What does a travel guy do when he’s bored and out of money?  He watches the Travel Channel…and gets hungry when he sees the Chowdown Countdown.

I also became a little upset because most all these places look great but who is going to write all that information down on the chance they will be in the area.  Not me.  Luckily I was not so upset after visiting the TC website and finding that they already did the logistics with google maps.  All 101 eateries on the countdown are on the website….listed by state.  I’m not saying it’s the most navigation friendly way of searching, but at least they published it online.  As for the restaurants…they are for the most part ma & pop shops with original recipes, great atmospheres, and what appears to be great food.  Somebody needs to make an app for this kind of food.

I figured why stop with Anthony Bourdain…let’s just get on a Travel Channel roll. Sweet sweet Samantha Brown. There should be a song about you. Running around high class hotels looking so beautiful in your bikini. You can find her travel channel site, ‘Passport to Great Weekends’ here.

Samantha was probably a class clown or nerd in high school. Always hanging out in the AV room talking about episodes of star trek and how good fruit stripe gum is. And really my only thinking behind that statement is the fact that she is so nice now. She’s not a fake nice like Andrew Zimmerman can be at times, but she’s legitimately kind…which is rare. And no popular girl in high school is that kind. My fantasy would be running into her in Prague as I was coming out of my hostel hungover, and I make a superior witty statement that she can’t stop laughing at then have lunch in an outdoor tent while she convinces me to spend the night in her Travel Channel approved 5 star hotel. You can fill in the rest. Love you SB!!!

I haven’t brought up Anthony Bourdain after all these posts.  And if you don’t know who he is, Anthony is a long time chef turned author… turned successful everything relating to food.  He host’s ‘No Reservations’ on the travel channel.  But here’s my take.  I love his ‘Kitchen Confidential’ book (went through it in about 4 straight hours).  I enjoy his show, and I somewhat like the personality.

He has a blog on the travel channel site you can check out here.  Anthony is no doubt skilled and talented.  I think he is a very good ambassador to other countries when he travels, which is big in my book, but I find him a little dishonest.  Let me explain.  I think as a host, you have to know how to use humor when situations are not good.  You have to give an honest opinion and then make the guy not feel like entire crap.  And humor is how you do this.  Instead Bourdain only knows that adjective sarcastic wit.  He’s good at it, but it seems that’s all he knows.  But that’s my only one gripe with the guy.  I’d welcome him anywhere and even ate at his restaurant in Miami “Les Halles.”  One of the most memorable meals I’ve ever had.