Journal Entry 1 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Bought second-hand today, and shall read it and then pass it along to replace livrecache's missing bookray... 

Journal Entry 2 by livrecache from Hobart, Tasmania Australia on Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Thanks so much for continuing the ring/ray (whatever you choose), tqd.

To see the rest of this title's history, see The original bookring/ray. 

Journal Entry 3 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Well, this was a rollercoaster ripsnorter of a read! While I refuse to believe 99% of what he writes (although I did say no when Mr TQD asked if I wanted hollandaise on my eggs at the cafe on the weekend), I absolutely loved reading it. Maybe things are different in Sydney...

It does explain why there are so few female chefs out there. Such testosterone ridden places, kitchens! I was rather relieved when, towards the end of the book, he visited another kitchen and (while the loud music still played), there was a distinct lack of screaming and abuse and stupid macho posturing from the cooks and chefs. Good to know that not all kitchens are run the Anthony Bourdain way!

Although if I ever make it back to New York, I shall have to visit Les Halles. And now I can finally keep Anthony Bourdain and Gordon Ramsey separate in my mind: one's American, and the other is British! It's so much more obvious now.

I particular liked his brief sojourn to Japan as well, I've always wanted to travel (and eat noodles!) there. And am I the only one who got a bit worried that he might have eaten whale meat ("the beef of the sea"!) at that restaurant that just kept on bringing out strange dish after strange dish? I tend to think that I'll try anything once, but whale meat will never feature on my menu. (Neither will shark fin or monkey brains. But I have no moral objection to dog meat or horse meat, although I do like dogs as funny critters and lovely companions.)

I can't find the quote now, but somewhere in the book he's talking about being hit by the proverbial bus, and regretting the things you *have* done in your life (as opposed to the more traditional things you haven't done, and now never will). I'm with him. People who regret the things they haven't done obviously lived too carefully. I didn't.

livrecache, I read a book by the New York Times food critic (Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Riechl, who is mentioned briefly in this book) about her adventures dressing up as nobodies and visiting the top restaurants - the difference in her treatment when she was an unknown and when she was known as the NY Times food critic was astounding. I highly recommend the read, as a companion piece to this one. (I would loan you my copy, only it inconveniently seems to have gone missing on loan to a family member...)

I've got sujie's address already, so shall pop this in the post to her next chance I get (which might be payday next week, car rego's due at the moment).

UPDATE 13 June 2008: And in the mail to sujie today! Happy reading!

UPDATE 1 July 2008: Mea culpa. Gordon Ramsey is Scottish, not British. Top Gear told me so last night. 

Journal Entry 4 by geileis from Goulburn, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, June 19, 2008

I am writing for my mother, Sujie, whose computer I have stolen for the week. Thank you, tqd, book arrived and received today. 

Journal Entry 5 by Sujie from Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales Australia on Monday, June 30, 2008

tqd, I loved your review far more than the book! I just lapsed into a complete lack of interest in celebrity chefs with attitude after the first few chapters. livrecache, thanks for the chance to be impressed by Bourdain...sorry I wasn't.
On to melanie2474... 

Journal Entry 6 by Sujie from Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales Australia on Monday, August 18, 2008

Have PMed melanie2474 a couple of times with no response, so what to do, tqd or livrecache? 

Journal Entry 7 by Sujie from Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, August 19, 2008

PMing catsalive. 

Journal Entry 8 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Friday, August 29, 2008

Thanks Sujie. 

Journal Entry 9 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Monday, September 08, 2008

tqd, A lot of Australians had to eat whale meat during WWII & my mother says it was horrible, so I don't think you'll be missing much by leaving it off your diet :0) In fact, it wouldn't be so bad if whale-killing was actually about eating whale & shark-killing about eating shark, it's the wholesale slaughter for tiny parts of the dead animals that annoys me - like killing rhinos, elephants & bison for their horns, tusks & hides.

I haven't read the book yet. I've picked it up a couple of times but it's not inspiring me to read it. I'll give it another try before PMing FreePages. 

Journal Entry 10 by livrecache from Hobart, Tasmania Australia on Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Just beaming in to say I'm not sure if this is a ring or a ray any more. I have my own copy, so it's up to the new ringleader, tqd, to decide what happens when it reaches the last person on the original list. 

Journal Entry 11 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Better make it a ring, and I'll have it back afterwards. :) I think Mr TQD might be interested in reading it.

Remaining participants are:

FreePages
melanie2474
catbot
then back to me, tqd!

And, now, back to you, catsalive. Sorry for the hijacking! 

Journal Entry 12 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, September 13, 2008

I can't remember why I wanted to read this, I've never heard of Bourdain. Still, it had some interesting moments & I may take his advice about the knives as I have too many useless ones in my kitchen. I did enjoy his stay in Japan, he made the food sound fascinating even though I don't eat fish.

I would like to visit Scott Bryan & Veritas if I ever visit NY again. Maybe, if I'm there for a Tuesday & a Thursday, I could do both Veritas & Les Halles. Then I will have run out of money & have to come home.

Thanks tqd & livrecache. I've PMd freepages. 

Journal Entry 13 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Friday, September 19, 2008

Posted to freepages today. 

Journal Entry 14 by FreePages from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, October 27, 2008

Phew, I finally got to my post office box when the post office was open today, to pick this one up :-)
Looking forward to it, but it will have to go on the Mount TBR bookring pile for a while, although it doesnt look like a differcult read and sounds like it runs at a fast pace(boy I've had some slow going books until recently, last weekend I got through 2!).

I'll have to remember not to read it late at night, just in case it inspires midnight snacks.
I've been reading "Eat, Pray, Love", the Italian section and I was dreaming about delicious Italian meals last night!

Thanks for sending it catsalive :-) 

Journal Entry 15 by FreePages from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Tuesday, December 02, 2008

I've finished the book! Very enjoyable, but it's dinner time, so I'll journal more later. I PMed melanie2474 on the weekend, if I dont hear from her by Sunday, I'll PM catbot for her address. 

Journal Entry 16 by FreePages at Calwell, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, December 08, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (12/8/2008 UTC) at Calwell, Australian Capital Territory Australia

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Highly entertaining :-)
The kitchen tales were interesting but just kept the book going what really mattered to me was that after the appetizer, I wanted a freshy shucked oyster, after the first course, I wanted some sort of savory pastry and it went on.
I would love to go the the restuarant that he eats at one day :-)
Thanks for the ring everyone, I'm glad I got the opportunity to read it.

Melanie asked to be skipped so its in the mail to catbot today.



 

Journal Entry 17 by catbot from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Saturday, December 13, 2008

Thanks Freepages! Looking forward to this one :) 

Journal Entry 18 by catbot from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Saturday, December 20, 2008

Just finished. Really enjoyable, great writing. Made me hungry, made me laugh, made me want to cook and travel and read and listen to loud music. Very credible, also: the industry is well-described, lovingly if brutally in some parts :) Really good!

Will send back to TQD if melanie2474 still wants to be skipped :)

Edit: sending back to tqd today (30/12/08) 

Journal Entry 19 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, January 04, 2009

And back to me this morning, thanks catbot!

I'll spruik this to Mr TQD, and when he's finished (don't hold your breath) I might see if I can keep it travelling through some other method... Or I might PC it. :)