Warning: This post includes discussions of suicide. Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I lost a loved one to suicide years ago. If you believe that influences this review, that's your call. Anthony Bourdain was one of the greatest storytellers in the history of the United States. The chef-turned author-turned TV show host-turned beloved global icon entertained millions around the world with his passion for cooking, his behind-the-scenes restaurant stories, and eventually his desire to gain a better understanding of humanity, largely shaped by what people in other countries eat. He was a rebel, an inquisitive mind, and a... Read more →

A number of celebrities we enjoy here have passed away in the last couple of years, and one of the biggest losses is that of chef/author/TV star Anthony Bourdain, who died from suicide in 2018. From a personal perspective, not having the opportunity to read more of his writing is a huge blow. Bourdain's storytelling left us spellbound time and time again. Whether he was talking about cooking, restaurants, travel, or his own personal history (warts and all), it was always the same result - we wished the book had another 300 pages. Of course, even that wouldn't have been... Read more →

Anthony Bourdain was a hero to many people around the globe. The renowned chef/author/TV journalist spent years highlighting the beauty of the world and our commonalities, through the vehicle of food, and there was no one else like him. That's why it was so devastating when the news came out about his death by suicide in June 2018. His fans felt like they'd lost an advocate, a travel guide, perhaps a motivational coach, and a friend who often appeared on TV from some fascinating location trying a food many of us had never heard of before. His loss still stings... Read more →

I realized after his recent death that I've never read any of Anthony Bourdain's books. The late chef/TV host was a captivating presence any time I'd seen him on television, but not being a "foodee" per se, I'd assumed these books would not be for me. However, it's always good to challenge assumptions, so I went to the local library and checked out Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook. Published in 2010, Medium Raw is the follow-up to Kitchen Confidential, the book which launched Bourdain into super-stardom. It's a collection of... Read more →