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)

Completely hungry

If you could sum up Medium Raw in three words, what would they be?

craving, wanderlust, frankness

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

I honestly can't compare it to any other book but Kitchen Confidential. He has a particular way of phrasing that starts out gentlemanly and turns crude, but not in an off-putting way. His colorful comparisons and metaphors keep you interested (just in case you didn't find his perspectives compelling).

He is opinionated. He is crass. If you don't dig any of his new Parts Unknown episodes (for which he has been criticized for being too political), you won't enjoy this.

But for those who aren't afraid to learn more about American food industry problems (which effects everyone, no matter what political or religious affiliation you may have), along with some travel/food porn and semi-dangerous past escapades, I'm giving you a virtual high-five for having the same taste I do, good buddy!

What does Anthony Bourdain bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Like all the benefits of having the writer read his own work, Bourdain knows how to give the subtle aspects of a story that can't come across when reading, like when to pause, when to emphasize, and when to be sarcastic. But even these little things pale against the emotion that comes through when he's writing about Hanoi or a good meal he's eaten. It seems as though nothing makes him angrier than poor-quality meat product, and I can hear in his voice when he's just as frustrated about his crappy decisions as anyone would be. I even appreciate his discordant Jersey accent, foreign pronunciation, and (what some would call) lowbrow vocab. He's writing for the everyman, and I don't think there's enough of that from other chefs.

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

Bourdain is only like Bourdain. He doesn't give a crap about kissing ass to the industry, which makes his honesty and circumspection all the more trustworthy and enlightening. But he also subjects his perceptive analysis to himself, taking along his audience along in a self-autopsy about his past, shortcomings, and loves.

Any additional comments?

Chapter 9 is probably my favorite because, in a unique and opaque way, he's writing loving tributes to foreign meals he's had, right after he gives a sorry-not-sorry speech about doing it.

Each chapter could almost be read on its own, similar to a collection of essays instead of a chronologically-driven memoir. So, it'll probably be good for people who are jumping back-and-forth between audiobooks, or need to take frequent breaks from them.

Great listen

If you liked Kitchen Confidential, you'll love this next installment in Anthony Bourdain's line of blunt, unapologetic, shocking, but honest look into the world of cooking. He does a great job delivering some of his trademark vicious assessments of cooks/chiefs or out of date cooking traditions.

Curious mind, Strong Opinions

Would you consider the audio edition of Medium Raw to be better than the print version?

I did not read the print edition.

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

I was very interested when he talked about the experienced of eating specialties in the places they were famous for, in detail.

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

He read from his own book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When he talked about becoming a father and how this changed his view of the world.

Any additional comments?

I enjoy seeing Mr. Bourdain on TV...it is hard to listen for hours on end to his strong opinions without a break. I had to read a chapter or so at a time so as to appreciate what he had to say in the audiobook.

Another Home Run Book for Bourdain

Would you listen to Medium Raw again? Why?

Yes. It's an excellent audio experience.

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

The opening dinner session. It's brilliant and engaging. I was instantly hooked,

Have you listened to any of Anthony Bourdain’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've listened to two of his books. They're both excellent.

As always, Bourdain is a pleasure to listen to!

Hearing Anthony tell his tale is so much better than listening to ANY other narrator. That aside, the story is great - loved the behind the scenes bits near the end about all of the "characters" in Kitchen Confidential. Any Bourdain fan is going to be happy if they buy this audiobook - regardless of whether you spend a credit or pay full price. LOVED IT.

Anthony... you f*ing genius...

A great follow up, though long overdue, to Kitchen Confidential. Funny, witty, and with all the spite you'd expect from Anthony. Too heartbreaking to know we never get another one.

Good incite, some parts we more rants then info

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

Number two

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Just a content and approach issue. Some sections were memorable, but some were more suited to fast forward. Kitchen Confidential was more enjoyable.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

It is intersting to have the narrator the author.

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

A good chuckle here and there. Must reactions we Aha. that makes sense!

Any additional comments?

It did provided incite into the industry and removed any idea I might have had about going into the business. His Take on the food networks and celebrity chefs was eye opening.

Awesome book and ever better narration!

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

Honest, raw (as the title suggests), and candid... He talks about certain issues which annoy him which one could agree or disagree but he presents them in a way that makes you respect his opinion.

What about Anthony Bourdain’s performance did you like?

He wrote the book and he was narrating it the way it was meant to be narrated. He spoke his words the way he meant them to be spoken.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The best part of the book for me was when he was talking about his daughter. I have a baby son myself and I could not agree more with what he was saying. It was the most memorable chapter of a very enjoyable book for me because he was talking about something very personal and he was mirroring exactly my own emotions about the subject.

Highly entertaining

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

Anthony Bourdain is simply hilarious. Listening to him read about his opinions of and experiences with other chefs in the industry is laugh-out-loud fun, especially his section on heroes and villains.

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

At one point Anthony Bourdain goes on a truly funny rant about vegetarians, vegans, and the stuff that is in most store-bought hamburgers and hot dogs... I was just finishing up this section as I pulled into Costco, where I guiltily ordered a hot dog.

What does Anthony Bourdain bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Anthony Bourdain truly enhances the experience of his book. The way he reads and emphasizes certain opinions and events really added to how much I liked Medium Raw. I read Kitchen Confidential in print, but I really enjoyed having Anthony Bourdain read this book.

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

I laughed out loud many times throughout this book.

Bourdain DOES IT AGAIN

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, but not before Kitchen Confidential. This is the well aged sequel to the cold blue KC. Bourdain takes on the same industry (and more) with the same fervor albeit from a more tempered stance. That isn't to say he has less bite. It's just that his bite is more experienced, chef like, compared to the line cook digs in KC.

What does Anthony Bourdain bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His damn voice! Though you get a sense of his tone from his writing, his performance adds the human touch.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

One of the chapters should be titled food porn. Written in excruciating detail, Bourdain, recounts the countless meals he's had world wide. You can practically smell the goose and taste the langostine.

Any additional comments?

Yum