Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

In this episode of Parts Unknown, Tony visits Andalucia during Semana Santa – Holy Week, the week just before Easter – a time filled with great pageantry and excitement. Tony’s longtime DP, Zach Zamboni, currently lives in Granada with his fiancée, Fuen Sanchez, and has been imploring Tony to come visit for years. It’s time.

There’s something about New Mexico…. The great Hippie influx began in the 70's, and Native American populations have always been here. Today, New Mexico has the largest Hispanic population per capita in the US. Perhaps no better way to see the mash-up of cultures that make up this uniquely American State, than by what the people here are eating.

Israel, the West Bank and Gaza are three locations Tony has never travelled to before. Not because he couldn’t physically, but because life in Israel and the occupied territories is hard to sum up in one episode. The intense and fraught relationship between these places is hard to understand but Tony will attempt to delve into the lives of those who live here, through their food.

Copenhagen, Denmark. Recently named the happiest place on earth to live… The largest concentration of grit exists in the capitol Copenhagen. Copenhagen is home to Rene Redzepi and his brainchild NOMA, now regarded as the world’s best restaurant. Denmark isn’t the first place you’d guess for a restaurant of this caliber to be located.

Sicily isn’t about fast food or the fast life. It’s about savoring family, life, food and making the most of what you have. Tony will go in search of those foods and their producers and eat his way around the island that long-legged Italy kicked into the Mediterranean Sea.

Detroit holds a unique place in American history. Few cities have seen such a dramatic rise and fall from economic boom to disparity. In this episode of Parts Unknown, Tony explores the past, present and future of the Motor City.

The strict norms of Japan are well publicized...the low birthrate, the dedication, the conformity, and the life of a salaryman. That is just one side of the story, however, as Japan is a paradox. A competitive and rigid culture gives way to some unique subcultures.

Once Johannesburg was the most dangerous city in the world, now it’s barely in the top 50, pushed out by countries with bigger problems. But the end of the apartheid has lead to vast changes in the city. In this episode, Tony visits the Johannesburg suburb of Hillbrow, which is still a very dangerous place.