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  • Medium Raw

  • A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook
  • Written by: Anthony Bourdain
  • Narrated by: Anthony Bourdain
  • Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (615 ratings)

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Medium Raw

Written by: Anthony Bourdain
Narrated by: Anthony Bourdain
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Publisher's Summary

The long-awaited follow-up to the mega-best-seller Kitchen Confidential

In the 10 years since his classic Kitchen Confidential first alerted us to the idiosyncrasies and lurking perils of eating out - from Monday fish to the breadbasket conspiracy - much has changed for the subculture of chefs and cooks, for the restaurant business and for Anthony Bourdain. Medium Raw explores those changes, moving back and forth from the author's bad old days to the present. Tracking his own strange and unexpected voyage from journeyman cook to globe-traveling professional eater and drinker, and even to fatherhood, Bourdain takes no prisoners as he dissects what he's seen, pausing along the way for a series of confessions, rants, investigations, and interrogations of some of the most controversial figures in food.

Beginning with a secret and highly illegal after-hours gathering of powerful chefs that he compares to a mafia summit, Bourdain pulls back the curtain, but never pulls his punches, on the modern gastronomical revolution, as only he can. Cutting right to the bone, Bourdain sets his sights on some of the biggest names in the foodie world, including David Chang, the young superstar chef who has radicalized the fine-dining landscape; the revered Alice Waters, whom he treats with unapologetic frankness; the Top Chef winners and losers; and many more.

Always he returns to the question "Why cook?" Or the more difficult "Why cook well?" Medium Raw is the deliciously funny and shockingly delectable journey to those answers, sure to delight philistines and gourmands alike.

©2010 Anthony Bourdain (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

What the critics say

"The food orbit is [Bourdain’s] element, and chapters on today’s leading figures—from chef David Chang to critic Alan Richman—display his access, outspokenness and comedic gifts....Mr. Bourdain is a vivid, bawdy and often foul-mouthed writer. He thrills in the attack, but he is also an enthusiast who writes well about things he holds dear." ( Wall Street Journal)
“Full of things everybody in the food world thinks but nobody will say...If [Bourdain’s] sharp eye and his wicked tongue have brought him acclaim, what’s kept him in the spotlight is his heart. Like Oscar Wilde, he’s a moralist in the guise of a libertine. Long may he prosper.” ( Denver Post)
“Bourdain has insight, access and good taste, and he’s a naturally engaging writer...Bourdain is a hopeless romantic when it comes to food and the people who cook. The subtitle’s real valentines are two elegantly written profiles.” ( New York Times Book Review)

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Excellent follow up

Ever witty and sarcastic his ability to make you feel his tale is wonderful miss ya

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Anthony Bourdain, need I say more?

The follow up to Kitchen Confidential did not disappoint. Although I read Kitchen Confidential, listening to Anthony Bourdain narrate Medium Raw was even better. It was like watching any on his shows, except he tore some people apart, built others up and simply made me realize we will never get any new content from Anthony Bourdain, but we can appreciate the truly remarkable content we do have. I may have to get the Kitchen Confidential audiobook now.
Lastly, it’s a continuation, not a sequel so you can listen to it without having read/listened to Kitchen Confidential.
Enjoy.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Just perfect

when grinding out the past of your holiday rush and prep Tony sure helps keep you company.

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1 person found this helpful

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Wish I could write a review just as well as Anthony’s writing…

What a wonderful follow up to Kitchen Confidential. Tony’s writing is hilarious & intelligent.

The best part of Medium Raw being an Audio Book, is that the author HIMSELF narrates it.
It most certainly will satisfy you & pull on your heart strings to hear his smooth as molasses voice. 10/10!!

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excellent

this book is full of details, it shows the love for cooking, we miss him very much

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Anthony Bourdain was a Legend

Hilarious, touching, poignant, wonderfully read. A must for anyone who loves food. Listening to Anthony Bourdain speak for hours is the best. What a voice, what a great book.

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Brutally honest and fascinating

Medium Raw is a weird fusion of a book. It's part second memoir, part hit piece on the elements of restaurant and food culture Boudain doesn't like, and also a celebration of both people and experiences that are meaningful to him in the space as well. You can't really classify it as any one of these, but it makes for a great listen.

Bourdain has incredible wit and an ability to deliver both the most glowing praise and most damning criticism in a way like no other. He does some vicious takedowns of Food Network, certain chefs and food writers, but rather than just rant, he takes apart what he doesn't like about them in a way that's funny and very convincing. However, even in his most brutal critiques, he always makes sure to point out what he thinks his targets do right and while he clearly doesn't care if he makes enemies of them, he is always sure to conclude his curbstomp with some helpful advice.

While Kitchen Confidential focused primarily on his career as a chef and unexpected rise into writer and unique TV personality, this focuses more on his journey since then, referring to the past when it's appropriate and talking about those people and experiences he's had in this new phase of his life. This won't convert anyone who doesn't like him (in fact, this will likely push you further away), but as someone who is a fan, I appreciated this. It is such a shame that mental illness took him from us so soon.

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Good, not great.

I was hoping for more Kitchen Confidential, it’s not. But he’s a different person when he wrote this and that shows. Still an awesome read!

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it might be just the utter respect for the legend

As a 10 year recently unemployed due to covid 19 cook, I can say this audiobook was a much necessary light in a time of darkness in our industry. I would've loved to listen to you speak on the current events plaguing our industry today. you are greatly missed. much love and respect to Bourdain.
one of the realest motherfuckers to ever do it.
thank you.

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9 people found this helpful

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Great listen

Bourdain really delves in to his personal life as well as the chef world in this book. He narrates it well - I love hearing his voice.

Highly recommend.
#audible1

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4 people found this helpful