since this is a structureless thread ..... ..... the intro sounds like the intro to Megadeath's "Symphony of Destruction"
The Wine Avenger I read it a while back and still don't know if the guy is right or wrong. I've been fighting the urge to look down my nose at folks who like chardonnay ever since, though.
I really enjoyed Jiro Dreams of Sushi as well. Anthony Bourdain just wrote a graphic novel inspired by Jiro called Get Jiro. It's not that great but fun enough to read.
Speaking of whom, what would be the logical second book to read after 'Kitchen Confidential'? 'Nasty Bits' or 'Medium Raw'. Still speaking of Bourdain, I watched a really early episode of 'No Reservations' the other day, since I recently got Netflix Instant. He was kinda annoying back then.
Medium Raw is probably the most logical choice even though it's his newest. Nasty Bits are a collection of things he's written over the years, mostly articles in magazines and newspapers. He's changed a lot since his first show. He's more mellow now and open to different cultures and points of views. He tried too hard back then to be edgy and dark. He's more himself now I think.
Yeah, I can see that, and having a child can really mellow you. Of course, it could also be the editing - less Anthony riffing, more food porn.
I haven't. But that has me thinking - besides just getting older and mellower, the advent of HDTV probably had a lot to do with the way his show(s) evolved too. I mean, look at the Penang episode from last year - that wouldn't be nearly as impactful on standard definition. You can let the food be the star when the picture's good.
watched the No Reservation "Kansas City" & "Austin" epsisodes & and a Cook's Tour "Tokyo" episode. No comparison. No Res definitely has more food porn, it's more food-centric, Tony is less assholic. I feel that Tony's trying too hard to be hard-ass and edgy in Cook's Tour & I think his real personality comes out in No REs. I think the production crew is the same for both, HDTV really helps a lot, but really props to them for making No Res to what I consider to be the gold standard in food porn.
Calvin Trillin has written some terrific stuff about food, especially "Alice, Let's Eat" and "Third Helpings."
On the movie front, I just watched Kings of Pastry- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1558972/ It's a documentary that follows some French pastry chefs as they try to win the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman in France). It's not great but worth the watch. I wasn't happy with the ending.
Not a movie or a book, but what the hell: I don't have many idols left in my old age, but David Chang is still a rock star for me.
I'd agree. Also, he wrote a book calledA Cook's Tour which is him writing about his travels for that show. It's a good book.
That was his Food Network show, right? Yeah, that thing was pretty amazeballs, mostly because of this: