Medium Raw

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

By: Anthony Bourdain

Narrated by: Anthony Bourdain

Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

The long-awaited follow-up to the mega-best-seller Kitchen Confidential

In the 10 years since his classic Kitchen Confidential first alerted us to the idiosyncrasies and lurking perils of eating out - from Monday fish to the breadbasket conspiracy - much has changed for the subculture of chefs and cooks, for the restaurant business and for Anthony Bourdain. Medium Raw explores those changes, moving back and forth from the author's bad old days to the present. Tracking his own strange and unexpected voyage from journeyman cook to globe-traveling professional eater and drinker, and even to fatherhood, Bourdain takes no prisoners as he dissects what he's seen, pausing along the way for a series of confessions, rants, investigations, and interrogations of some of the most controversial figures in food.

Beginning with a secret and highly illegal after-hours gathering of powerful chefs that he compares to a mafia summit, Bourdain pulls back the curtain, but never pulls his punches, on the modern gastronomical revolution, as only he can. Cutting right to the bone, Bourdain sets his sights on some of the biggest names in the foodie world, including David Chang, the young superstar chef who has radicalized the fine-dining landscape; the revered Alice Waters, whom he treats with unapologetic frankness; the Top Chef winners and losers; and many more.

Always he returns to the question "Why cook?" Or the more difficult "Why cook well?" Medium Raw is the deliciously funny and shockingly delectable journey to those answers, sure to delight philistines and gourmands alike.

©2010 Anthony Bourdain (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"The food orbit is [Bourdain’s] element, and chapters on today’s leading figures—from chef David Chang to critic Alan Richman—display his access, outspokenness and comedic gifts....Mr. Bourdain is a vivid, bawdy and often foul-mouthed writer. He thrills in the attack, but he is also an enthusiast who writes well about things he holds dear." ( Wall Street Journal)

“Full of things everybody in the food world thinks but nobody will say...If [Bourdain’s] sharp eye and his wicked tongue have brought him acclaim, what’s kept him in the spotlight is his heart. Like Oscar Wilde, he’s a moralist in the guise of a libertine. Long may he prosper.” ( Denver Post)

“Bourdain has insight, access and good taste, and he’s a naturally engaging writer...Bourdain is a hopeless romantic when it comes to food and the people who cook. The subtitle’s real valentines are two elegantly written profiles.” ( New York Times Book Review)

Love the narrative

Where does Medium Raw rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I like listening to audiobooks narrated by the author, this one was great.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Medium Raw?

The islands!

Which character – as performed by Anthony Bourdain – was your favorite?

Himself

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A bloody valentine for foodies.

An enjoyable series of vignettes

What made the experience of listening to Medium Raw the most enjoyable?

I think Anthony Bourdain's narration made this collection for me. These are his stories, and he knows well how to tell them.

What other book might you compare Medium Raw to and why?

I think that Bourdain's other non-fiction "Kitchen Confidential" might be the best point of comparison. Much like Kitchen Confidential, Medium Raw bounces between points of time and stories. I feel that "Kitchen Confidential" might be the more cohesive in terms of its themes or emotions as "Medium Raw" bounces more, but both are fun.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were many sections of "Medium Raw" where I found myself either grinning or laughing. One such section was when Bourdain described in vivid detail a week long romance with a member of the truly elite. Another such section was when Bourdain and his then wife were discussing Ronald McDonald in ear shot of their daughter.

Any additional comments?

This is a collection of unrelated, almost-stream of consciousness essays more than a novel or memoir. Each of the essays is well told, and Bourdain as a narrator does a very good job. If you like short, often funny stories with no clear link to each other, I think this might be your cup of tea.

Good look at Bourdain after fame.

Bourdain is always fun to listen to. This story was not as charged and angry as Kitchen Confidential, but it paints a picture of who Anthony Bourdain was after some time in the spotlight.]

Awesome book!

Bourdain has done it again!! too bad he had to kill himself, but this book is amazing.

Missing a legend

Great leason, I have been missing this man lately and have done a few books. loved it.

Bourdain is As entertaining as Ever

This is a collection of stories, anecdotes and thoughts of Bourdain during different periods of his career. A sharing of ideas that to be fair doesn't have an overarching cohesion but nonetheless makes for great entertainment. recommend for any Culinary Professional or No Reservations enthusiast

It is Anthony Bourdain. what else would we expect

Irreverent, reverent, direct, serious and not.. If you like cooking, dining, raw communications and have a sense of humor.. you will enjoy this.

Great listen!!

I could listen to his voice all day!! Better than his first, Kitchen Confidential. Although I loved that book as well, they go hand in hand!! Superb Mr. Bourdain, you are truly missed.

Anthony’s storytelling is amazing

If you like Anthony Bourdain and understand at all the restaurant industry, this book is a gem. Fun hearing Anthony’s takes on his own work and a great follow up from Kitchen Confidential.

The greatest white man of our generation!

He wasn't perfect, but that's what made him great. Gumption and truth are two very distance qualities today, both of which be found in Bourdain's writings and personality. RIP