Medium Raw 野兽牢笼

InthetenyearssincehisclassicKitchenConfidentialfirstalertedustotheidiosyncrasiesandlurkingperilsofeatingout,fromMondayfishtothebreadbasketconspiracy,muchhaschangedforthesubcultureofchefsandcooks,fortherestaurantbusiness—andforAnthonyBourdain.MediumRawexploresthesechanges,movingbackandforthfromtheauthor'sbadolddaystothepresent.Trackinghisownstrangeandunexpectedvoyagefromjourneymancooktoglobe-travelingprofessionaleateranddrinker,andeventofatherhood,Bourdaintakesnoprisonersashedissectswhathe'sseen,pausingalongthewayforaseriesofconfessions,rants,investigations,andinterrogationsofsomeofthemostcontroversialfiguresinfood.Beginningwithasecretandhighlyillegalafter-hoursgatheringofpowerfulchefsthathecomparestoamafiasummit,Bourdainpullsbackthecurtain—butneverpullshispunches—onthemoderngastronomicalrevolution,asonlyhecan.Cuttingrighttothebone,Bourdainsetshissightsonsomeofthebiggestnamesinthefoodieworld,includingDavidChang,theyoungsuperstarchefwhohasradicalizedthefine-dininglandscape;thereveredAliceWaters,whomhetreatswithunapologeticfrankness;theTopChefwinnersandlosers;andmanymore.Andalwayshereturnstothequestion"Whycook?"Orthemoredifficult"Whycookwell?"MediumRawisthedeliciouslyfunnyandshockinglydelectablejourneytothoseanswers,suretodelightphilistinesandgourmandsalike.