Make no mistake: Anthony Bourdain is this blog’s spirit animal. That said, No Reservations hasn’t always been a perfect television show: Both Anthony and the show’s jump-cuts can be corny, and sometimes, all that “personality” can get in the way of learning about the food. But we think this season — as the show nears its 100th episode — No Reservations has really been getting it right, with a good balance of travel/history info and the food stuff. (Hey, Anthony himself will be the first to tell you that he’s a late bloomer.) In the last few weeks, we’ve seen Bourdain tackle Liberia and Dubai, and both were pretty illuminating.
This week, however, No Reservations went to Rome, and it was everything we’ve always wanted this show to be — informative as much as it was beguiling. Like the best of Bourdain’s writing, this episode told you lots of things, but it didn’t give away the store. In a hilarious but respectable turn, Bourdain did his best to not tell you where he ate — so as not to turn them all into tourist traps — but explain to you what he ate. (And if anyone knows where in town we can score Tagliolini cacio e pepe with that amazing cheese-crust bowl thing, PLEASE tell us.) He also paid grand tribute to the city of Rome, with plenty of monument footage, sure, but also lots of the little things. Oh, and it was all in black and white, too. (Cue angry Travel Channel viewers.) All in all, it was one of the more transporting hours of TV we’ve seen in a while. Now if only they could find a way to mash up this show with Hung.
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I actually hated this episode! The black and white spin was SO ridiculously pretentious that it pissed me off. I’m a true fan of the show and of the big three travel foody shows they have on the Travel Channel in general, but I’ve been realizing lately just how spoiled and bourgeois of a tone his work really is. And just the simple fact that it’s been mixing in with his respect for the arrogance of affluent Roman culture (this is a parallel for any culture he visits of course but especially for the most “gourmet” of them all) just wrung me the wrong way. Bourdain at the end of the day, is a borderline Samantha Brown, but a lot dirtier, but still crazy pampered and has the want to be so. He’s like this despite his talking down on that whole touristy aspect of traveling. I would’ve been completely able to forgive his hypocrisy if it weren’t for his disdain for his more “modest” experiences in Africa, especially from the vibe I felt from him in the Liberia episode. I’m not saying that he’s a bad guy or a typical xenophobic tourist; but he needs to realize just how SPOILED he is. And besides, there wasn’t anything new I saw in that episode at all but a whole bunch of “passionate” Romans loving their own smell… Which was a pungent aroma of “existential” crap!
I believe that No reservations is one of the best Travel Channel aired TV shows. I really liked the episode in Rome, filmed in black-and-white, as it definitely gets us into the Italian La-Familia-style atmosphere. I also found some very classy photos made during this episode, also black-and-white http://www.photographymojo.com/2010/08/no-reservation-in-rome-the-classy-side-of-anthony-bourdain/
I loved, loved, loved the Rome episode. Shot in black & white, the mysterious back streets of Rome & references to Fellini, Marcello & Sophia were ‘laugh out loud’ wonderful. And that pasta Cece & Pepe had my mouth watering. It looked like everyone had a grand time making this episode. I know I had a grand time watching it. Thank you again for great TV.
My mom and I just went to Rome over the weekend and ate the Cacio e Pepe here, twice – believe me, it is ALL THAT and more, and yes it’s in the cheese wafer – HEAVEN
Try some pizza too, I had one with eggplant (melanzana/aubergine) and ricotta that was to die for, it’s on the first page of the menu separate from the other pizzas 
It’s busy though – book ahead if you want an outside table!
http://www.romasparita.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187791-d1191220-Reviews-Ristorante_Roma_Sparita-Rome_Lazio.html