to find in Cancun. But the places Bourdain stopped at outside of Mexico City were just incredible. I believe the cook he speaks of above was featured. He said how corrupt the whole place was. He had a five-star restaurant that is sold out every night, and how he's been shut down because government officials would walk in, demand a table, and if he told them he was full and they'd have to wait, they'd call the police, kick everyone out and shut the place down for "health code" violations. I guess I can agree that it looks to be an "extraordinary place," but probably not it the same way Bourdain means it. It looks damn scary to me -- yet I felt perfectly comfortable walking around Thailand with just a backpack and no one spoke a word of English.