Anthony Bourdain kind of disses the Burgh a little (Pittsburgh: hotel, pierogies)

[fleetiebelle]

Bourdain spoke at Heinz Hall this week: Eat this, Anthony Bourdain!

It's a principle that seems to apply when he's abroad, filming his traveling food show "No Reservations." But when asked by an audience member if he would consider doing a show in Pittsburgh's Strip District, he was dismissive, asking if Pittsburgh had any indigenous foods. And when another asked what he ate when he was on his book tour, making stops in Middle American cities such as this, he said he usually "grabs a can of Pringles" out of the vending machine.


It felt like a slight of the city. Because hey, while it might not be a food destination, we all gotta eat.


Sure, Guy Fieri has bleach tips, but he's championed several of the city's iconic eateries. In the end, he's one of only a few that celebrate America's indigenous cuisine, for better or for worst. A Primanti Bros. sandwich is no Namibian warthog rectum, but it's ours. So where's the respect, Bourdain?

I get that Pittsburgh isn't really a foodie town but I've seen Bourdain's show, and he was pleasantly surprised by what cities like Baltimore and Buffalo and Cleveland have to offer. Why not Pittsburgh?

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

Bourdain spoke at Heinz Hall this week: Eat this, Anthony Bourdain!

I get that Pittsburgh isn't really a foodie town but I've seen Bourdain's show, and he was pleasantly surprised by what cities like Baltimore and Buffalo and Cleveland have to offer. Why not Pittsburgh?

He might classify Pittsburgh as the same kind of city as Baltimore, Buffalo, and Cleveland....and since he's already done a 'Rust Belt' show...adding a Pittsburgh, you'd have to basically do a 'Rust Belt II' program.

That's a hard thing to do, figuring he is very international with his show...and the immense amount of cuisines around the world.

[creepsinc]

Foodies make me sick.

[sr1234]

Ok, I am with Bourdain on this one. Sorry, but I would pick Pringles over a Primanti's sandwich any day. If I was offered a meal in either Cleveland, Buffalo, Baltimore, or Pittsburgh....Pittsburgh would be last on my list.

Guy Fieri? Seriously? I don't know how basic Italian food can be considered a Pittsburgh icon. That is pretty sad if generic pasta is the best you can offer.

[BrianTH]

I can understand the point that there isn't a particularly interesting story to tell about food in Pittsburgh. And I am fine with that--we've got good food, and that is enough for me.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

I was at Heinz Hall when he spoke and he really wasn't dismissive. He politely danced around the fact that he just wasn't interested in a sandwich with coleslaw and french fries on it.

This is the guy who's traveled the world and ate the local dishes of many many cities. When you've seen and ate it all, I don't think it's a slight on a city if you pass on their local gimmicky dish.

[fleetiebelle]

I understand the Primanti's thing, because I'm not a fan either, but it seems like throwing the baby out with the bathwater to not give any of Pittsburgh's food traditions a shot. The Strip on a weekend morning, or church ladies making pierogies. I'm not a fine dining person, but I can't believe that there aren't any chefs making interesting food in the whole city. And not even for TV. If he's saying he'd rather eat Doritos in his hotel room than try someplace like Legume, then that is kind of a snub.

Guy Fieri? Seriously? I don't know how basic Italian food can be considered a Pittsburgh icon. That is pretty sad if generic pasta is the best you can offer.

I take it you've never seen Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The guy may be a douche, but he seems to love Pittsburgh, and there are plenty of great divey places to check out. Maybe that's Bourdain's problem--we're just not upscale enough.

[AaronPGH]

As much as I dislike Cleveland as a city, one of the areas they really shine is their dining scene. They have a ton of star power with money investing in new concepts there, something that Pittsburgh has failed to do so far.

Up until a few years ago I would have put us as one of the worst large cities in the nation for foodies. I do think things are really starting to pick up steam though. A lot of big gaps in our restaurant scene have been filled lately, and more are on their way. The farm to table concept is one that Pittsburgh seems to be embracing, and we have some pretty serious farms in our region to lean on for that. Legume in Regent Square is an example (still one of the best restaurants I've been to anywhere), and Salt of the Earth is coming in the next month or two. I also think there are a few local chefs (Kevin Sousa) who have the potential to really make a name for themselves on a national scale over the next few years if they choose to. That would go a long way towards getting some attention from people other than Guy Fieri.

[BrianTH]

When I first got here in 1993, the restaurant scene really did suck. In the early 2000s it seemed to take off, and now there are more than enough worthy places to keep us happy, with new ones opening all the time.

[sr1234]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

I take it you've never seen Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The guy may be a douche, but he seems to love Pittsburgh, and there are plenty of great divey places to check out. Maybe that's Bourdain's problem--we're just not upscale enough.

Yes, I have seen the episodes where Guy has ventured to Pittsburgh. Again, nothing special about the dives he has visited. In fact, it is embarrassing for Pittsburgh that he is raving about elementary dishes when he visits other dives outside of this region that serve gourmet specialties.