Tony Bourdain in Saudi

luckyfatima — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:19:44 +0000

Did any of you catch the episode of Tony in Saudi? As usual the show had sensational segments in which he ate the “weird stuff” that average Joes of whatever nation don’t usually eat—bugs in Cambodia and Mexico, pig anus in Colombia—this time it was lizard curry and roasted baby camel including the hump and none of the Saudis he was with had ever had either one. But they had more typical foods too, including a stop at Al Baik, the Saudi fried chicken joint. The show was surprisingly sensitive. I am wary of all the racist and Islamophobic barbs that spike any mainstream show that touches on Islam and/or the Middle East…I must say that I was expecting the worst. Tony was understandably curious and unapologetic about things he didn’t fully understand, but at the same time respectful and not the least bit patronizing or insulting. A pleasant surprise, really. He admitted that he didn’t know what to expect and that he had been propogandized to think of Saudi in only a negative light. He refers to Saudi Arabia as a country about which Americans have little understanding and even less sympathy. But he actually liked his trip. Catch it in a re-run if you can.

Talk Islam » anti-racism

Tony Bourdain in Saudi