Milo serves TV host beans, whoopie pies
1/6/10 | 29 comments
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Milo serves TV host beans, whoopie pies


By Diana Bowley
BDN Staff
PHOTO BY DIANA BOWLEY
On a swing though Maine for his TV show “No Reservations” on the Travel Channel, Anthony Bourdain stopped in Milo on Tuesday to enjoy a meal of baked beans, coleslaw, fiddleheads, biscuits, brown bread and whoopie pies. His visit to Milo will be shown at 10 p.m. April 12 on the Travel Channel. Buy Photo
MILO, Maine — He has traveled the world over and tasted the local delicacies, but he had never before been to Maine to enjoy a plate of bright red hot dogs, baked beans, biscuits, brown bread, fiddleheads and whoopie pies, until now.

As part of a Maine tour this month, Anthony Bourdain, author, chef and host of the Travel Channel’s “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations,” and his film crew stopped in Milo where they had a community baked bean supper. “Good, really good, world-class, it was a good meal in general,” Bourdain said after consuming all on his plate but three-quarters of a whoopie pie. “I eat and drink for a living. If I ate all my dessert every time you’d need a block and tackle to get me out of the car.”

Bourdain said he decided to visit Milo because it’s the hometown of Zach Zamboni, his Emmy Award-winning cinematographer and cameraman. “He’s been singing the praises of Maine and his hometown for a long time, and I figured it was time to put up or shut up, so we came and decided to make a show,” Bourdain said.

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The episode, which will air at 10 p.m. Monday, April 12, on the Travel Channel, is a “very personal” show, Bourdain said, because he got to meet Zamboni’s family and see where he comes from. “I spend more time with Zach than I do with my family, I mean we travel all over the world together.”

Zach, a Penquis Valley High School and University of Maine graduate, said the job has taken him all over the world many times.

“It’s weird to be working at home,” he said. “When I was preparing for [tonight’s show] I was packing all my gear at my parents’ house and that was really strange. You never work at home; it’s always somewhere far away.”

Among the 100 or so who attended the meal, many did not recognize Bourdain and simply ate their meal while ignoring the cameras. Several attendees who did, however, took the opportunity to get his autograph and a photo with him.

“It was really impressive to see someone as successful and famous as him in our small community,” said Matthew Pinkham, of Sangerville.

Dexter teacher Rick Whitney said he didn’t have a clue who the special guest was. Whitney was there with members of the Dexter Regional High School Key Club to support members of the Penquis Valley High School Key Club who were helping with the dinner.

Before Milo, Bourdain, Zamboni and the TV crew traveled to Portland and Rockland, visiting popular eateries along the way, including J’s Oyster, Street and Co., and Conte’s 1984 Restaurant. “Awesome Conte’s,” Bourdain remarked. “That is one of the great unsung heroes, that’s a scholar, a poet and a cook, that’s not a restaurant, that should be a national monument,” he said of the Rockland restaurant.

He also heaped praise on the baked bean meal in Milo sponsored by the Three Rivers Kiwanis Club and headed up by member Val Robertson and her crew. The $1,100 in proceeds from the meal will be donated to a local family whose daughter, a student at Penquis Valley High School, died this week.

“‘I’ve had beans, I’ve had baked beans and pork and beans, but these are some pretty damn good beans,” Bourdain said. “It’s the first time I’ve been to a bean supper, I can tell you.”

Of Maine in general, Bourdain said the first thing that struck him was until he arrived in Milo, he had yet to meet a single person who was actually from Maine. “Portland, Rockland, everyone we met was a displaced person from someplace else,” he said.

Bourdain, who films next in Cuba, said he enjoyed the humor of real Mainers. “It’s dry, real dry,” he said. “As a New Yorker, when I go to someplace very different from where I live, I treat every place as if I were in a far away exotic land, and this is a pretty exotic place for me,” Bourdain said. “It sure is a hell a lot different from where I’m from. You know, I don’t live this way at all. I don’t know my next door neighbor’s name and I’ve lived next to them for years.”

dianabdn@myfairpoint.net

876-4579

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Comments
29 comments on this item
On 1/6/10 at 1:03 AM, SantiniSpagoandSpike wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Bourdain has it right! I think it is great for him to visit Milo and partake of the baked beans, hot dogs, brown bread and coleslaw dinner. Wished I was there for it, also...I envy him all through the article.

But there is some difference, if anyone stopped to notice something here. Remember last summer when in a coastal town (maybe it was Northwest Harbor) when Bobby Flay stepped out of a van, surprising everyone and holding some "cook off" with local restaurant owners? The comments flurried around that Flay seemed arrogant and with some sharp comments about the locals and their taste in food and cooking. Not Bourdain. He seems more civilized. Much more a gentleman.

We have the Travel Channel on our satellite service and always watch "No Reservations". Great program...great guy to watch!

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On 1/6/10 at 2:56 AM, pgfarmer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Bourdain is awesome!!!!

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On 1/6/10 at 5:06 AM, ajinblue wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

it's great that milo got some attention from a good tv show that deals with food.... bourdian show is worth watching if you are able to watch his show... i have seen many of his shows it's great to see that he went to another town in maine beside portland and rockland... milo will get a big boost in the spring time or even the summer time when people start to travel:):):)

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On 1/6/10 at 5:27 AM, DanTechWriter wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Great for Milo, my native town! Milo has gained a good friend in Bourdoin who will in effect serve as a promoter of small Maine towns.

The article states, "Of Maine in general, Bourdain said the first thing that struck him was until he arrived in Milo, he had yet to meet a single person who was actually from Maine. Bourdoin is then quoted: 'Portland, Rockland, everyone we met was a displaced person from someplace else,' he said.

In my observation, people in Maine locales such as Portand, Rockland and all points in between have not been "displaced" from any other place. Rather, they freely and sometimes urgently chose to come to Maine, permanently or on a vacation getaway, to escape from the relative insanity of large impersonal cities. In many ways the claim of "Maine - the way life should be" still rings true.

Undeniably, many people born in Milo go away to college, to military service, or to work. To the town's great benefit, many of those same folks later return to Milo and impart their knowledge and experience to the common good, enriching the town and sense of community so vital to the American culture.

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On 1/6/10 at 6:19 AM, otisfieldman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Iam glad tony came to the real Maine Hope he got to try some of the fine hard cider or wine the some of us ole salts put up! I watch his show and enjoy it.But I hope it dont bring in to many folks from away here

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On 1/6/10 at 8:01 AM, Mainecommenter wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

A great story.

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On 1/6/10 at 8:13 AM, NorthwoodsMainiac wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Has anyone else had the thought go through their head that "You can get there from here"?

This is the second story this year in the BDN that has pointed to a person from a small Maine town that graduated from high school (and a small one), went on to UMO and then made a name for themselves in a national TV setting.

The first was a girl from Nakomis.....that has gone on to produce major sporting events for ESPN. She's setting up the tech side of the NASCAR races. This guy Zamboni....same deal.

To all that read this article....tell your kids, your neighbors kids and all the young folks you interact with....."Success.....you can get there from here!

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On 1/6/10 at 8:17 AM, Bangorian wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Did anyone bother to help him understand that Milo is one of the rougher towns in Maine?

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On 1/6/10 at 8:19 AM, eastmainer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Wonderful that Zach got his 'boss' to come to his hometown of Milo,Maine. What a wonderful job--traveling all over the World.

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On 1/6/10 at 8:26 AM, rogereastMill wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

With all the places and resturants he has ate at, you would think he might weigh more like 240 or more.

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On 1/6/10 at 8:31 AM, concernsme wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

My favorite part is that he chose to come to Maine in the winter. I have never seen anyone choose a cold month to do a show here, unless it is about skiing or some other winter sport, that neccesitates the freezing climate. Thanks Tony for showing more of the true Maine experience.

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On 1/6/10 at 9:23 AM, musician wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I wouldn't have known who he was either...

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On 1/6/10 at 9:27 AM, southtexaskate wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

hey bourdain missed ploys and chicken stew in the st john valley!

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On 1/6/10 at 9:45 AM, Ruralgirl wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Great Story,

Thanks to Val and her crew for pulling together the traditional Maine Baked Bean Supah.

And for including fiddleheads to the menu !! What a great idea.

The Comunity of Milo should be proud of Zach for his accomplishments and pleased that Bourdain

selected their community to host a dinner.

daddybiggs and bangorian......shame on you for stating negative comments on what is a very

enlightening story.....perhaps your a lttle envious they didn't come to your home town ????

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On 1/6/10 at 11:39 AM, mainesense wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I love Bourdain and his eccentric 'taste'... What better place to experience real Maine than Milo and a Baked Bean Suppa' with all the fixins'.

Glad to see all the Key Clubs participating; they are our future and a bright spot in our rural culture.

Good story Diana!!!

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On 1/6/10 at 12:24 PM, debutante wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Bourdain is truly an explorer to come to Maine in winter!! He is definitely adventurous! So glad that he spotlighted Milo!

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On 1/6/10 at 12:25 PM, noreasternelly wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

steven king put maine on the map, and so it goes for us simple folk, we expect famoues people, we have alot in fact, basically on the islands, but for milo, this was a fantastic event. that landed them a slice of the pie. and i,ve watched no reservations for along time, anthonys a great host, i,m glad he got to see the real maine, all that was missing, was the lobster and the clams!!! hope you guys had a whicked good time, come back soon!!!

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On 1/6/10 at 1:08 PM, banjo13 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

HOW IN THE WORLD DID I MISS THIS!! Anthony Bourdain is the entire reason I entered the hospitality industry - I have read almost all of his books! I always wondered when or if he would bring No Reservations to Maine and when he finally did I MISSED IT!! Mr Zamboni HIRE ME!!! :)

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On 1/6/10 at 1:44 PM, axejacks wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I blame Gover. Baldacci! for bad baked beans.

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On 1/6/10 at 1:55 PM, Jaminjelly wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I love Tony's show, but if you don't know who he is, realize that he's a wiseass native New Yorker restauranteur with an acidic wit. It's great that he got a real taste of Maine life. But the fact is that central Maine is as close to a dining backwater as there is in this country, so if he's also visiting some local eateries, I'm sure he'll be rolling his eyes through much of the show. Be prepared for some less than complimentary comments, although I hope he'll spare the Milo event out of respect for Zach.

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On 1/6/10 at 2:01 PM, Jaminjelly wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If you want to know more about Tony's show, visit this site. And note that his show is preceeded by a warning that some content may be objectionable. He speaks his mind and uses rough language. That's just how he rolls.

http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Anthony_Bourdain

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On 1/6/10 at 2:06 PM, Jezebel wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The guy comes to Maine, for a national television show, and nobody feeds him some Maine Potatoes?? Or maybe a blueberry pie? Are you kidding me?? Way to promote the Maine economy....

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On 1/6/10 at 2:53 PM, lvbeags wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

He did get the chance to try some local made cider. A local, who went to school and grew up with Zach, makes it and had some available for him to try. It was great that he came to our town and got to sample some locals brew! He was gracious with us all and was patient for autographs and pics. A big thank you needs to go to Zach for bringing this to our town. It was great to catch up with him and see him again after many years. He has done well for himself and to remember where he came from is wonderful! It was great to be a part of this once in a lifetime opportunity that was given to us all! Thank you!!

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On 1/6/10 at 7:16 PM, Mainiac wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

In good nature, I made fun of my parents last night when they told me they had to rush as they were going to a baked bean supper in Milo (from Sebec). I guess the joke was on me.

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On 1/6/10 at 8:09 PM, scodud11 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Love Bourdain! Wiseass and all. I dunno, I am born and raised here, baked beans and hot dogs is not what I would offer up as the face of maine cuisine...I hope he liked the "SNAP" of those red hot dogs! (ick). I always preferred the skinless all beef variety of mystery meat tubes...giggle!

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On 1/7/10 at 12:23 PM, val04463 wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 1/8/10 at 3:57 AM, busymominmaine207 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

i think Bourdain is great as well I try to catch his show whenever I can you learn not only the foods of other lands but the

culture and the people.

I am glad he visited Maine and had the Baked Bean Supper I think that is real authentic Maine really!

that is just awesome!

I cannot wait to see it in April! :)

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On 1/8/10 at 9:15 AM, concernsme wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Please tell me there was brownbead. It doesn't get any more authentic than that!

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On 1/8/10 at 3:34 PM, val04463 wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
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