Anthony Bourdain on NPR

shellshock · Jun 17, 2010

I know we have quite a few Bourdain fans around here, myself included so just thought i'd share...

Heard this interview with him on NPR earlier about his new book. It was pretty good, he always comes off as a guy that would be cool to hang out with.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=127884011

GanglandDandy · Jun 17, 2010

I saw that episode where he returned to Brasserie Les Halles. Dude really had a hard time going through 1 shift after all those years.

Reggs · Jun 17, 2010

He talked about that eps in the radio show.

ErnestoG. · Jun 17, 2010

i saw him speak in lowell on his speaking tour last winter. huge fan of his work and have read a few of his books. really cool guy and his show was awesome. about 30 minutes was devoted to ******** on sandra lee and other food network bozos.

CMJTperry · Jun 17, 2010

I think he's an ass. Way to much thought and work into coming of as cool. Not sure why him ******** on others makes him better then anyone else either.

Stokely · Jun 17, 2010

Originally Posted by CMJTperry

I think he's an ass. Way to much thought and work into coming of as cool. Not sure why him ******** on others makes him better then anyone else either.

Weird. You just did exactly what you say he does.

whiteslashasian · Jun 17, 2010

Originally Posted by Stokely

Weird. You just did exactly what you say he does.

Nice one.

robin · Jun 17, 2010

In his new book he uses the first chapter to nearly-but-not-quite apologize to all of the chefs/tv personalities that he criticized in the past.

Svenn · Jun 17, 2010

^he indeed seems a bit self-absorbed and bitter, but much less so than all the other ambitious artist-types out there that became successful... i still think he's a relatively sincere guy and his show is one of the few quasi-thoughtful ones on cable.

foodguy · Jun 17, 2010

i know him a little bit (full disclosure: he blurbed my last book). he is a very good guy to hang out with and is much more nuanced than he comes across in print. i find his new book fairly exasperating. there is some really thoughtful, very, very good stuff. and then there's stuff that's just schtick. he's like the smartest guy in the class who thinks he always has to be acting out because that's what the other kids like. his chapter on alice waters is about as perfect an explanation as i've ever read of why even people who agree with her goals sometimes have problems with her absolute-ness ... that's a very difficult thing to get across and he does it really well.

gomestar · Jun 17, 2010

Originally Posted by Svenn

^he indeed seems a bit self-absorbed and bitter

it's what people want to hear and he knows it. People have established him as a credible source for flogging celebrity chefs and they will pay to hear more.

he has, however, admitted that people like Rachel Ray are good people if they are able to get people back in the kitchen and cooking again.

Infrasonic · Jun 17, 2010

His early presenting style was too mannered, but once he relaxed and became more natural he was great. My fave food presenter now.

Couple of friends who were absolute monsters (their lives consisted of getting heart surgeons wasted on freebie holidays, starred restaurants etc.) took Bourdain out on the town in Manchester after a book signing many years ago.

They said he held up quite well...

erictheobscure · Jun 17, 2010

I like Bourdain okay and watch his show via Netflix when I'm bored. He's entertaining enough. But he eventually gets on my nerves for a few reasons:

He helped popularize the notion that chefs are badasses. I really hate this b.s. Since I love good food, I appreciate and respect the skill that chefs have. But I don't think they're tough or warriors or whatever. They're people who cook food for other people for a living.

He loves his hip/outsider image, but he's only cynical in a textbook way. If you watch his show with any regularity, you start to see how eager he is to cling to the most banal narratives. "Oh my god, how does San Francisco have great meat when it's full of vegetarians and hippies! What a crazy paradox!" Meh.

foodguy · Jun 17, 2010

Originally Posted by erictheobscure

He helped popularize the notion that chefs are badasses. I really hate this b.s. Since I love good food, I appreciate and respect the skill that chefs have. But I don't think they're tough or warrior or whatever. They're people who cook food for other people for a living.
i agree, up to a point. what's important is that that's how many people who work in kitchens see themselves. it's not something he invented, but something he latched on to. there is a significant backlash, including from America's Most Famous Chef, who runs kitchens with a very different vibe. a big part of tony's psyche is pissing off his parents (read: shocking the bourgeoisie).

Hombre Secreto · Jun 17, 2010

Originally Posted by erictheobscure

He helped popularize the notion that chefs are badasses.
Huh? Most Chefs are thought of as ****. Only people who find being a cook/chef being cool for the most part are women. I don't know why... but many people perceive being a cook or chef as being sissy jobs. Far from it.

Anthony Bourdain on NPR

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