No Reservations Uruguay: A Brother's Diary

By No Reservations Crew on July 20, 2008 1:19 PM | Permalink | 70 Comments

By Chris Bourdain

The Beginning:
Join Tony to film a show in Uruguay? How quickly could I say "yes"? The plan was for a February trip -- summer in Uruguay. A no-brainer! February rolls around, and here I am, winging my way to Montevideo with my itinerant brother and his entourage of four from "No Reservations". Oh yeah -- it seems I am viewed as part of "the talent," so I get to fly in business class with Tony. It's good to be the king! Arrival in Montevideo is slightly delayed by the local customs chap inviting us to his office in back to share with us the benefit of his knowledge and experience dealing with thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment. After an extra hour of pointless discussion and waiting, we are met by our local "fixers" Sofia and Cecilia, and our van driver, Anibal. Our hotel, the Victoria Plaza, is apparently the place to stay in Montevideo, and indeed we see limos pulling up with various foreign diplomat and zillionaire types. Interestingly, I learned pre-trip that this hotel is actually owned by Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church, which has made a number of substantial and secretive investments in Uruguay.

The Archives:
The ostensible reason I am along on this show is for "genealogical research," the "family connection" thing. As young children we always had thought that the French part of the family washed up on this side of the Atlantic during World War I. But one summer when we went over to France to clean out our deceased great-aunt's house, we discovered a trove of yellowed documents alluding to several generations of Bourdains in Uruguay and a nearby border town in Brazil. But other than a fleeting reference citing our great-great-grandfather Jean Bourdain as a "merchant" in Montevideo, we have never known why these people ended up in Uruguay, what they were doing, or why all remaining Bourdains on the continent returned to France after 1860. Who knows what these guys could have been getting into?

The Antique Car:
I am not sure what the premise is behind Tony picking me up in the wonderful antique car (which I am told is the very same one used in the "Miami Vice" movie). But driving around in this thing is fun ... What TV viewers don't see is Max and Sofia crammed down in the back seat for the entire weavy ride around old Montevideo. If they were height-challenged people, their forced embrace might be peculiarly romantic. But this looks more like a painful knee in groin/elbows in breasts story going on back there.

The Chivito:
The brief summary: Chivitos are a local favorite, a Uruguayan mega-sandwich equivalent of Wendy's "Grand Slam." It has everything you could imagine on it - sliced beef, bacon, ham, cheese, egg, mayonnaise, olives, pepper sauce on a big roll. Absurdly huge and impossible to eat neatly, it's about the best sandwich I've ever had. Tony and I nail these down. Plus beer. I enter into food coma.

Phone Call:
At a huge Brooklyn-size cattle ranch, an estancia, we are riding around in our host's Jeep in search of the ostrich-like "Ã±andu" when my cell phone rings. How is this possible? We are miles from any town or cell phone tower! I pick up... and hear the taped message: My kids' school is closed tomorrow due to snow. I'm soooooo happy to be here. Our hosts are fun and interesting people. There is nice wine here. I'm going to try armadillo. The sight of the armadillo trembling upsets several of us in attendance. I am personally very glad the assisting gauchos take the thing away to bring him into his next state of existence. And yes, it actually does taste like chicken!

Cabo Polonia:
This point of land at the angle of two long and unspoiled strips of beach is fantastically beautiful. It is an "ends of the Earth" type place where a 1960's/70's-style hippie commune has survived. It's gorgeous here and I enjoy our visit, but somehow I'm also finding this place a bit depressing. The blind bartender with his little penguin friend crapping on the floor near the bar ...this is getting kind of strange. Still -- I guess I'd rather see Cabo Polonia stay this way than be just another enclave for the rich.

Jose Ignacio:
The Punta del Este Resort area where the Rio de la Plata meets the Atlantic is a mix of communities. The most famous areas draw the Uruguayan and Argentine versions of the Rodeo Drive crowd, a super-glam caste of people, some replete with Botox and implants. Up the road from the "Punta," Jose Ignacio is a more mellow, low-key satellite community, with unpretentious sun-bleached buildings -- more Fire Island than Hamptons. Our visit to the restaurant "La Huella" is maybe my favorite time on the whole trip. The restaurant is right on the beach and I can feel sand in my toes. The weather is great, and I'm totally relaxed and in the mood for the mojito and good food I know are coming. I'm looking forward to chilling with Tony, eating good food by the sound of the waves, and relaxing.

Having a Famous Brother:
What is it like having a famous brother? I admit, it is sometimes strange. That's my brother all over bus stops! And sometimes in in-flight magazines when I go on business trips. I gather in Singapore and nearby, Tony has rock-star status. But Tony's always been a brilliant verbalist with a buzz-saw sense of humor, so I've never been surprised that some with money and connections finally figured this part out. When I see him on TV, I'm just like many fans who don't know him: I enjoy the travel to places I can only dream of going, laughing at his hilariously-expressed but bang-on social and cultural observations and his self-deprecating humor. I am proud of Tony and consider myself his biggest fan. But I get sooooo tired of people asking me, "Chris, where's your brother now?" "What's your brother eating now?" Yada, yada, yada ... Shut up!

Uruguay:
I love Uruguay and will miss it. I want to come back some day. I dislike pretension. Uruguay is delightful because it is so not pretentious. People have lots of space and are relaxed. They take pleasure in the small enjoyments of life the way one sees in areas around the Mediterranean in Europe. Food and wine are good, plentiful, and inexpensive -- at least for visiting Americans. The clothes in shop windows in the center of the capital are generally very un-chic, almost old-fashioned. I do not see a single McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, or other similar chain.

And I like it that way.

Tags: uruguay , bourdain , anthony bourdain , tony bourdain , no reservations , chris bourdain , montevideo

70 Comments

1

Maria - July 21 2008 @ 2:34 pm Eventhough your brother "is the famous one" all of Tony's fans know you from his books where he talked about your childhood together, your trip to France with your parents when you were children and then when you returned to the places in your childhood memories. So, you are kind of famous too! I'm glad that we will see you on this show and that you both went traveling again.
2

Marg - July 22 2008 @ 12:05 am Chris, this was a cool perspective on making the show and on Tony-as-sibling. I also really enjoyed the show where the two of you went to your childhood stomping grounds in France, and now I am looking extra forward to the Montevideo show.
3

D. Woods - July 22 2008 @ 3:33 am From a Maryland muskrat eating family, kudos (though I'm sure you all hate that phrase as much as I do) for a great job in Saudi Arabia! Forgetting the cameras--take a drive down to Havre de Grace, MD where they have a wonderful Decoy Museum (hee, hee) and my mother makes the best muskrat in town! Thouth I won't touch the stuff as an adult (forced to as a child), maybe you guys or the cast and crew of Andrew Zimmern's show might like a bite! Regardless, you all have the best show on television! Thank you!!! P.S. As a child I always hated those buck muskrat teeth laughing at me from my mother's freezer. Truly!!!
4

june-baby - July 23 2008 @ 3:16 am Chris, I'am glad you got to travel with your brother to Uruguay to see where your great-great grandfather lived as a "Merchant". As I'am writing this I have the TC on and saw the commercial on the Uruguay episode I'am looking forward to next Monday night. I love when you've been on Tony's tv shows first time I saw you was on A Cook's Tour when you and Tony went back to Le Teste France where your father was from. I love that episode of ACT. The NR Werid Holiday Special was great too. BTW you have two great kids they both were so funny in that show I had a major giggle fest when your daughter pulled out the switch blade when Uncle Tony asked for a pair of sissors to cut the rope from the x-mas tree (Uncle Tony's facial expression priceless). I had the pleasure to meet your brother for the first time when he came to Minnesota November of 2007 for a book signing. I did the dinner with Tony thing. He has a wonderful sense of humor and had all of us in stiches talking about his adventures in traveling for the TC and his show of NR. I hope you can do another NR with your brother in the near future.
5

Claudia - July 23 2008 @ 6:31 pm Nice blog, Chris - I'm looking forward to seeing whether you found any of your relatives in Uruguay - and found out what they've been up to (!) And you're a true sport for letting Evil Uncle Tony co-opt your kids for the holiday special - what a riot!
6

Ana Cristina - July 23 2008 @ 9:16 pm You say you're your brother's biggest fan and that he's always been "a brilliant verbalist with a buzz-saw sense of humor," but I don't know - this blog was pretty funny, too. Great writing, I hope you write more blogs about your journeys with Tony.
7

Bea - July 24 2008 @ 12:08 am I always enjoy No Reservations for Anthony's no nonsense style -- he either truly enjoys the food or he doesn't. The first episode I saw was Anthony in Spain and it was a family style restaurant. I've hoped he would travel to Uruguay, but never thought it would happen. I am Uruguayan; my parents were both born in Galicia, Spain. To find out that your family tree includes Uruguayan heritage makes sense to me. By the way, you can get Chivitos in NY in Corona, Queens -- 37th Avenue -- Chivito D'Oro. Chau.
8

Leo - July 24 2008 @ 2:38 am I can't wait to see this episode. I am a American born Uruguayan living in California. There are not alot of Uruguayans in Cali and so I miss out on the Chivitos and such. Haven't had a good Milanesa since my grandma passed. Listen up Uruguayans in New York... I was born in Brooklyn and when we moved out to Cali, we realized it is more like back home here than in NY weather wise. I need more Uruguayans out here, everyone thinks I'm Mexican!!! Keep up the good work on the show Tony.
9

patricia - July 24 2008 @ 4:35 pm My husband and I have been talking up the Uruguay episode to everyone we know! I was born in Uruguay (with a lot of family still there) and raised in Bklyn, NY. I've traveled back often in my life and took my husband and 3 yr old son, Pablo, most recently. Depending on airfare this Jan/Feb, I hope to travel back to see my aging grandmother and have her meet my 1 yr old daughter, Pilar. My husband LOVES Uruguay...The people, the food, the energy! We both fantisize about leaving it all behind and moving there for good! We very much look forward to seeing this episode (and many more to come this season)! Its become a Monday night staple.
10

christian - July 25 2008 @ 11:43 am i'm uruguayan and im so excited that a tv will shwo the real uruguay.
11

Dario - July 25 2008 @ 6:23 pm We can wait to see the show, my wife and I have been in New Jersey for 6 years and we have a beautifull 4 years old girl it will be great to share more of our culture with her. Is there a way to buy a DVD with the show or the whole season, please advise.
12

Belen - July 27 2008 @ 5:59 pm I am super excited about this coming show. I was born in Montevideo, left at 5 years old to live in New York and am dreaming of visiting again. Thank you for putting this show on and hoping people will recognize this small country. And it's URUguay not PARAguay, people! Hope you got to drink some mate.
13

Adriana - July 27 2008 @ 9:44 pm I am looking forward to see the show about Uruguay, but I think you should have eaten the Chivito in "La Pasiva" rather than "Marcos", I think "La Pasiva" is more traditional.
14

ThomasK - July 28 2008 @ 4:39 am Having visited uruguay a year ago, i fully agree. Nice people, great food and while poor, they seem to have a better outlook on life than most poor countries. I miss my lomo though :D Signed, the meat monster ;)
15

LudelaPaz - July 28 2008 @ 10:01 am Anthony, Can't wait for tonight's show. It will defintly be the best show of the season :) Born and raised in UY but living in the US, I ve been telling everyone about it. When people ask me how UY looks like, is hard to explain it. Tonight everyone be able to see the beauty of this tiny but incredible spot in the map. I have been looking foward for this show since last year when cecilia ( your assistant, my sister) told me about you were visiting us. C u tonight. Lu
16

GastroGirls - July 28 2008 @ 11:37 am This is a fun account of your time there Chris! Can't wait to watch it tonight. www.gastrogirls.com
17

Ronald Ausman - July 28 2008 @ 12:00 pm I have been to Uruguay twice on vacation, one of most beautiful and unspoiled places to travel. The food, wine, and hospitality are the best. If you like meat then you will love your visit.
18

VA - July 28 2008 @ 1:42 pm Even though Uruguay is a meat country, there are plenty of vegetarian and seafood options. I am a Washingtonian (the DC type) but was born in Uruguay and vegetarians do not need to be afraid of Uruguay, there are plenty of Italian restaurants and yes, even a vegetarian restaurant or two. And if you love potatoes, the fries are great, try them with the yummy fried eggs.
19

PhilS - July 28 2008 @ 2:12 pm I'm wondering - did you have any tea while you were in Uruguay? I understand that that's a popular beverages, and is drunk from unusual cups and straws...?
20

Gaucho - July 28 2008 @ 3:05 pm PhilS: that "tea" that you say is called "mate". Go visit the follwoing website: http://www.noborders.net/mate/index.html I am Uruguayan,, leaving in the US; can't wait to see the show.
21

Lu - July 28 2008 @ 5:15 pm Chris By the way is Cabo PoloniO not Cabo PoloniA ...ups !
22

diane - July 28 2008 @ 7:04 pm Been to Uruguay twice going back in January/ February for the carnival..can't wait. Uruguay is a slice of heaven, far from the hussel and bussel of the modern world. Can't wait to see the show tonight. Tony you should go back to do the carnival!!
23

Adrianna - July 28 2008 @ 8:22 pm I'm looking forward to the show. I was born there came here in High School and didn't realize how much I missed it until I went back a year and half ago, can't wait to go back!! I hope you guys had a good parrillada/asado too, if you didn't you need to go back. As I said I can't wait to go back at some point, hopefully soon. And to the person that said they live in Cali and can't find good food....if you live in L.A. it should be fairly easy. I now live in San Francisco and it's way harder here my parents have to even bring the right meat cuts from L.A. to have a proper asado hehehe
24

David B - July 28 2008 @ 11:16 pm May I ask where in France your grandfather came from? And is the Roger Bourdain who came to Ellis Island in 1919 at the age of 17 your grandfather?
25

Fabricio - July 28 2008 @ 11:16 pm How's it going/... well first of all .. im so glad ... and i want to said thanks a lot for show my beatiful country.. yeah im from Uruguay .. im so glad...i guess you were eating the best steak on the world .. beacuse is totally different as the rest of the world...Also you were enyoing the Mate... lol...well thanks man ...again..you have the best program ..
26

Angry NJ in Pacifica - July 29 2008 @ 12:36 am Chef Bourdain, I am a huge fan from back on the Food Network days. Your show has provided me high entertainment when I am not violating myself after partaking of herbal medicine, then gourging myself with a panfried garlic teriaki skirt steak topped with bacon as I sip my Chimay Blue. Why on earth would you sully your show by putting your brother on the show? He is a bloated uglier version of you. (Chris, you are a nice guy, stick to your day job). Seeing Chris' wrinkly as a bulldog face on my big screen as he sips some nasty concoction of wine and soda from a cut 2 liter bottle found in the trash was more than my gag reflex could bear. Why did you waste my food? Although, after vomiting, I did enjoy the nice hiney shots of the dancing latina in tight jeans during the drum show. Yay, to the editors and sex depraved cameramen to get those great shots. Keep up the good work, but leave the family for the holiday specials and only in briefly nauseating cut shots of some Italian reunion.
27

Waiting On My Next Trip - July 29 2008 @ 12:49 am I loved seeing the brothers travel together. It gives such insight to Anthony, and Chris is just as wicked at Anthony! Loved this episode!
28

Shirley - July 29 2008 @ 12:51 am I am from Salto Uruguay and your last name sounds familiar to me. I went to Guia Telefonia de Uruguay and typed Bordin (that is the way I saw it written in Uruguay) and just in Salto there are 18 entries. http://www.antel.com.uy/portal/hgxpp001.aspx?2,361,826,O,S,0,, If you need any help I will be more than happy to help you out.
29

Micaela - July 29 2008 @ 1:45 am Anthony and Chris, Thank you the show... it was so nice to see were i came from. Most shows only show you the tourist parts but you showed us beyond that. Seeing the food made me want to eat a parillada a.s.a.p...lol. I really hope Chris finds why your grandpa went to uruguay. I hope you decided to return.
30

caligal - July 29 2008 @ 2:58 am Dude, you're an awesome writer! It must be genetic! Another warning about the poor little armadillo....good God, you guys should have edited that part out! NR on HD on the West Coast starts right NOW....Hasta la vista!
31

Ike - July 29 2008 @ 9:45 am Great show last night. My wife is from Uruguay so I've been there several times. Matter of fact to show you how small the country is, Cecilia one of your "fixers" during the shoot, is my sister inlaw. You guys did a good job of capturing the vibe, but I was disapointed to see you didn't say anything about chivitos or matte. Oh well, next time. At least you painted a nice picture so all my friends and family that didn't make it to my wedding down there will feel very crappy now.
32

Paul - July 29 2008 @ 11:26 am Loved the episode, especially the three-dimensional effects on the vintage photos. And my girlfriend and I are still drooling over the sizzling meat mountain from the market. But I have to tell you that the "searching for family roots" angle felt contrived. It felt as if Tony knew from the start that this search would turn up jack but let his brother tag along anyway to go through the motions. As if you needed an excuse to visit a country that beautiful and sample food that tasty.
33

Schubert - July 29 2008 @ 11:27 am Tony,Tony,Tony...Good job in Uruguay,not great,just good,I have been followng and enjoing your show for years,and I was looking forward to the Uruguay show.Couple of things I need to mention.First what happened to the chivitos and why show and argentinian chefs doing patagonia and Bolivian coking???I understand that you went there to search for the roots of your family,but yo did forget to get a local guide,you see Uruguay is two countries in one,the one tourist see,and then the rest.Did you tried Corderito deshuesado a la pizza??thats a lamb,deboned,slowily coked over the parrilla ,a metal sheet over it so hot ambers can slowly cook it from top and bottom,when ready,is then covered with very thin sliced ham,uruguayan Pizza sauce and muzarella chesse,untill all this melts together in a glorius meal!!!Or go to a gauchos breakfast,at aproximate 4 in the morning,a parrilla of Capon(lamb),steaks,and tortas fritas,very simple,very uruguayan,If you ever go back threre,let me know,I will be glad to show you the other Uruguay.By the way,empty bottles of plastic,do not came from the trash,they are save wash and cut to be used as a glas,or fill with water ,put in the frezer and voila!!and instant bloque of ice!!!Keep on trucking!!!
34

Luis Andrade - July 29 2008 @ 11:52 am Hi Chris, You may want to check further in Uruguay about your ancestors. It is possible not all of them returned to Europe and may in fact have settled there for good. Perhaps not all in Montevideo but in the interior of the country. I have friends from Salto (a department to the north of Uruguay) who bear a similar last name: Bourdin. It was a common practice to drop letters from last names to make them sound more Castilian. I'm also from Montevideo but have lived in New Jersey for the past 22 years. I enjoyed the program enormously. Thanks so much for the treat! Kind regards, Luis
35

Alex John Fiore - July 29 2008 @ 11:54 am Great show last night .. I watched it twice.I was born there . My family moved from uruguay to new jersey when i was 4 years old( hoboken ) 1972 . My father family moved to uruguay in the 1850's from italy. ( a samll town call san angelo del la fratte)my mother family moved to Uruguay from spain in the 1880's (there from the canary island's).i will be going back to uruguay with my family and my brother's family in 2 years .the last time i was there last chrismas for 3 weeks.IT was with my wife ,3 kids and my mama.She is the best mother in the world.Kim my wife loved the friut's ,veggie's and all the meats .the kids loved the beach . we stayed in punta del este at my mother's condo 1 block from the beach . thank you very much for showing suck natural beautiful place ..
36

Alberto B - July 29 2008 @ 4:36 pm You did a greate job ,if you come to New Jersey and still hungry for meat please visit me i have a very big parrillero thanks a milllllll
37

Annonymous - July 29 2008 @ 5:14 pm Angry NJ in Pacifica, you should be ashamed of yourself for what you wrote. Youa re SICK. If you are God's gift to mankind, post your picture and let us judge YOU by your appearance. You need MAJOR therapy!!! Tony, or whoever edits this blog, you need to remove this person's unkind post from this blog and permanently block his/her comments. Freedom of expression is one thing but this went to a subhuman level. Chris, I think you rock. I have two kids that are as different as night and day and celebrate their differences. Viewers could sense that there is genuine brotherly love between you and Tony. Your grandfather would be proud of BOTH of you. Shame, Angry NJ....SHAME.
38

Aida - July 29 2008 @ 9:42 pm I was truly disappointed in last nights show. I was hoping that you would mention all the things that make Uruguayian(s) so warm, and you seem to have left that out. No mention of "mate", "dulce de leche", vino, grapa, Carnaval or SOCCER. HELLO!! I understand that you were looking for you G G grandfather, but you have to understand that WE all still love this "Diamond-in-the-rough" and you did not portray it as such..... You left the flavor out of it and that's what we are all about!!!Hope you need to go back so you can address the shortfall!!!
39

Fanny L Sloan - July 30 2008 @ 1:16 pm Chef Bourdain, I was born in Buenos Aires, and Uruguay's visit with your brother hit me near home. I loved your visit there. The food and your comments, you are amazing. I wish I could take you out to Queens and have the same kind of food, we have a few great restaurants from Urugay and Argentina and just for a few bucks. My mom makes the best empanadas. (I wish you were not married... shhhhhhh) You are truly hot and I love that you eat everything, just like me. Your show is "unbelievable", we never know what you will come out with. Regards.
40

R Fontenot - July 30 2008 @ 8:36 pm Great show about Urugay. There's no way to emcompass eveything - but that wasn't what the show was about - it was about your experiences there while looking for your past, with your brother. This is something that I think everyone can understand/relate to. It was really interesting watching YOUR journey, and listening to your understanding of it in relation to yourself - very well written. All that being said, it definitely piqued my interest in the country as well. Thanks for making me a food-culture junkie!
41

Olimareña-33 - July 31 2008 @ 11:43 am I was really looking forward to your show last Monday night... First one I was ever going to watch at the urge of my daughter, that considers herself uruguayan even though she was born and raised in the USA. What a disappointment!!! I was born and raised in Uruguay but have lived in this country for the past 32 years. I visit Uruguay as often as I can... You showed some great places but not the true Uruguay. Regarding the armadillo (mulita), well... it does NOT taste like chicken, if cooked properly, especially the meat next to the shell. My disappointments were that not much research had been done about the country you were going to present. That you showed an 'empty' country; there was no mention of uruguayans drinking 'mate', a staple in the culture. You kept on mentioning the word 'indigenous'. Did you know that Uruguay is the only country in the Americas that does not have any pure indigenous citizens? Many descendents yes, gauchos, but not pure Charrúas or Arachanes. The trip took place in February, that's Carnaval time... The Barrio Sur has "Las Llamadas", typical to Montevideo. Not a single mention of them. I realize that you were in search of your ancestors, but there was not much emphasis on it either. The featured chef was argentinian... there are great uruguayan chefs. You showed a backwards place. Do you know what the biggest uruguayan export is? Professionals! Uruguay has one of the best educational systems in all of Latin America. Anyone can attend the University of the Republic at no cost... therefore, there are a lot of doctors, lawyers, dentists, engineers, etc. that find themselves with no jobs at the end of their studies and they emigrate. The sepia pictures shown were great. I think this first show requires a follow up show, where more research has been done and doesn't look like a BTSOYP (By The Seat Of Your Pants) type of thing.
42

James Leone - Great Grandson of Therose M. Bourdain - July 31 2008 @ 2:01 pm Go to the web page above - and you will see a textile shop in Blois, France - owned by the branch of the Bourdain family that I come from. Date - prior to 1913, likely mid 1890's. On the right and left of the building you can see the name Bourdain. The family owned a textile shop in Blois, France. The Picture in the center above where it says "A Denis Papin" is a picture of Denis Papin, French Scientist who helped invent the steam engine. I have no information that the family had any real connection to Denis Papin - they could have - or I think most likely - sine Denis Papin was born in Blois, that Denis Papin was this business' brand name so to speak. I am certain that some of my Great Grandmother's family is looking out the window under where it says Bourdain on the left. I wish I could embed this picture so my message wouldn't get lost in the crowd. Anyway - my Bourdain ancestors came to America from Blois, France between 1913 and 1918. I don't know a lot about the family in France - but I welcome any communication with Tony's brother - as I am looking for more information and would be happy to share what I know. However - I don't have information about Urguay. James Leone
43

James Leone - July 31 2008 @ 2:04 pm Note on the above - you have to click on the "James Leone - Great Grandson of Therose M. Bourdain" to see the picture. Or just go here: http://home.earthlink.net/~j__leone/img001.jpg Sorry about multiple posts here - but I'm not sure I can actually get the message to you or your brother. James Leone
44

Mercedes - July 31 2008 @ 6:11 pm Mr. Bourdain, I really appreciated your intent in showing my country, althoug I am not so please with what I saw. Before the show I told everybody I know, specially the ones that they are not so familiar with my culture or either my country to watch it, you have a very respetable presence on tv. Unfortunatelly my expectations were so high,as well as my desillusion. I love my country and there are so many other places that you could go. I think you got in between, you did not choose correctly what you want to do...or food (many incredibles restaurants), or places (also many amazings)...I am not going to denied that my country is poor, but I am also aware that our wealth is the people, we are one of the best countrys with high level of alfabetization in south america. I'd love to see you back in Uruguay and I am sure you second intent will be (as my friend love to said) "awesome".Thank you very much for your visit. You are wellcome back any time you please.-Mercedes-
45

Mercedes - July 31 2008 @ 6:12 pm Mr. Bourdain, I really appreciated your intent in showing my country, althoug I am not so please with what I saw. Before the show I told everybody I know, specially the ones that they are not so familiar with my culture or either my country to watch it, you have a very respetable presence on tv. Unfortunatelly my expectations were so high,as well as my desillusion. I love my country and there are so many other places that you could go. I think you got in between, you did not choose correctly what you want to do...or food (many incredibles restaurants), or places (also many amazings)...I am not going to denied that my country is poor, but I am also aware that our wealth is the people, we are one of the best countrys with high level of alfabetization in south america. I'd love to see you back in Uruguay and I am sure you second intent will be (as my friend love to said) "awesome".Thank you very much for your visit. You are wellcome back any time you please.-Mercedes-
46

Mercedes - Montevideo-Atlanta - July 31 2008 @ 6:15 pm Mr. Bourdain, I really appreciated your intent in showing my country, although I am not so please with what I saw. Before the show I told everybody I know, specially the ones that they are not so familiar with my culture or either my country to watch it, you have a very respectable presence on TV. Unfortunately my expectations were so high, as well as my disillusion. I love my country and there are so many other places that you could go. I think you got in between, you did not choose correctly what you want to do...or food (many incredible restaurants), or places (also many amazing)...I am not going to denied that my country is poor, but I am also aware that our wealth is the people, we are one of the best countries with high level of alphabetization in south America. I'd love to see you back in Uruguay and I am sure you second intent will be (as my friend love to said) "awesome". Thank you very much for your visit. You are welcome back any time you please.-Mercedes-
47

Andrés Stein - August 01 2008 @ 1:07 am Man... I couldn't believe how much I loved this show, totally awesome. I agree you missed soccer and dulce de leche, but damn, the meat is totally worth it. You all people should come here and see it for yourselves, slice of heaven, cosmopolitan goods in a peaceful environment.
48

Fernando Giordano(New Orleans) - August 01 2008 @ 2:09 pm Hi Mr Bourdain : You had good intentions in bringing up a snap of what a great country Uruguay is all about and I understand that in 40 minutes there is not much you can do. But for viewers who do not know anything about Uruguay it was the worst invitation to TRAVEL there. Hope your producers let you go again for a trully version of it or to put it in a uruguayan term "IR POR LA REVANCHA". Hope you have time to read this. Fernando Giordano New Orleans
49

Carmen - August 03 2008 @ 7:16 pm Pssst.... I know the name gets mentioned often, but references to "Chris" are not to buffer the ego of a "little brother" that could steal the limelight from a gigalo personality. (smile) I hear CARMA.. KARMA and CARMEN so often... try this one on: http://www.youtube.com/Isoprofen Hug your brother for me.
50

fromuruguay - August 04 2008 @ 4:16 am Hi,it was a big surprise to see Tony in La Barra,Punta del Este the last summer,because I watch the show but never imagine seeing him walking in the street...Can´t wait for the show here
51

Billigflug Bangkok - August 04 2008 @ 12:59 pm I feel happy you like Uruguay, my home country. Indeed we are relaxed people and do enjoy our liberty, but there are some social problems to solve, too. I´m looking forward to return again.
52

Federico Britos - August 04 2008 @ 5:53 pm Great show, I always enjoy a program that shows the small country of my father, not too many people know Uruguay. It is a small and beautiful country, with a vast cultural and culinary life. Thanks for the show!!! It was incredible!!!
53

Vartan - August 05 2008 @ 3:45 am For those of us born in Uruguay, the mere mentioning of our country on tv brings us a smile. But the purist approach Anthony (and his brother this time around) took on his socio-cultural-gastronomical view of this tiny, mostly unknown nation was to me one of the best pictures of the country painted by a foreigner. He picked the very right places and people to faithfully capture the essence of the country. The intimate accounts of the brothers' relationship made the episode even more human and easy to relate to. I hope Anthony's show keeps bringing more no-nonsense views of the world for years to come.
54

Spencer Yu - August 05 2008 @ 6:51 am Does anyone know how they made the B&W photos in the Uruguay episode look 3-dimensional? They were terrific!!!!!!!!!!!!
55

Rosana Modugno - August 19 2008 @ 9:56 pm Dear Anthony, I am speaking on behalf of thousands of Uruguayans who were nothing short of embarrassed by this episode. It was very disappointing to see Uruguay depicted in such poor fashion. We appreciate that you went there to look for his roots but you missed the best parts of the country in your search for your ancestry and turned this episode into a personal bio, more than a travel show. You went to the "Southside" of Uruguay, the back roads, the alleys and not where most of over one million people reside. I was born in Montevideo, Uruguay and raised in Brooklyn, NY. I have traveled a bit myself too and there is much more to Uruguay than just red meat. You went with other intentions and not having a translator didn't help. I was frustrated watching the Canadians and Argentineans cooking a barbeque who live in Uruguay talk about Uruguay, while you and your brother admitted to finding only ONE person who was actually born there. Where the hell did you go, Anthony? lol Uruguay is full of Uruguayans! And that guy you said was a Gaucho was no Gaucho I had ever seen. That guy didn't even have a horse. You could have done so much with the authentic Gaucho and his outfit, riding his horse. And what about that poor armadillo you killed for ratings? Was it worth the shock value? Well, if it makes you feel any better, we were all shocked you killed him and ate him because we, as Uruguayans don't normally do that. We have plenty of meat and killing an armadillo is a rarity in this day and age. We are civilized. Anthony, if you need a translator to go with you next time, call me. I can set you up with some people who would love to show you around our beautiful cities and night clubs, not rundown railroad stations that have been closed down since the 40's. You must have known that. We would love to show you The Plaza Independencia in Montevideo, then take you to one of the greatest harbors in the Americas, then show you our gorgeous beaches like Pocitos, Buceo, Malvín, Playa de los Ingleses, Playa Verde, Punta Gorda and Carrasco. In fact, Montevideo is known as "City of Beaches". We could have shown you our historic buildings, the statues, our religious foundation of Catholicism and its beautiful churches, our colleges, and my favorite parts; the Artist and Writers community. You didn't mention our Tango dancing, instead mentioning Candombe. You forgot about our love for Soccer and the South American football clubs: Nacional and Peñarol played in the great Estadio Centenario stadium. You forgot El Palacio Salvo, and the Solis Theatre built in 1857, and other Italian style architecture from the early 1900's, the colorful houses influenced by Spain and Portugal, the Antel, the Jose Artigas monument (how could you forget him), Uruguay's constitution home, our Indian ancestry of Charruas, and how could you forget Carlos Páez Vilaró in Casa Pueblo! Although it's universally considered as an "inhabitable sculpture", built more than 36 years ago, the Artist lives there. You might have even gotten an interview if you asked and you could have gone inside the beautiful place. You forgot about the lighthouse, and Gorriti Island. Oh my God Anthony, you missed so much. You gave the impression that Uruguay has very little to offer when in fact, it has much more than many people realize. We all hope you make another visit soon and this time, bring along a real Uruguayan who speaks English to show you the REAL Uruguay. :) I would love to help you in any way I can, so please don't be a stranger. Still enjoy your show, but we all think you totally missed this one. Uruguay deserves to be visited again and put into focus itself for the beautiful country it is.
56

David P - August 26 2008 @ 6:27 pm Chris: I really enjoyed your comments and loved the episode. It was great. I believe I can help you out with your genealogy. Take care!
57

chris - September 09 2008 @ 2:35 pm Chris. i love LOVE love Tony, but, the reason i bought the Uruguay episode, was becasue you were on it. It was so much fun watching you and your brother in france that i had to see you and Tony together again. There's a very nice balance between the two of you. i would love if you were in more episodes!!
58

Cait Conway-Morgan - September 30 2008 @ 5:11 pm loved the Uraguay show so much.
59

Ronald Bailey - December 01 2008 @ 4:52 pm
I really LOVE your SHOW and it would be nice to have some new SHOWS not so many reruns thank you peace,love&grovy RB
60

Kathy - December 08 2008 @ 10:20 am
Hello All
61

Big Bad John - December 11 2008 @ 4:01 pm
Really love the show! thanks
62

DEREK - December 11 2008 @ 5:04 pm
BBQ COOK FROM BALTIMORE WILL GRILL ANYWHERE ANYTIME
63

David - January 28 2009 @ 6:42 pm
Only reason to leave these "frontier" countries after a stint is that it was too difficult to make it. It's hard being an immigrant with no connections to make it. Unless you come from dirt, almost any situation is "worse off" for many first level country emigre.
64

Pam - February 02 2009 @ 7:13 pm
what kind of car was that antique car in Uruguay
65

Jasi - July 15 2009 @ 10:20 pm
Anthony is a star. He's been there, seen stuff. But that's what makes you fabulous, too. You're open and fresh. It's nice to see you travel together. You also make Tony more human.
66

lake wallenpaupack - August 09 2009 @ 3:31 pm
Uruguay is such a crazy place to go but i definitely enjoyed it.
67

oyunlar - September 12 2009 @ 7:15 pm
I had the pleasure to meet your brother for the first time when he came to Minnesota November of 2007 for a book signing. I did the dinner with Tony thing.
68

Art - September 20 2009 @ 6:36 pm
I wanted to know the name of the wine that Tony and Chris tried while in Uruguay. The wine was an indigenous wine mixed with soda pop.
69

Ernesto - September 26 2009 @ 10:12 pm
I am a big fan of your TV show. All its chapters are uniformly outstanding. The chapter on Uruguay was great: you showed the back roads, the alleys; the rhytms and flavours and also the wisdom of the common people. Thanks God you did not go where one million people reside (or to Brooklyn, NY. for that matter). It would have been rather incongruous with the goals and the zest of "Without Reservations".

I love Uruguay and its people. As you said, Uruguay is delightful because it is so not pretentious. (What a surprising contrast with the river's opposite banks...)

I really love the show!
70

Jason Morgan - November 18 2009 @ 9:44 pm
The name of the indigenous Uruguayan wine is tannat. However, it's originally a French varietal, brought over a hundred years or more ago, possibly by a Bourdain.

I just visited Montevideo for three days and enjoyed one especially good bottle of it at a fine restaurant near Bar Tabare called Balcon de Lobos. It's basically a restaurant in a house that is perched high and hidden by trees. Tres romantique!

You can skip the museums in the city, though; they're not very interesting.