This book was a pleasure to read because I really like Anthony Bourdain. His view on the world was an admirable one. He saw travel as a form of self improvement, and then walked the walk to back it up. He escaped drug addiction and long hours in the kitchen by making time for his writing amid a chaotic schedule.
One thing the book shows is just how hard he actually worked. Bourdain always downplayed this and is a humble guy. But the fact remains that he would wake up at 5am to work on his book for a few hours before going to work. Where he would typically remain until gone midnight.
It’s also clear how intense the food industry used to be. Maybe it still is. I don’t know. Cooks scream at and abuse each other constantly. People burn, cut and generally harm each other just to make a point. Suppliers have no mercy, and are often caught up in larger business deals that get in your way. Everybody does drugs. And nobody cares as long as it doesn’t affect the food.
The general attitude is that you start at the bottom and work up. Bourdain does well to show us the whole journey here. From line cook to touring Tokyo on behalf of his own restaurant.
This is a funny, in-your-face showcase of the cooking industry.