Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook

a must read for any foody or fan!

as a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain, it's hard to not want to give this book a perfect score just based on bias, but please do not be fooled; it was earned.
Tony once again gives us a provocative and insightful view of a world many of us have never, will never, and plain just do not want to experience. ranting about chefs that are friends and enemies, and giving us ample explanation as to why.
while reading this book you won't be able to help but to chortle at Bourdain's witty banter and harsh remarks, his true to being, in your face, writing style. his books are always a joy to read because they are so REAL, he doesn't tip toe around gentle topics, he pressed them into your face like so many a cream pie in the days before color television.
The most enchanting chapter, oddly enough, is the one where he writes about his love for his daughter. you'd never think this man has a warm squishy interior, but there it is, smeared across so many pages of a published novel.
this book is a quick read, not because it's short, just because it's hard to put down. even if you've yet to read Kitchen Confidential this book will still appeal- as it is the Tony of today, not the Tony of 10 years past, still slaving behind hot stoves in crowded kitchens.
it's just an honor, I feel, that Mr. Bourdain would pen out his most intimate truths for us, his fans. it's truly an eye opening book, and a sordid glimpse at the life of another human being.

11 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

Great book for chefs and foodies!

This was a great read. A lot of people trash this book in the reviews, but as a culinary student I have greatly enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. He has no problem speaking his mind. He talks about why Emeril is still on TV, why Bobby Flay loses almost every throwdown, whether or not you should become a chef, about the liquor bottles behind the judges table on Top Chef, and many other interesting things that only true foodies can appreciate. If you love to cook or eat, pick this book up.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Can't go wrong with this book

I have read all of Anthony's books. I am a foody and just love his shows and honesty. Medium Raw is Raw. I grew up in NY and traveled a lot to the city for shows and dinner it was great to read an honest book about the behind the scenes of a chefand restaurant from Kitchen Confidential to Medium Raw. Buy this book and lend it to someone else.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

A Disconnected Tasting Menu

I like Anthony Bourdain, a lot. I love when he is a judge on Top Chef, and I think No Reservations is clever and insightful. "Medium Raw" did have a lot of what I have come to expect from Bourdain - wit, intelligence, ranting, and an inside look at a culinary world that I salivate over. That said, it felt at times like one of the tasting menus that Mr. Bourdain himself complains about...disjointed and overdone. I expect that most readers look forward to his anger, but I found his chapter regarding fatherhood hilarious and touching. In fact, there seems to be a kinder, gentler Bourdain eeking through...which isn't really a bad thing. On a negative side, I felt that some chapters just didn't belong...there was no real flow to the stream of consciousness. Speaking of streams...a little more editing would have protected the reader for spans of writing overkill.
However,even if I didn't completely clean my plate, there were enough delicious moments to make the meal worthwhile.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Not as good as previous books.

I enjoyed A Cooks Tour and Kitchen Confidential, but this one is just a conglomeration of irrelevant ramblings. His excessive use of the F word only tends to distract from his point. I assume he had a point but I must have missed it. Tony is not at his best. If you haven't read anything by Bourdain, I would suggest anything else other than this book.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Anthony, you have really outdone yourself..and no doubt a death knell for your talent...

Such a vitriolic and snarky book! The only chapters worth reading were the ones of his joys of newfound fatherhood (and the McDonald's stuff, too- I admit, loved the subterfuge) and the rehash of all the stuff you had on previous programs that were outstanding. He cuts to the bone and sucks out the marrow on this one. Not your usual Bourdain. Sad to admit. Guess he is in a much different place now, and maybe that is good for him. There is a lot of good there, though- how nobody can afford anymore fancy, organic, artisimal foods, as things are now!! just feeding the family is a trial- and the pompous attitudes of restaruanteurs in that light.and how it's a downfall to them - ..we are in a different time now, and he did reflect that....but seriously, someday, would you want your daughter, Tony, reading this book? It's so daggone acidic and rife with your usual fbombs. Life is short, lighten up- you'll live a LOT longer! The writing is sterling Bourdain, very vivid and well writ- just so much acid in every page...no prilosec will make this palatable.

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

The Bourdain style lives on!

This edition of the wit,sarcasm, insight and observations that made his prvious sojourns in to the world of chiefs and food so entertainng is present in this his latest effort. I am not sure what it is that exactly keeps me coming back to his books. The time I spend with his work can certainly be used in a more productive way to solve the problems of mankind. I guess I am drawn to his reads so I can step into a world of words where an honest interpretation of events is presented with no appology or pretense. I must admit I may not always agree with his spin on things but I do appreciate his pair bones, lay it all on the line style. Medium Raw continues to entertain and inform. I do hope there is a well done version on the way.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Brilliant, but not Bourdain's best

Avid readers of Bourdain will appreciate the familiar wit and salty charm of the author as he sways from cultural commentary to food critic and back again, but fresh inductees beware, there are better places to begin your love affair with Tony.

Like an old friend recalling past travels, Bourdain's tone is intimate and his surly humor takes no prisoners, which may be off-putting to those who are not initiated in his ways. Try Kitchen Confidential or perhaps another collection of his essays if you're new to the under-belly; for those more familiar, jump on in, the water is fine.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Mildly amusing

Nowhere near as insightful and funny as Kitchen Confidential. But a pleasant diversion for the most part. However, despite the fact that I nearly always finish the books I read, my interest petered out and I quit before the end. Wait 'till it hits the discount rack.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Meh

I'm torn between loving this book and hating it. I love that he gives us some inside dish on what's going on at the food network and in various restaurants. I hate that he's so vulgar about things. He could've written this book and left out half the f__ks and douchebag comments. I mean really, what will his little girl think about daddy when she reads this? He uses the words under the guise of being truthful and edgey. It doesn't work for me. I do like some portions of it though but I should have read it for free at Barnes and Noble on my Nook instead of paying to download it. I think it was wasted money.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Bourdain

I preferred Nasty Bits to Medium Raw. Anthony seems to be off his game in this one. Still love his tv shows and his off the wall sense of humor. Gets a "pass".

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pretty Decent--worth reading

If you haven't read "Kitchen Confidential" this book will make you want to read it. This book is typical Bourdain. He gives you an inside look at the culinary world, without the romanticism & with a good helping of grit on the side. "Medium Raw" is filled with rants, provocative stories, food porn, promoting his buddy chefs, & so much more. I frequently found myself reading paragraphs out loud to my husband, & he was equally entertained (also a Bourdain fan). If you know you like Bourdain, you'll like the book. If you loathe him.you'll hate the book. But if you loathe him & you are debating buying this book, then your obvious masochistic side will enjoy the read..

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Trash

Sad commentary to the fact that this will become a "Best Seller".

1 out of 18 people found this review helpful.

If you liked "Kitchen Confidential"

If you like Anthony Bourdain, "Kitchen Confidential" or anything he does, you will enjoy the easy read "Medium Raw." Updates of his life and opinions, and good behind the scenes outlook. Makes me want watch him as judge on "Top Chef".

He did it again.

This book is a hilariously gritty, endearing, and slap-your-neighbor rant. I couldn't devour it all in one sitting because it was just too overwhelming. Reading this book is like listening to your drunk father describing how emasculating it is to have had a vasectomy, but he still has bigger huevos than your boyfriend. Horrifyingly real and snort inducing. I'm impressed once again.

What an a$$h01e

I wouldn't drop a dime on this on this idiot!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good book

Great book & very interesting life this man has had. Wow!

"Build, therefore, your own world." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Usually, I'm a larger fan of fiction - Anthony's "Get Jiro!", for instance, was an exceptional graphic novel that was able to marry violent-food-passion with violent-food-comedy. Fortunately, for me, Anthony's pencil has the same feel for every reader, no matter what the genre is!
"Medium Raw" is a no-reservations-travel-log of Anthony's past and all who played a significant role in his life. But wait - it's more than just that; it's also about his thoughts on food education, the distinguishing factors of how the rich eat differently than everyone else, how not to waste food, and multiple short stories that paint a rather larger composition whose canvas material, I feel, no one will ever know.
Do yourself a favor - get some really good cheese from your LOCAL wine and cheese shop, get your most raggedy clothes on, have cigarettes available (smoke 'em if you got e'm!), and read this book. It only takes a day or so, and it will be the best food-medicine you've ever had (without actually anatomically digesting, that is).

Anonymous

Not great has bad words

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Another good one

Another well written book! Its a great follow up on his story and Anthony lays it all out there again.