Carnivore Carnival

A Cook's Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal

by Anthony Bourdain

The author of Kitchen Confidential has done it again! I know Bourdain has a new book out (Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook), but I'm a bit behind the times so I picked up a copy of A Cook's Tour on the cheap. It was fantastic. If you're new to Bourdain he's the no-hold's-barred chef at NYC's Les Halles turned bestselling author. It's an unlikely match for me to enjoy Bourdain as much as I do. I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian and Bourdain is largely carnivorous - and abhors the thought of vegetarianism. However, I can't help but love the attitude he brings to his books. Bourdain is passionate about food and sticks to his convictions. This we have in common. A Cook's Tour follows Bourdain on a whirlwind tour of Mexico, France, the Basque country, Russia, Morocco, Cambodia, Vietnam, etc., etc. allowing you to be right there with him. A Cook's Tour is an adventure story from the beginning. Flying around the world and eating anything he's ever wanted to try, Bourdain describes all of his meals in detail that let's you almost taste the cilantro in his soup. The book does have it's tearjerker moments - his trip to France with his brother and his first experiences in Saigon had the tears almost rolling for me. Other times you're laughing out loud when he has to ride a horse in Mexico or act 'not drunk' walking into a restaurant for his TV show on the food network. For an excellent chef to write such an intriguing book is rare indeed (Julie Child pulled it off, but I can't think of many others) so dig in and enjoy, maybe after a nice meal.

Me Tarzan, You Silly

Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tarzan is an amazing fast-paced adventure story. I had little expectation for this short book by Burroughs. This was my first read of this author and I had no idea what kind of story I was in for. Tarzan's parents die in the jungles of Africa when they are abandoned by the ship captain following a mutiny. After Tarzan's parents die he is adopted by Kala, and ape that becomes his mother. The novel is filled with examples of social darwinism (Tarzan knows not to eat human flesh because of his 'English Lord' bloodline) and blatant racism of it's time (first published in 1912). While some of the classic phrases like, 'Me Tarzan, You Jane' are not in the book (Tarzan speaks only French and writes only English), the book is far superior to the 'Crocodile Dundee'-like plot of the campy movies. Tarzan is an interesting bridge to the past with a galloping plot and a twist ending - and if you're like me you can finish it in a single rainy afternoon!