A show designed to "feed both the gut and the mind" is the latest chef series from Anthony Bourdain and the producers of "No Reservations."
"The Mind of a Chef," which is set to debut nationally Nov. 9 on PBS, goes inside the mind of chef David Chang. It will combine "travel, cooking, history, science, and humor into an unforgettable journey into the mind of noted Korean-American chef and restauranteur David Chang," according to press information.
" 'The Mind of a Chef' is a reinvention of a travel-cooking show," says Bourdain in a release. "This season, we go inside the kitchen, the world, and the mind of chef David Chang. This show is a chance to explore that mind in all its tangled glory."
Chang is also a New York Times best-selling author, chef-owner of the Momofuku restaurant group and has served as a guest judge on "Top Chef: All Stars."
In the season premiere, Chang explores his passion for ramen dishes and tsukemen on a trip to Japan. Viewers will also learn about the history of the famous noodle when he visits a ramen factory, has a bowl of the original tsukemen and learns alkalinity determines a noodle's color.
"I think I was about 8 years old and I'd be coming home from school and instead of having Hot Pockets, I would have ramen noodles," says the chef in the promo.
Also during the 16-episode season, Chang will travel to Montreal with comedian Ariz Ansari of NBC's "Parks and Recreation," visit top world chef Rene Redzepi and take a BBQ tour of Texas, North Carolina, and Kansas City. Bourdain narrates the series.
Original Print Headline: Bourdain introduces new chef series
Food Network stars get retribution on Bourdain with comedy roast
NEW YORK (AP) - It's comeuppance time for Anthony Bourdain. And by his tally, he deserves his lickings.
Bourdain may have earned his culinary fame eating his way around the globe, but he built his bad boy persona in part with searing assessments of fellow celebrity chefs.
And on Thursday evening, they shot back during a raunch-laden comedy roast of Bourdain held at the start of the New York City Wine and Food Festival.
"I figured I would actually have the easiest time of anyone," said Food Network star - and longtime victim of Bourdain's verbal lashings - Rachael Ray. "I don't have to write jokes. I don't have to write insults. If you ask the man of the hour in the hot seat, my mere existence is clearly insult enough."
Bourdain shot to culinary fame with his 2000 memoir, "Kitchen Confidential," a brash and blunt account of his early - and drug-soaked - days in the food world.
The book led to a Food Network show of his own, but before long, he turned his razor-sharp wit on the celebrity food industry, taking particular aim at non-chef food celebrities such as Ray.
Ted Allen, host of Food Network's "Chopped," called him an "ex-chef, ex-junkie who's made a fortune insulting his ex-industry."
Before the start of the festivities - or perhaps hostilities - Bourdain reflected on his history of tirades against Ray, Paula Deen, Guy Fieri and other food television stars.
"I've always felt that if you're a public figure and I'm making fun of you and your work on television, at all times it is perfectly appropriate for you to give it back to me," he said. "Well, we've set an official appointment for that."
Fieri, who pushed a wig of spiked white hair similar to his own onto Bourdain's head during his presentation, suggested this was a big night for his rival.
"You're not used to having a large group of people actually pay attention to your work," he said.
Comedian Bonnie McFarlane poked fun at the tell-all nature of Bourdain's book, saying he clearly didn't understand what "confidential" meant.
"Truth be told, you're a pretty amazing guy. You're a husband, a father, a recovering drug addict, he stars in multiple TV shows, he's traveled the world, he's written multiple best sellers," she said. "Anthony, is there anything you can't do? I mean, besides cook?"
— J.M. HIRSCH, Associated Press
