The Rust Belt

As part of what is called "The Rust Belt" in certain circles, the trio of Baltimore, Detroit, and Buffalo tend to be remembered as the three cities in the United States that began with booming prospects in economic and industrial production, and ended with a stagnant regression of the same ideas. Despite the dirty and sometimes dangerous reputations of these once great cities, Anthony Bourdain decides to explore each locale in search of what keeps each alive, and also, of course, a taste of what they have to offer in the way of food. His first stop is in Baltimore, Maryland. (Tony has driven his Russian friend, Zamir, along the way.) The first stop is at a neighborhood roast called Chaps pit beef, where Bourdain and Zamir eat pulled beef sandwiches and talk crime with a premier homicide detective of the region who also happens to star on the television program, "The Wire." Tony's second encounter is with Baltimore native Felicia, who once served in prison for murder but now has progressed so much in her morals as to also star in "The Wire." She takes Bourdain to Mo's--a diner of sorts where he and Felicia feast on all sorts of seafood including a grapefruit-sized crabcake. They top off their experience with a highly alcoholic blue beverage, titled "The Obama." Bourdain then skips off with Zamir to try some local soul food--specifically "lake trout" with collard greens and some hearty mac' n cheese.

Detroit and Buffalo also have some tasty offerings as well as a sampling of the local ethnicity. Detroit has a large population of Poles, and thus the two men travel to "Polonia," a restaurant serving up perogies, cabbage and dill soup, and mushroom latkes. Buffalo also has its charms, where local musician Nelson Star shows Bourdain and Zamir to the only truly authentic buffalo wings, snowmobile rides, and liver soup. Despite the bad connotations of all three cities, the inhabitants of these old giants have managed to prove that a city that has lost its reputation still hasn't lost its heart.