225 replies to this topic

[russ parsons]

michael, you kiss your kids with that mouth?
signed,
a concerned friend

[Michael Ruhlman]

Sorry, Russ. I gotta quit drinkin in the afternoon.

[Busboy]

Jason,


I could give a shit about his sales except insofar as they might detract from Bouchon's.  So why would I do it?  Bourdain's people called me.  They were blunt.  They named a figure.  It was right.  What can I say?  I'm just some guy in Cleveland tryin' to make a living.

So, you got paid by Bourdain and The Plain Dealer? Interesting...

EDITED TO ADD: Or should I, too, stop drinking in the afternoon and and believing everything I read.

Edited by Busboy, 13 October 2004 - 02:22 PM.

[bourdain]

michael, you kiss your kids with that mouth?
signed,
a concerned friend

No kidding..
Ruhlman's language is as unspeakably foul as his behavior is beastly. It's why I won't do any more public events with him. Watching a room full of little old ladies blanche when Ruhlman launches into yet another vicious and profane tirade against his fellow writers, chefs, James Beard House, his aromatherapist, and anyone else unfortunate enough to have fallen into his orbit is..well..just appalling. My momma used to call it "potty mouth". There ARE other words than the "F" word you know, Michael. Now wash that septic maw out with soap! You ain't EVER getting on Oprah talking like that!

[Louisa Chu]

Michael, so the Bouchon book is another Titan? Pardon my French, but what the fuck? I was already over my weight limit flying from Barcelona to Paris with the El Bulli books. Now I've got to transport your monster from the States back to Paris? Does it always have to be the size thing with you guys?

[Minou]

Fan-freeking-tastic!! A COOKBOOK being banned! This is like Ozzy and Judas Priest in the ‘80’s!

… just think of it … legions of kids will want this book because THEY CAN’T HAVE IT!!

Kudos. Whether you wanted to publish food-porn, you just did!

[Michael Ruhlman]

LKL Chu, yes another Titan; Bourdain's is a pamphlet next to it.

And, granted, Jason's question got me a little riled, but who is TB to shout potty mouth? this is mr skull-fucked by a walrus bourdain, writing.

I'm gonna go put on my khakis and blazer and remember who I am. Ever since that dinner at Masa, it's been a downhill slide. gof forbid the long-suffering wife ever reads this thread.

[Hest88]

Michael's descent into profanity is ample proof that many furtive meetings have taken place between the two of them. Now we need only wait for Michael's foray into the hard-boiled crime thriller genre.

[suzilightning]

well, at least one library in northwestern nj will have it since i just ordered it. course i also ordered jon stewart et. al's book America. heck, if those(hopefully) photoshopped naked photos of the supreme court justices don't get me in trouble...

[tanabutler]

You ain't EVER getting on Oprah talking like that!

She might like it if he talks dirty. It works on some girls (as well you know).

[Jinmyo]

Well, so far no posts on Bourdain's skinny junkie ass.

Good.

edit:
D'oh.

Edited by Jinmyo, 13 October 2004 - 05:05 PM.

[chezcherie]

you see, now--this thread, this thread right here is exactly why i recently acquired the lovely "society donor" designation next to my avatar*. there isn't any place else i know to get this kinda entertainment. (at least, no place i can be, and help the kids with homework at the same time!)



*and doesn't it look lovely? and i do hope the "egullet"schwag promoted in the come-on description is pearls...doncha think "society donor" just screams "pearls"?

[msphoebe]

Well, I did learn one thing from this article, which is why in hell Anthony Bourdain was commenting so prominently (and, might I add, quite lucidly) during the PBS documentary about Typhoid Mary that I watched last night .. he's written a book about her.  Once again, who knew?!

So that WAS Bourdain's profile I saw while flipping through channels...certainly didn't SOUND like Bourdain...

[Jinmyo]

and i do hope the "egullet"schwag promoted in the come-on description is pearls...doncha think "society donor" just screams "pearls"?

Sorry. Thongs. Everybody gets thongs. It's kind of a masterplan. Except it involves everyone wearing eGS thongs. Which kind of rides up on it being a "masterplan". More of a fetish, really. But mostly harmless.

[BuzzDraft]

I'm just some guy in Cleveland tryin' to make a living.

If thats true, how 'bout coming down to Cleveland Browns Stadium this Sunday for a lesson in grill cooking and libations? Mostly libations. Because there isn't a lot of football going on there right now. Who gives the lessons can be decided at the time. I'll send you the links to find the "tailgate", which is a vast understatement. My pals have won the Jack Daniels award for the best tailgate party... again.

I'll be there after attending a wake for my Grandma who passed at 93 this week, so my outlook on life may be more philosophical than a simple football game. I'm sure to offer more than one toast in her memory.

My Grandma was living proof that her "Bacon diet" is more healthful than vegetarianism.

Edited by BuzzDraft, 13 October 2004 - 05:51 PM.

[Timh]

You can't buy this kind of publicity, the banning issue. Makes everyone ,a fan or not ,run out to buy or at least read it,

[foodie52]

Since when have cookbooks become macho? Whose is bigger? Personally, I'm more into color illustrations than size. Too much testosterone.

Martha? Martha? Where are you? You two just wait. When she comes out, her cookbook/memoirs is gonna put y'alls to shame. Have you two ever been in prison?

Huh?

[jhlurie]

I'm starting to beleive this is a grand conspiracy by Ruhlman, Bourdain and his co-author to make bookoo bucks by having a "banned" book. 'Fess up Chanko!

Wait a second Jason. Isn't this the SAME cookbook which comes in what's practically a plain brown wrapper? This is NOT a coincidence!

[Daddy-A]

you see, now--this thread, this thread right here is exactly why i recently acquired the lovely "society donor" designation next to my avatar*.  there isn't any place else i know to get this kinda entertainment. (at least, no place i can be, and help the kids with homework at the same time!)

AMEN! It was in fact this literary joust between Bourdain & Ruhlman that hooked me on this place.

Thank you both!

A.

[Michael Ruhlman]

No kidding..
Ruhlman's language is as unspeakably foul as his behavior is beastly.

They're right. I owe mr bourdain a public apology. As I have stated before, I admire the guy (when he's sober), and he really can write circles around most food writers. I was having a rather volatile day yesterday, a rarity in here in ye olde suburbia. I beg his pardon.

Edited by Michael Ruhlman, 14 October 2004 - 05:00 AM.

[Foodie_Penguin]

Fan-freeking-tastic!! A COOKBOOK being banned! This is like Ozzy and Judas Priest in the ‘80’s!

… just think of it … legions of kids will want this book because THEY CAN’T HAVE IT!!

Kudos. Whether you wanted to publish food-porn, you just did!

What? Ozzy and Judas Priest published cookbooks in the 80s?

I'm just trying to picture the contents of such books....




Foodie Penguin

[Busboy]

What? Ozzy and Judas Priest published cookbooks in the 80s? 

I'm just trying to picture the contents of such books....
Foodie Penguin

Oh, c'mon -- this is too easy.

Bat Bourguignon, Buffalo bat wings, Bat au Vin....

[eunny jang]

Oh, c'mon -- this is too easy.

Bat Bourguignon, Buffalo bat wings, Bat au Vin....

Little tiny tetes de bat, like tete de veau, only delicate and infinitely more difficult to make.

[hannnah]

Shouldn't it be Bat Tartare?

[srhcb]

Tony smokes LARKS?!

He used to be one of my heros.

[Louisa Chu]

Thanks Michael - I guess that's all the public wants now - something for Tony to sign - other than just cleavage. I'm just imagining a collaboration amongst Tony, Michael, and Ferran - an enormous $300 banned bestseller - with a very special DVD.

[Rebel Rose]

They're right.  I owe mr bourdain a public apology.  As I have stated before, I admire the guy (when he's sober), and he really can write circles around most food writers. I was having a rather volatile day yesterday, a rarity in here in ye olde suburbia. I beg his pardon.

Oh, don't give up so easily! I haven't had a good guffaw like this in a long time. You guys are hilarious. And on top of that, I think you're the only one who took Jason's comment seriously, which makes it even funnier, I'm afraid. That was a great article, by the way.

[Bux]

Jason,

Why would I would I go out of my way to shill for Bourdain when I am soon to be promoting a book I wrote, albeit in a ghostly way with Thomas Keller, all about, devoted to, Bistro cooking, exactly like Bourdains book.  Bouchon comes out in November. I have a personal stake in this book.  It's an absolute monster cookbook. Bend your knees and keep your back straight when you lift it.  Bigger by half than the FLC.  An amazing book as far as I'm concerned, and one I care deeply about. I have stated here that I like and admire Bourdain's book.  It is one of a kind.  But Bouchon and Les Halles books are competitors.

His sales are irrelevant to me except insofar as they might detract from Bouchon's.  So why would I do it?  Bourdain's people called me.  They were blunt.  They named a figure.  It was right.  What can I say?  I'm just some guy in Cleveland tryin' to make a living.

Straight cash deal huh? Damn, I had it all figured out as a conspiracy to build some interest in "French" food by getting Tony's book banned and then slipping in your Bouchon that's going to stick out of the shelves and poke eyes so they won't remember it's not the hot one. Hell most Americans don't even know what a bouchon is, not that it's not a great metphor for those who do know.

"French" still has the potential for cachet. I was reminded of that looking at some "French" postcards at a stall on the quai de Montebello. These were the real thing, sepia tone and all that, not pretty pictures of Paris, (neither the city or Hilton) but even though they were at best, lukewarm next to old issue of Playboy on on the same stand, they were "French." Actually it was all insipid compared to what the two kids were doing on the banks of the Seine below which understandably was far more fascinating to the Japanese tourists than the pretty pictures for sale. Of course, I was interested in watching the Japanese tourists. I digress but that's your fault for playing the "French" card anyway.

So it was just a quick cash all American deal? No conspiracy? I've got to stop spending time in Europe, it's affecting my thinking.

[arielle]

Quoting Hest88 (from that other thread Daddy-A was so good as to link):

"Ah, I love Ruhlman---almost as much as I love our mild-mannered, self-effacing, quietly stammering Bourdain."


See, now that's what I love most about these guys, their shyness, tendency to blend in and hold their tongues.....you know, the old "If you don't have something nice to say......"


Nonetheless, I know a few people who wouldn't mind having their cleavage autographed.......

[Rebel Rose]

I think Ruhlman and Bourdain should do a regular television evening food critique. We could tie them to their stools, and they'd have the little clip-on mikes. If we took away pens, pencils and clipboards, then they could only sling words. We'd probably have difficulty signing guests, but wouldn't it be fun to find one they both dislike?