You can’t get away from Anthony Bourdain these days. He’s the hot topic for all the foodie websites and blogs (yes, I get the irony) – he’s showing up on TV and radio shows, and across newspaper and magazine pages. If you check, he’s probably been to your local bookstore recently promoting his new book. It should be really easy to hate the man.
If you don’t know who Anthony Bourdain (AB) is, you’ve missed a lot. A few years ago, he wrote a great book – Kitchen Confidential.
If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, you could identify with some of what he had to say. I annoyed many people by reading passages out loud – something compelled me to share some of the man’s insight with others.
Since KC came out, AB has given up cooking for a living and now spends his time travelling the world, writing about what he sees and sharing it on his Travel Channel show, Anthony Bourdain – No Reservations. In between he’s written a couple more books (A Cook’s Tour, Les Halles Cookbook and recently Nasty Bits).
From previous TV shows and writing, one might assume that AB was a pissed off, angry and somewhat smug individual. He seems to say and write whatever he wants – not somebody to pussy-foot around something to spare somebody’s feelings.
I think you’d be wrong to think any of that.
If you’ve had a chance to watch his Travel Channel show, you’ve seen a different AB. No longer the pissed off guy, with the screw-em-all attitude. What we see now is a kinder, gentler Tony. He looks like, well, he’s having fun. Not trying to teach us all a lesson (although, even when he was trying to teach us lessons, he was still entertaining). There are even hints of joy coming through.
Recently, Mr. Bourdain was in town promoting his latest offering The Nasty Bits – Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones. A collection of his writings that have appeared in print or online over the years since KC first came out. He held the crowd’s attention as he read one of the articles – and shared with us some extra tidbits as he went. He graciously answered questions from the eager audience. He then spent some time signing books, taking pictures and giving a little time to each person who came out to see him.
From the outside looking in, AB seems to have a pretty great life. He’s doing what so many of us wish we could do. He’s getting paid to fly around the world experiencing amazing things, tasting the best offerings of the most generous people. People hang on his every word – and it seems as though his work flows out of him with little to know effort (though that’s probably not the case). Like I said – it should be really easy to hate him.
But damn it – he’s good. And he’s kind. And he’s generous and gracious. And Nasty Bits was a great read. And I’m sure whatever his next book, or show, or whatever he’s willing to give us will be snatched up and enjoyed.
Thanks Tony.
What people are saying…