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A review by misterjay
A Cook's Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines by Anthony Bourdain
5.0
Strange to think that only six months ago I had never heard of Anthony Bourdain, yet now count him among my favorite writers. But the reasons are simple enough: a friend introduced me to Bourdain's first book - [b:Kitchen Confidential|33313|Kitchen Confidential Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (updated edition)|Anthony Bourdain|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1168422043s/33313.jpg|4219], while my father told me about Bourdain's show "No Reservations". This two hit combo resulted in my tracking down the book and the dvds and in this way getting to know Chef Bourdain.
"A Cook's Tour," Bourdain's second book, and more a collection of essays than structured travelogue, was written as a companion piece to his first t.v. show of the same name.
The stories in the book detail exotic lands, endearing people, and the best and worst food the chef experienced on his travels. Bourdain writes with a quick, if acerbic, wit and a good ear for spoken language. His real gift, however, is the way he describes things: from locations to meals to politics, Bourdain's words bring them easily and clearly to the mind's eye.
Among the highlights, for me, of this volume were the chef's stays in Mexico and Vietnam. Never have I so wanted to drop tools and take myself off to somewhere I had never before given much thought.
This kind of writing should be treasured and re-read often.
"A Cook's Tour," Bourdain's second book, and more a collection of essays than structured travelogue, was written as a companion piece to his first t.v. show of the same name.
The stories in the book detail exotic lands, endearing people, and the best and worst food the chef experienced on his travels. Bourdain writes with a quick, if acerbic, wit and a good ear for spoken language. His real gift, however, is the way he describes things: from locations to meals to politics, Bourdain's words bring them easily and clearly to the mind's eye.
Among the highlights, for me, of this volume were the chef's stays in Mexico and Vietnam. Never have I so wanted to drop tools and take myself off to somewhere I had never before given much thought.
This kind of writing should be treasured and re-read often.