A Cook’s Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal
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‘It works extremely well. In large part because Bourdain is a very funny writer; sharp, honest and with a beguiling mix of belligerence and sensitivity’ Sunday Telegraph
‘Brilliantly written up in a raw, stylish gonzo prose, with pitch-black humour and a devilish turn of phrase’ Evening Standard
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Anthony Bourdain, life-long line cook and bestselling author of Kitchen Confidential, sets off to eat his way around the world.
But being Anthony Bourdain, this was never going to be a conventional culinary tour. Bourdain heads out to Saigon where he eats the still-beating heart of a live cobra, and travels deep into landmined Khmer Rouge territory to find the rumoured Wild West of Cambodia (Pailin).
Other stops include dining with gangsters in Russia, a medieval pig slaughter and feast in northern Portugal, the Basque All Male Gastronomique Society in Saint Sebastian, rural Mexico with his Mexican sous-chef, a pilgrimage to the French Laundry in the Napa Valley and a return to his roots in the tiny fishing village of La Teste, where he first ate an oyster as a child.
Written with the inimitable machismo and humour that has made Tony Bourdain such a sensation, A Cook’s Tour is an adventure story sure to give you indigestion.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Paperbacks, New edition (7 Oct. 2002) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 288 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0747558213 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0747558217 |
| Dimensions | 12.9 x 1.75 x 19.8 cm |
by Jeremy Duck
Such an adventurous, insightful, humorous, talented writer.
by András Borbíró
His style is raw and energetic. His curiosity is fearless and hard to satisfy. The meals he is having in both exotic locations and closer to his roots (US, West-Europe) are really-really desirable for any gourmet, hobby-cook and Epicurean adventurer. And his side track stories which are not about food but rather politics, gastro-politics, weapons, the Vietnamese War, Russian gangsters or wrestling, are just as funny and witty.
Sometimes his machoism and poetic exaggeration can be wearing, but it’s a good book overall. If you are curious enough to read this opinion of mine, you won’t be disappointed from the book.
by Mario86
Admittedly I am a fan of travelogues but loved this. Wonderful writing about food and travel and culture. There are chapters on France, Cambodia, Vietnam (multiple), San Francisco, Mexico, Morocco, Japan, Scotland, London, Portugal, San Sebastian, Russia. Some of the food described is mouth-watering so make sure you’ve already eaten when you pick it up otherwise you’ll want to raid the fridge where you’ll find nothing close to good as what’s being described. But there are also other ‘meals’ which might make you want to retch.
This is based from the TV series of the same name and whilst I watched it a couple of years ago and was reminded of certain passages of the book, it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of it. There are also some interesting segments called ‘Reasons Why You Don’t Want To Be On Television’ about situations he went through whilst travelling that may have not come across on TV.
Preferred this to Kitchen Confidential.
by Mr. D. A. Hewlett
I read this book a few years ago and found it inspiring as I like to travel and eat. I enjoyed Anthony Bourdain’s frank style of writing and the depth he goes to, to describe his travels and the food experiences he was exposed too. I bought this book as could not find a Kindle version, but it is good enough to read more than once. I hope others enjoy it as much as me.
by SB
A great read as always from a great chef and writer. Even more entertaining than the television series as you imagine all the crazy things he did
by BernieM
This celebrated book by equally celebrated writer Alain Bourdin was bought by me as a gift for my son Danny who, like the author himself, spent a lot of years in the kitchen. Danny has long enjoyed Bourdin’s wide experience and sense of humour. “A Cook’s Tour”, he says, is a great addition to his collection.
by Marcus W
Don’t let anyone fool you. This isn’t a recipe book. It’s barely even a food book. What it is, is worship of the best kind, covering as it does, where Mr. Bourdain, now very familiar to us Brits as a judge who won’t mince his words on a cookery competition show on Channel 4.
Aside form describing how not to make a travel show, he writes with eloquence and style in a manner reminiscent of Elmore Leonard (you get the feeling he’s describing scenes and tastes as though he weren’t just living them but vicariously passing it to us at the same time).
Just to be clear, I’ve lent this book out many times and whilst I’ve often had it returned, this is now my 5th copy which should explain the level to which I am excited by what he says and how he tells it.
Buy it. Read it. But be careful who you lend it to.
by M. K
I’ve always been a fan of his TV shows but this book is something else. The way he describes the places he visits makes me want to go there. To see these places the way he did. He always inspired me to visit new places and to explore food and this book is a wonderful example of that and a must read for anyone.