A review by catherin9
A Cook's Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines by Anthony Bourdain

5.0

This was such a fun, surprisingly educational read. I found myself learning a lot about each country, a sort of tongue-in-cheek collection of anthropological vignettes (each chapter is a new country). Each line drips with sarcasm, arrogance and self-deprecation, a funny combination that embodies Bourdain well. Written very honestly (and crudely), I enjoyed seeing someone as seasoned and calloused as Bourdain explore the world with a genuine sense of wonder. I was impressed by the level of respect and humility he approaches each culture, person and dish he encounters. I laughed out loud at the absurd situations (made more absurd by his too-cool attitude mixed with the occasional celebrity tantrum), cringed at some of the grosser food moments, and salivated through the rest - his love for good food is unmistakable. I never knew it could be so poetic - it's as if in the moment his words run through my mind, they're mine and I suddenly understand the art of food (accompanied by a few more expletives than usual...)