"Les Halles Cookbook" by Anthony Bourdain

[PattyO]

Ran around all day today, and knew I'd be going by my favorite bookstore. A very special place, independently owned, with a great restaurant.

Had to stop by to see if they had the cookbook, and they did.

I love it. Really down to earth, well written, vintage Bourdain.

None of the recipes are complicated. Everything is spelled out, and the narrative at the beginning of the book lays out his basic tenets of cooking.

What more can I say?

It's more than a cookbook, and I can't wait to sit down and really dive into it.

Patty

[shelora]

Just received the book last week. Going for the gusto with the 3 day recipe for Blood and Guts.

I've always believed in the baptism of fire.

My treasure hunt for pig parts and tripe has been absolutely educational and dinner is slated for this Saturday. Have tricked quite a few friends into coming for dinner.

Bring very robust red wines please.

Over and out.

Shelora

[Bruce Cole]

"With a feature story killed by an Alabama newspaper and a Minneapolis gourmet shop reneging on its invitation to hold his cooking demo, Anthony Bourdain's "Les Halles Cookbook" (Bloomsbury, 2004; $34.95) stands to be the first cookbook to be banned in public libraries."

[Jason Perlow]

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!

[eunny jang]

If Tony won't fight for our Constitutional right to say "fuck" gratuitously and capriciously, who will?

[Hest88]

Yeah, I'm thinking the same, Jason. I also think they created the good cop/bad cop scenario as part of the overall Bourdain marketing scheme and Ruhlman gets some sort of percentage from Tony's profits.

[bleachboy]

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?!

[Liz Johnson]

Bourdain, a colleague of mine with whom I have admittedly a rocky, love-hate relationship on certain Internet forums and whom I refuse absolutely to get near in public ever again, is a freak of nature, a former drug addict, an incorrigible miscreant, scoundrel, liar and cheat who discovered in middle age that he could write like a bandit.

Hilarious.

[Michael Ruhlman]

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.

Edited October 14, 2004 by Michael Ruhlman (log)

[VeryApe77]

After that, he intends to move to Vietnam, having signed a contract to write a nonfiction work about that country.

Good lord, I hope this happens.

[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 October 13, 2004 by Busboy (log)

[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 October 14, 2004 by Jinmyo (log)

[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 October 14, 2004 by BuzzDraft (log)