Review by Booklist Review
Bourdain, author of Kitchen Confidential (2000), has always been better on the page than on the screen; the pull-no-punches intensity of his writing can come off as tough-guy musings on his television shows. Reading this collection of outtakes from the filming of his Travel Channel series, No Reservations, is like reading the chef's personal journal of his gastronomic travels around the globe. More than leftovers of his show (now in its fourth season), this is a fresh, satisfying meal: organized by continent, it follows his journeys from Ghana to Cleveland, with lavish new photos and commentary. Although not every shoot was a winner (Bourdain refers to Iceland as the most boring place on earth and Sweden as one long ABBA joke), others hit pay dirt (Sicily and Paris are predictably wonderful; a harrowing trip to Beirut provides some compelling reading). The chef rounds out this guerrilla travel guide with short sections on indigenous booze, food porn, travel tips, and a roster of his favorite local eateries. Essential for fans of the chef and travelers who think they've seen it all.--Orellana, Carlos Copyright 2007 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The in-your-face, hard-boiled chef Bourdain (Kitchen Confidential) delivers another entertaining look at the best and worst places around the world in which to eat. While the book shares a title with Bourdain's popular television show, it achieves its author's goal of not being "some cynical, cheap-ass `companion' book to the series" featuring "a bunch of blurry photos taken from the show." The book chronicles his last three years globe-trotting-"a continuing journey of 200,000 miles"-as he's accompanied by a film crew whose "disturbing eccentricities" make up his "new dysfunctional family" with whom he shares his many adventures. The bulk of the book consists of beautifully composed photos of Bourdain's travels, "an honest and direct recording of the way life is lived in the rest of the world." But Bourdain also provides many of his always incisive and entertaining observations, ranging from short takes on Singapore ("one of the most food-centric, food-obsessed, food-crazy cultures on earth") and Iceland ("The notoriously stinky fermented shark was, in fact, the second worst thing I've ever put in my mouth") to longer looks at Beirut, cooks and "Bathrooms Around the World" (worst country for bathrooms: Uzbekistan). (Nov. 5) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
As every fan of the Travel Channel knows, Bourdain (Kitchen Confidential), executive chef of New York City's Les Halles restaurant, has spent the last three years hosting the series No Reservations, an entertaining account of his global travels to some of the world's most exotic places in search of food and adventure. He is right to insist that the book is not merely a companion to the series; through 400 stunning photographs, it does far more, chronicling failures along with successes as well as behind-the-scenes drama and some of the crew's downtime. The text accompanying the photos is tinged with all the characteristic Bourdain hallmarks: humor, wit, sarcasm, salty language, innate curiosity, and, above all, his intrepid spirit and lust for adventure. Whether enduring his "worst meal ever"-warthog in Namibia-or savoring steamed shark head in Singapore, the author, with his inimitable style, will ensure that readers enjoy going along for the ride on this irresistible journey. An indispensable addition to travel, culinary, and popular reading collections everywhere.-Deborah Ebster, Orlando, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
