Medium Raw marks the return of the inimitable Anthony Bourdain, author of the blockbuster bestseller Kitchen Confidential and three-time Emmy Award-nominated host of No Reservations on TV’s Travel Channel. Bourdain calls his book, “A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook,” and he is at his entertaining best as he takes aim at some of the biggest names in the foodie world, … biggest names in the foodie world, including David Chang, Alice Waters, the Top Chef winners and losers, and many more. If Hunter S. Thompson had written a book about the restaurant business, it could have been Medium Raw.
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I had no idea Anthony Bourdain was such a talented writer. This book was a joy to read and sadly really gave an inside look at the demons he obviously carried. Read this along side Kitchen Confidential and get an insiders look at the food and restaurant world as well as enjoy the work of a really, really good writer.
I did not like this book at all. Mr. Bourdain uses unbelievablly foul language and the book is way longer than it could have been. He is so full of himself, and his conceit really comes across in his writings. I would NOT recommend it.
A closer look into this enigmatic personna.
Parts are insider stories about foodie people I don’t know but the best parts are his poetic aand
Lyrical descriptions of meals he has had around the world. Some brilliant writing here though not perfect. It’s easy now to see how dark a side he had and how unsettled he was about being so successful. Such a shame.
Not his best, but interesting
Very dark in tone, but he was a talented writer and observer of life. After reading this, news of his suicide is not a surprise.
Interesting book. He has a wonderful vocabulary. But he absolutely uses foul language to an excess..Now and then I find it OK. But every paragraph! ??
Book needs editing …
I enjoy Bourdain’s writing style. It is tragic that he took his life leaving a child behind to wonder why. He was a talented and insightful author and his wit will be missed.
Fascinating insights to the tensions which drove Bourdain. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
This book was a eye opener for me. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I have a new appreciation for the food community and chefs.
Heartbreaking. To read this after Anthony Bourdain ‘ s death will make readers melancholy. His writing is compellingly honest about his struggles with mental illness and how long he has been fighting suicide’s allure. The food writing, as always, is a delight.
Has completely changed my view of the culinary world. Will be much more skeptical of highly rated restaurants. Writer is not a likable character, an opportunist and extremely crude. His suicide is totally predictable unfortunately. A tragic life .
He looks back to Kitchen Confidential and reviews where he was at that time, and where all those chefs are now. Can not believe where HE is now
This is a tragic read since Anthony B. Is no longer with us. His fast-paced, brutally honest works a wonderful. I will miss him.
New insight into Mr. Bourdain and the business of food and restaurants.
Oh, I miss him already.
My summer reading recommendation would be Anthony Bourdain’s 2011 memoir: Medium Raw, and not only for the timely subject matter (I too was a huge fan of Bourdain) but for the beautiful writing, precise clarity, and a brutal honesty that roars out from a man who took William S. Burroughs’ Naked Lunch, as a personal guide for life. The ultimate …
Enjoyed all his books. Knows what he is writing about and is hilarious
boring
It’s hard to really put into words, I dont always like the authors words, or turns of phrase. But, after recent events, it was an interesting read, and I felt it was the authors true voice. Its holds sadness, regret, awe, and despair.