If I had a hero...
I don't much believe in the hero concept. I think that you should do what you can to be your absolute best self. If you can do that, you'll end up your own hero. Emulating someone else can be great, but exploring the original you is much more fulfilling. Anyway, if I had one growing up, it was probably Michael Jordan if I'm honest with myself. That puts me in a group of about 40 billion children. These things change over time though. Reading this recently, reinforced to me that Anthony Bourdain is truly a guy that I dig. Like I said, he isn't my idol. He is though a guy that I admire.
Those comments on the Food Network were really brilliant, especially the comparison of Rachel Ray to Julia Child. Julia Child is sort of the first real American food hero and a product of a bygone era. She came to us at a time where home-cooking was something to devote yourself to with passion and strive for excellence. Countering that is Rachel Ray, truly a reflection of our society today. She brings us the message that we can do things the quick and easy way and things will still turn out 'okay'. This sort of philosophy has landed her a Nabisco deal, her own mag, a couple of shows, a brazillion cookbooks, etc. I guess that philosophy works for a lot of people. More power to you folks. You'll live a easier, simpler life. I'll be over here spending 6 hours making a top notch leg of lamb.
Anyway, I've read Anthony Bourdain's books. Kitchen Confidential and The Nasty Bits are two of my all-time favorites. If you are an urbanite (or really anyone) that enjoys eating out and you haven't at least read Kitchen Confidential, get over to Amazon with the quickness. You owe it to yourself and everyone else you know. I've enjoyed them all for many reasons. The first is the man's frankness. He writes about food, restaurants, and life just like he lives, telling you straight away what goes on to a level of detail that is truly enlightening.
He has a style of breaking down and analyzing the world that is brash, intelligent, and unrelenting. He's even a got that New York swagger that I usually hate, but he wears it extremely well. His confidence and self-assurance is always there. His voice is addictive both in the written and auditory sense.
The man is an American of French descent and he is a great representative of both sides of that coin. He doesn't just love French food, he loves the French culinary ethos. He loves the concept of getting something great out of terrible scraps and of taking 3 hours enjoying a solid ham sandwich at a cafe on the park. He also loves a great frickin' slice of New York pizza and chain-smoking Marlboro Lights. He defends this philosophy in ways that make you believe that believing anything different would be entirely absurd. On top of that, the man can genuinely cook. This much is clear from his Les Halles cookbook. He's navigated a culinary path through the depths during his career and emerged as a truly accomplished French chef. Preparing and consuming his Beef Bourginon for Valentine's Day, I could see glimpses it all comes from - the love of French cuisine, the vitriol related to vegetarianism, and the sort of people that like to order their dressing "on the side". It's not that I necessarily feel that way myself in all cases, but what is life (and subsequently) food really all about? I don't know entirely but if I was going to ask someone to tell me, I'm pretty sure that Bourdain would be a great place to start. Read his stuff. Cook his stuff. It's good for you.
Those comments on the Food Network were really brilliant, especially the comparison of Rachel Ray to Julia Child. Julia Child is sort of the first real American food hero and a product of a bygone era. She came to us at a time where home-cooking was something to devote yourself to with passion and strive for excellence. Countering that is Rachel Ray, truly a reflection of our society today. She brings us the message that we can do things the quick and easy way and things will still turn out 'okay'. This sort of philosophy has landed her a Nabisco deal, her own mag, a couple of shows, a brazillion cookbooks, etc. I guess that philosophy works for a lot of people. More power to you folks. You'll live a easier, simpler life. I'll be over here spending 6 hours making a top notch leg of lamb.
Anyway, I've read Anthony Bourdain's books. Kitchen Confidential and The Nasty Bits are two of my all-time favorites. If you are an urbanite (or really anyone) that enjoys eating out and you haven't at least read Kitchen Confidential, get over to Amazon with the quickness. You owe it to yourself and everyone else you know. I've enjoyed them all for many reasons. The first is the man's frankness. He writes about food, restaurants, and life just like he lives, telling you straight away what goes on to a level of detail that is truly enlightening.
He has a style of breaking down and analyzing the world that is brash, intelligent, and unrelenting. He's even a got that New York swagger that I usually hate, but he wears it extremely well. His confidence and self-assurance is always there. His voice is addictive both in the written and auditory sense.The man is an American of French descent and he is a great representative of both sides of that coin. He doesn't just love French food, he loves the French culinary ethos. He loves the concept of getting something great out of terrible scraps and of taking 3 hours enjoying a solid ham sandwich at a cafe on the park. He also loves a great frickin' slice of New York pizza and chain-smoking Marlboro Lights. He defends this philosophy in ways that make you believe that believing anything different would be entirely absurd. On top of that, the man can genuinely cook. This much is clear from his Les Halles cookbook. He's navigated a culinary path through the depths during his career and emerged as a truly accomplished French chef. Preparing and consuming his Beef Bourginon for Valentine's Day, I could see glimpses it all comes from - the love of French cuisine, the vitriol related to vegetarianism, and the sort of people that like to order their dressing "on the side". It's not that I necessarily feel that way myself in all cases, but what is life (and subsequently) food really all about? I don't know entirely but if I was going to ask someone to tell me, I'm pretty sure that Bourdain would be a great place to start. Read his stuff. Cook his stuff. It's good for you.
posted by chrismilone @ 4:43 PM
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