Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown: Season 8
The eighth season of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown continues the series' mission of exploring diverse cultures through food and dining rituals. The season consists of nine episodes, beginning with a premiere on September 25 that features Anthony Bourdain traveling to Hanoi, Vietnam, for a dinner with President Barack Obama. Following this opening, the season documents Bourdain as he visits a variety of internationa
Season 8 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Anthony Bourdain is a former chef who travels globally to uncover little-known areas of the world.
- The series is characterized by Bourdain's curiosity, candor, and acerbic wit regarding his travel experiences.
- The program is defined as a documentary series that explores diverse cultures through food and dining rituals.
- Bourdain consistently avoids standard tourist destinations to provide viewers with an authentic look at local life.
Season overview
The eighth season of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown continues the series' mission of exploring diverse cultures through food and dining rituals. The season consists of nine episodes, beginning with a premiere on September 25 that features Anthony Bourdain traveling to Hanoi, Vietnam, for a dinner with President Barack Obama. Following this opening, the season documents Bourdain as he visits a variety of international and domestic locations to uncover local customs and culinary traditions. The itinerary includes trips to Nashville, Sichuan, London, Houston, Japan, Minas Gerais, Buenos Aires, and Rome. Throughout these travels, the series maintains its focus on taking viewers off the beaten path, moving beyond typical tourist destinations to highlight the unique narratives and dining experiences found in each region. By combining his background as a chef with a commitment to curiosity and candor, Bourdain examines the intersection of food and culture. The season serves as a continuation of the show's established format, which seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the world by engaging with local communities and their specific food-related practices in both well-known cities and lesser-known areas.
Episode Guide
Season 8 Progress Shield
Hanoi
Sep 25, 2016 · 45 min
Inspired by Graham Greene's words “... whatever you’re looking for, you will find here...” Bourdain joins the throngs of locals as he motorbikes through Vietnam’s capital, traverse
Nashville
Oct 2, 2016 · 45 min
Bourdain absorbs the tastes, sights and sounds of music city, from chef Josh Habiger's Catbird Seat and Bolton's famous hot chicken, to a night of cooking, drinking and rocking out
Sichuan with Eric Ripert
Oct 16, 2016 · 45 min
Michelin star chef, and all around good sport, Eric Ripert is introduced to China and Sichuan province by host and good friend Bourdain. Bourdain takes Ripert to the Sichuan provin
London
Oct 23, 2016 · 45 min
Visiting London, post Brexit vote, Bourdain finds comfort in classic British cuisine including roast bone marrow at chef Fergus Henderson’s famed restaurant St. John, Scotch eggs a
Houston
Oct 30, 2016 · 45 min
Looking beyond oil, NASA, and football, Bourdain explores Houston’s diverse cultures, taking in a Bollywood-style dance in a grocery store, a Quinceañera in suburban Pasadena, and
Japan
Nov 13, 2016 · 45 min
Guided by world-renowned chef Masa Takayama, Bourdain’s return trip to Japan begins with a tour of outdoor food markets in Kanazawa where they sample uni, steak-sized oysters, and
Buenos Aires
Nov 20, 2016 · 45 min
Bourdain’s trip to meat-centric Buenos Aires during the hot summer month of February, features a meal with chef Francis Mallmann at one of his favorite local spots, Don Carlito's,
Minas Gerais, Brazil
Nov 27, 2016 · 45 min
Bourdain explores the Brazilian heartland, known as the region where all the best cooks come from, and namesake to the country’s mining history. Home to baroque architecture, lush
Rome
Dec 4, 2016 · 45 min
Bourdain’s Roman holiday takes a cinematic turn, influenced by his tour guides, actress Asia Argento, screenwriter/director Abel Ferrara, and a host of larger than life Romans who