Ep 15. US Heartland

In No Reservations Season 6 Episode 15, host Anthony Bourdain takes viewers on a culinary journey through America's Heartland. Bourdain heads to Kansas City, Missouri, first, where he visits popular barbecue joints like Gates and Arthur Bryant’s and learns the ins and outs of slow-smoked meats from pitmasters. From there, he travels to the rural town of Eldon, Missouri, to meet with an Amish community and to learn about their way of life.

Next, Bourdain heads to Minneapolis, Minnesota - a city that's often overshadowed by its flashier neighbors like Chicago and Milwaukee - to discover some of the hidden gems of the city's food scene, like the Scandinavian-inspired meatballs at Ingebretsen's. He also visits a local Hmong market and learns about the community's vibrant cuisine, which blends traditional Southeast Asian flavors with local ingredients.

In the episode's final segment, Bourdain heads to his home state of New Jersey to revisit some of the foods of his childhood, like Taylor Ham (known elsewhere as pork roll), bagels, and pizza. He also pays a visit to Atlantic City for a snack at the legendary White House Sub Shop.

Throughout the episode, Bourdain emphasizes the importance of local ingredients, techniques, and traditions in shaping regional cuisines, and he speaks with locals who are working to preserve and innovate on those traditions in their communities. Along the way, he also shares his own experiences and memories of growing up in the United States and the foods that shaped his palate - making for a personal and engaging episode that offers viewers a window into the rich and diverse cultures that make up America's Heartland.