Book Review: Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain

Memoir.  I read this in January 2015.  I read this because it is the follow-up to his first memoir about cooking and the food industry, Kitchen Confidential, which I loved.  This one, while still interesting and still probably fun for people who like Anthony Bourdain, was not as strong as the first work.  In all fairness, this is probably because I have watched a ton of episodes from several of his T.V. shows, so I am already familiar with many of his ideas/opinions and have heard many of the anecdotes already before reading this book.  It was definitely fun though to read about the behind the scenes moments on Top Chef, that it really is much harder than we think to be on that show, and of course his typical acid spitting remarks for some of the people in the food industry.  He is also rather nice in this one and includes some people he admires greatly and why he thinks they are top notch, and why he won't ever go back into a kitchen again.  I would recommend this for fans of Anthony Bourdain, foodies, travelers, and lovers of sarcasm everywhere.

And so it goes...

Book Review: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

Non-fiction.  Memoir.  I have intended to read this book for a long time and I am really glad I finally read it, I love Anthony Bourdain!  He is absolutely hilarious, but only if you like sarcasm and dark humor, if you do not then this book is probably not for you.  I have enjoyed his T.V. shows for years, so I think that made it even easier for me to read it: I could hear his voice and see his expressions in my mind as I read the work.

The book is a sort of memoir about how he became a cook and then a chef, some advice for those who want to cook better meals at home (only a tiny bit), and insights into the life of a professional chef.  He is honest about his mistakes, and the tale is a much darker and a much grittier side to things than you see on Food Network: he really dislikes Emeril Lagasse, openly mocks Bobby Flay, and other things/people which makes for some pretty hilarious commentary.  After reading some fairly heavy works recently, this was definitely a humorous and informative breath of fresh air.

Tony started his career in a place during the summer off from college (Vassar where he was not doing much), up in a tiny fishing/beach/summer town called Provincetown (MA).  Delightfully for me, the day after I finished this book CNN ran a mini-marathon of his T.V. show "Parts Unknown" where he went to this town and then spent the rest of the episode talking about the growing heroin epidemic in the U.S.  So I was able to see some of the places, kitchens, and foods he discussed in the book, which was marvelous.  After reading this work, I have also decided that if/when I visit NYC in the future I will never eat at the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center, I do indeed need to invest in better pots and pans and learn how to use those bigger and scarier chef's knives, and I have learned that the life of a chef can vary greatly depending on opportunities and the goals of the individual (e.g. Do you want to learn or do you want money?).  I highly recommend this book to fans of Anthony Bourdain, those interested in the world of chefs and cooking, and anybody looking for a few deeply sarcastic belly laughs.

And so it goes...