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)

Bourdain is the crotchety Taylor Swift of food.

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

Anthony Bourdain doesn't hold back. If you appreciate salacious gossip, creative use of profanity, and continuous strands of international food porn, this book is definitely for you. You can't help but love him for his adamant support of the underdog and candor about his experiences. I certainly do.

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

When Bourdain did his dressing down of Alan Richman for his critical remarks of New Orleans post-Katrina, I nearly cried. I'm so happy that he so firmly stood up to those who he regards as "villains."

amazing

loved it! I recommend this book to anyone, not only people who work in the kitchen, but anyone who eats meat! vegetarian- don't read!

If you like Bourdain, you'll probably like this

What did you love best about Medium Raw?

I enjoy listening to Anthony Bourdain in general, and it was interesting to hear about food from another perspective and learn more about him

Would you recommend Medium Raw to your friends? Why or why not?

I think that, in general, if you like him, you'll enjoy the book. But it was a little self indulgent, and I'd feel more comfortable recommending his show than this.

Dinner Companion

As the sister of a chef, I get to go out with my brother and his pals whenever I'm in town. Tony sounds just like them: funny, scatological, sarcastic, profane and opinionated. I'd love to have him join us, he'd fit right in. He writes like he talks, and that's a very good thing.

great book!

its interesting the whole way through, u don't need to be a cook or a foodie to enjoy this book.

A GREAT SECOND COURSE!

A great follow up to "Kitchen Confidential" that induced Homer Simpson drooling during his passages and descriptions of food and also had me laughing my ass off at his unfiltered wit. Its cliche but its left me hungry for more and sad to say once again RIP.

great listen

very entertaining story, was sad when it ended. I was always a fan of Anthony Bourdains television shows

Laughed and cried

I Listened to this right after we lost Him. RIP Tony and Thank you! I have always loved the way you tell your stories, you will surely be missed.

Such a satisfying listen!

Anthony Bourdain has such a way with words and telling a story. This book will easily become a favorite to listen to over and over again.

Better than Kitchen Confidential

Bourdain's second tell-all is even better than the first one, as he's gained some life experience and can look at his career with much more introspection. Still full of interesting anecdotes and delicious descriptions of food.