Medium Raw

Medium Raw

A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook

by Anthony Bourdain

★★★

Anthony Bourdain is unapologetically who he is and people tend to love him or hate him for that. To be honest, I’ve never watched any of his TV shows. A few years ago I read and loved Kitchen Confidential and that’s what made me want to pick this one up. I wasn’t a big fan of the first half of the book. He seemed to be justifying what he’s done since he became famous and I didn’t really care. In the second half he finds his balance and sinks into a bit of reflection and advice. It had a much better flow and tone.

I loved the section where he discusses how the recession affected restaurants, both in good ways and bad ways. He gives the average customer a little insight into the behind-the-scenes work that goes into running successful operations. There are pitfalls or challenges that I never would have thought about.

Regardless of the BS that inevitably surrounds his persona, Bourdain wins people over with his honest observations and his unfettered passion for food. He loves it equally in its most elaborate and simplistic forms. He conveys that with every word that he writes. He’s not a fan of the political shuffling that the public eye forces him to navigate, but his love of great food has never faltered. 

His writing style works for me because he is sardonic and testy. Honestly he’s a cranky asshole and he never tries to deny it. His observations are steeped in sarcasm or disdain. He’s honest to a fault and that makes him a lot of enemies, but that doesn’t seem to bother him and I respect that. He’s just as loyal to his friends and he is vocal against his foes.

BOTTOM LINE: Read it if you loved Kitchen Confidential and you also like Bourdain’s “in-your-face” cantankerous style. 

Side note: I would HIGHLY recommend listening to this one which is read by the author himself.

“I am not a fan of people who abuse service staff. In fact, I find it intolerable. It’s an unpardonable sin as far as I’m concerned, taking out personal business or some other kind of dissatisfaction on a waiter or busboy.” 

“There’s something wonderful about drinking in the afternoon. A not-too-cold pint, absolutely alone at the bar – even in this fake-ass Irish pub.” 

“If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them – wherever you go.”