Food and Travel Challenge: Bourdain

Food and Travel Challenge
binge-ing on things Anthony Bourdain

READ:

The Nasty Bits
Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones
by Anthony Bourdain
Essays, Food | Published: 2007 | Goodreads | my rating: tba

World Travel: An Irreverent Guide
by Anthony Bourdain, Laurie Woolever
illustrated by Wesley Allsbrook
Travel, Memoir, Food | Published: 2021 | Goodreads | my rating: tba

WATCH:

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005-2012)
Adventure, Reality-TV | imdb | my rating: tba Anthony Bourdain, chef, writer, traveler, visits places all around the world sampling various foods.

Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (2021)
Director: Morgan Neville
Documentary | imdb | my rating: 5 A documentary about Anthony Bourdain and his career as a chef, writer and host, revered and renowned for his authentic approach to food, culture and travel.

Enjoyed learning about the other parts of Bourdain's life apart from food and travel.

Spotted this artist on Market Street, downtown San Francisco, doing a Bourdain piece on cardboard.

~*~
* header image source (here) illustration by Gel Jamlang

Foodie and France

Délicieuse!

~*~
VISIT: cheese shop

La Fromagerie de SoMa, First Street (here)
Selected the cave aged Gruyere (pic below with croissant).


VISIT: bakery

La Boulangerie, Pine Street (here)
Organic Artisan Breads and Pastries
Croissant is a must.

VISIT: pastry shop

b.patiserrie, California Street (here)
...modern French style pastries along with American flavors and local influences
Sweet treat - Chocolate Caramel Toffee Mousse

COMING SOON:

Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop
by Roselle Lim
Romance, Magical Realism, France, Paris | Goodreads
Release date: August 4, 2020
Become enamored with the splendor of Paris in this heartwarming and delightful story about writing one’s own destiny and finding love along the way.

Vanessa Yu never wanted to see people’s fortunes—or misfortunes—in tea leaves.

Ever since she can remember, Vanessa Yu has been able to see people’s fortunes at the bottom of their teacups. To avoid blurting out their fortunes, she converts to coffee, but somehow fortunes escape and find a way to complicate her life and the ones of those around her. To add to this plight, her romance life is so nonexistent that her parents enlist the services of a matchmaking expert from Shanghai.

The day before her matchmaking appointment, Vanessa accidentally sees her own fate: death by traffic accident. She decides that she can’t truly live until she can find a way to get rid of her uncanny abilities. When her eccentric aunt, Evelyn, shows up with a tempting offer to whisk her away, Vanessa says au revoir to America and bonjour to Paris. While working at Evelyn’s tea stall at a Parisian antique market, Vanessa performs some matchmaking of her own, attempting to help reconnect her aunt with a lost love. As she learns more about herself and the root of her gifts, she realizes one thing to be true: knowing one’s destiny isn’t a curse, but being unable to change it is.

~*~
* part of Paris in July (here)

Picnic in Provence by Elizabeth Bard

Picnic in Provence
A Memoir with Recipes
by Elizabeth Bard
narrated by author

Published: 2015
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Genre: Memoir, France, Recipes
Hardback: 384
Rating: 5
Goodreads | Website

First sentence(s):
I don't, as a rule, introduce myself to cows.

Ten years ago, New Yorker Elizabeth Bard followed a handsome Frenchman up a spiral staircase to a love nest in the heart of Paris. Now, with a baby on the way and the world's flakiest croissant around the corner, Elizabeth is sure she's found her "forever place." But life has other plans.

On a last romantic jaunt before the baby arrives, the couple take a trip to the tiny Provencal village of Céreste. A chance encounter leads them to the wartime home of a famous poet, a tale of a buried manuscript and a garden full of heirloom roses. Under the spell of the house and its unique history, in less time than it takes to flip a crepe, Elizabeth and Gwendal decide to move-lock, stock and Le Creuset-to the French countryside.

When the couple and their newborn son arrive in Provence, they discover a land of blue skies, lavender fields and peaches that taste like sunshine. Seduced by the local ingredients, they begin a new adventure as culinary entrepreneurs, starting their own artisanal ice cream shop and experimenting with flavors like saffron, sheep's milk yogurt and fruity olive oil.

Filled with enticing recipes for stuffed zucchini flowers, fig tart and honey & thyme ice cream, Picnic in Provence is the story of everything that happens after the happily ever after: an American learning the tricks of French motherhood, a family finding a new professional passion, and a cook's initiation into classic Provencal cuisine. With wit, humor and scoop of wild strawberry sorbet, Bard reminds us that life-in and out of the kitchen-is a rendez-vous with the unexpected.

My two-bits:

This story tells the tale of the transition of big city Paris to small town Provence living. Also, the trials and tribulations of starting a small business, ice cream.

Peek into the french culture and family essence are captured well.

Loved the food focus with its descriptions, bit of history and recipes.

~*~
* Listened to audiobook version.

* part of Paris in July (here)

Food and France

Délectable!

~*~

Mastering the Art of French Eating
Lessons in Food and Love from a Year in Paris
by Ann Mah
Memoir, France, Foodie | Goodreads
When journalist Ann Mah’s diplomat husband is given a three-year assignment in Paris, Ann is overjoyed. A lifelong foodie and Francophile, she immediately begins plotting gastronomic adventures à deux. Then her husband is called away to Iraq on a year-long post—alone. Suddenly, Ann’s vision of a romantic sojourn in the City of Lights is turned upside down.

So, not unlike another diplomatic wife, Julia Child, Ann must find a life for herself in a new city. Journeying through Paris and the surrounding regions of France, Ann combats her loneliness by seeking out the perfect pain au chocolat and learning the way the andouillette sausage is really made. She explores the history and taste of everything from boeuf Bourguignon to soupe au pistou to the crispiest of buckwheat crepes. And somewhere between Paris and the south of France, she uncovers a few of life’s truths.

Dirt
Adventures, with Family, in the Kitchens of Lyon, Looking for the Origins of French Cooking
by Bill Buford
Memoir, Cooking | Goodreads
Bill Buford turns his inimitable attention from Italian cuisine to the food of France. Baffled by the language, but convinced that he can master the art of French cooking--or at least get to the bottom of why it is so revered-- he begins what becomes a five-year odyssey by shadowing the esteemed French chef Michel Richard, in Washington, D.C. But when Buford (quickly) realizes that a stage in France is necessary, he goes--this time with his wife and three-year-old twin sons in tow--to Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France. Studying at L'Institut Bocuse, cooking at the storied, Michelin-starred La Mère Brazier, enduring the endless hours and exacting rigeur of the kitchen, Buford becomes a man obsessed--with proving himself on the line, proving that he is worthy of the gastronomic secrets he's learning, proving that French cooking actually derives from (mon dieu!) the Italian.


COMING SOON...

The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux
by Samantha Verant
Women's Fiction, France, Foodie | Goodreads
Release date: September 8, 2020
A disgraced chef rediscovers her passion for food and her roots in this stunning novel rich in culture and full of delectable recipes.

French-born American chef Sophie Valroux had one dream: to be part of the 1% of female chefs running a Michelin-starred restaurant. From spending summers with her grandmother, who taught her the power of cooking and food, to attending the Culinary Institute of America, Sophie finds herself on the cusp of getting everything she's dreamed of.

Until her career goes up in flames.

Sabotaged by a fellow chef, Sophie is fired, leaving her reputation ruined and confidence shaken. To add fuel to the fire, Sophie learns that her grandmother has suffered a stroke and takes the red-eye to France. There, Sophie discovers the simple home she remembers from her childhood is now a luxurious château, complete with two restaurants and a vineyard. As Sophie tries to reestablish herself in the kitchen, she comes to understand the lengths people will go to for success and love, and how dreams can change.

~*~
* image source: Porte St. Martin by Eugene Galien Laloue

* part of Paris in July (here)

The Best American Food Writing 2018 edited by Ruth Reichl

The Best American Food Writing 2018
edited by Ruth Reichl

Published: 2018
Publisher: Mariner Books
Genre: Essays, Food
Paperback: 320
Goodreads

includes:

Revenge of the Lunch Lady by Jane Black
New York, Chicago, Detroit, Portland? Making the Case for a New American Pizza city by Karen Brooks
Christina Tossi Has a Cookie by Mary H.K. Choi *
I've worked in Food for Twenty Years, Now You Finally Care About Female Chefs? by Amanda Cohen *
Secrets in the Sauce by Lauren Collins
On the Iberico Trail by John T. Edge
Is Dinner for Two Worth $1,000? By Jonathan Gold *
How Driscoll's Reinvented the Straberry by Dana Goodyear
Temples of the Seasons by Alex Halberstadt
The Struggle of "Eating Well" When You're Poor by Marissa Higgins *
The NBA's Secret Sandwich Addiction by Baxter Holmes *
The White Lies of Craft Culture by Lauren Michele Jackson
Where's the Beef? By Beth Kowitt
In Good Hands by Francis Lam
To Wash or Not to Wash? By Harold McGee
Born in the USA: The Rise and Triumph of Asian-American Cuisine by Ligaya Mishan *
Who Owns Uncle Ben? By Shane Mitchell
Georgetown One Stop by John O'Connor
The Country Sausage That's Going to Town by Chris Offutt
The Teenage Whaler's Tale by Julia O'Malley
The Mad Cheese Scientist Fighting to Save the Dairy Industry by Clint Rainey
The Joy of Reading About Cooking by Tejal Rao
Oysters: A Love Story by Tejal Rao
Mario Batali and the Appetites of Men by Helen Rosner
Pawhuska or Bust: A Journe to the Heart of Pioneer Woman Country by Khushbu Shah
The World's Last Great Undiscovered Cuisine by Anya Von Bremzen
After Oranges by Wyatt Williams

“Food writing is stepping out,” legendary food writer Ruth Reichl declares at the start of this, the inaugural edition of Best American Food Writing. “It’s about time…Food is, in a very real sense, redesigning the world.” Indeed, the twenty-eight pieces in this volume touch on every pillar of society: from the sense memories that connect a family through food, to the scientific tinkering that gives us new snacks to share, to the intersections of culinary culture with some of our most significant political issues. At times a celebration, at times a critique, at times a wondrous reverie, the Best American Food Writing 2018 is brimming with delights both circumspect and sensuous. Dig in!

My two-bits:
I read the stories with "*" to create some hype for the food feasting brought on by Thanksgiving which definitely satisfied the craving.

I plan to read more later for stories on history, experiences and fun food facts.

~*~
* part of monthly theme: SciFi, Supper, Love, Sex and Marriage

Blog All About It: Crunch

Hollow Kingdom
by Kira Jane Buxton
-Dystopia, Humor, Zombies | Goodreads

READ: with favorite crunchy snack - Cheetos

So, I was forced to bring in the big guns: Cheetos, those delectable, radioactive poofs.
-chapter 5, page 27


CRUNCH SIGHTINGS:

Hunger
A Memoir of (My) Body
by Roxane Gay
-Memoir | Goodreads

I can still remember the crunch of it beneath my bare feet as I snuck out the next morning.
-chapter 26

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous
by Ocean Vuong
-Literary, Poetry, LGBTQ | Goodreads

"I don't need to read," you said, your expression crunched, and pushed away from the table.
-chapter 1, page 5


EAT:

Cap'n Crunch cookie
from Jane on Fillmore

LOL:

Cap'n Crunch's
Halloween Crunch
Ghosts Turn Your Milk GREEN!
~*~
* part of the Blog All About It Challenge (here)

Super Sushi Ramen Express by Michael Booth

Super Sushi Ramen Express
One Family's Journey Through the Belly of Japan
by Michael Booth
narrated by Ralph Lister
Published: 2016
Publisher: Picador
Genre: Memoir, Food, Travel
Hardback: 336
Rating: 5
Goodreads

First sentence(s):
It had started off as a perfectly temperate discussion about the relative merits of French and Japanese cuisines.

Japan is the pre-eminent food nation on earth. The Japanese go to the most extraordinary lengths and expense to eat the finest, most delectable, and downright freakiest food imaginable. Their creativity, dedication and ingenuity, not to mention courage in the face of dishes such as cod sperm, whale penis and octopus ice cream, is only now beginning to be fully appreciated in the sushi-saturated West, as are the remarkable health benefits of the traditional Japanese diet.

Inspired by Shizuo Tsuji's classic book, Japanese Cooking, A Simple Art, food and travel writer Michael Booth sets off to take the culinary pulse of contemporary Japan, learning fascinating tips and recipes that few westerners have been privy to before. Accompanied by with two fussy eaters under the age of six, he and his wife travel the length of the country, from bear-infested, beer-loving Hokkaido to snake-infested, seaweed-loving Okinawa.

Along the way, they dine with - and score a surprising victory over - sumos; meet the indigenous Ainu; drink coffee at the dog café; pamper the world's most expensive cows with massage and beer; discover the secret of the Okinawan people's remarkable longevity; share a seaside lunch with free-diving, female abalone hunters; and meet the greatest chefs working in Japan today. Less happily, they trash a Zen garden, witness a mass fugu slaughter, are traumatised by an encounter with giant crabs, and attempt a calamitous cooking demonstration for the lunching ladies of Kyoto. They also ask, 'Who are you?' to the most famous TV stars in Japan.

What do the Japanese know about food? Perhaps more than anyone on else on earth, judging by this fascinating and funny journey through an extraordinary food-obsessed country.

My two-bits:

Loved the details and historical bits on Japanese food including convenience store offerings, sumo wrestler's diet, tempura, umami, etc.

Side stories with family members were cute.

~*~
* weekly theme: Japan - food

* listened to the audio version

Pancakes in Paris by Craig Carlson

Pancakes in Paris
Living the American Dream in France
by Craig Carlson
narrated by Donald Corren

Find out more about this book and author:
Goodreads
Website
Facebook
Instagram

Published: 2016
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Memoir, Food, France, Paris
Paperback: 320
Rating: 5

First sentence(s):
If you had met me as a kid and seen where I came from, you would have never in a million years imagined that one day I would end up living in France.

Zombie sighting:
"Remember Craig," my first investor Todd once said to me when he saw me with dark circles under my eyes picking french fries off the floor like a zombie, "you're living your dream."
-chapter one

Paris was practically perfect...

Craig Carlson was the last person anyone would expect to open an American diner in Paris. He came from humble beginnings in a working-class town in Connecticut, had never worked in a restaurant, and didn't know anything about starting a brand-new business. But from his first visit to Paris, Craig knew he had found the city of his dreams, although one thing was still missing-the good ol' American breakfast he loved so much.

Pancakes in Paris is the story of Craig tackling the impossible-from raising the money to fund his dream to tracking down international suppliers for "exotic" American ingredients... and even finding love along the way. His diner, Breakfast In America, is now a renowned tourist destination, and the story of how it came to be is just as delicious and satisfying as the classic breakfast that tops its menu.

My two-bits:

This was an American male perspective of living in Paris. Loved the drive and determination Craig has to make his dreams come true despite the rocky road.

Got a peek into how businesses run in Paris. What a difference! especially in regards to employees.

PeekAbook:

~*~
* Listened to audiobook version.

* part of Paris in July (here)

Books and Coffee

With the San Francisco Coffee Passport in hand, I will venture out to SF cafes for coffee tastings throughout the year and will post about the visits.

This is an amazing book of coupons created by Broke-Ass Stuart and offers 31 cups of coffee at 31 excellent cafes for $35 (details here).

I got a second passport for kid to join me on the coffee adventures.

Visits:

1. Jane on Fillmore
beverage: mocha
eat: biscuit with butter and jam
book: Someday We Will Fly by Rachel DeWoskin

2. Spike's Coffees and Teas
beverage: latte
eat: chocolate croissant
book: Waiting For Monsieur Bellivier by Britta Röstlund

3. tba
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National Hamburger Day

National Hamburger Day
May 28
Celebrating the day with burger themed mini cookies that I found in Nijiya market in Japan town. So so cute ;-)


READ:

The Hamburger:
A History
by Josh Ozersky
-History, Food | Goodreads | my rating: 5
FUN to learn that the original Bob's Big Boy restaurant was in my home town, Glendale, CA. I remember the humongous statue of the big boy with hamburger platter in front of it.

Burgers in San Francisco:

Location: Super Duper Burgers (Metreon)
Description: Mini Burger
4 oz. beef patty, with Super Sauce
fries separate
Rating: 4

Location: The Grove (Yerba Buena)
Description: The Burger
half pound of all natural chuck & brisket house blend, toasted Acme bun, onion, tomato, bib lettuce, pickle
served with potato wedges
Rating: 4

Location: Southern Pacific Brewing
Description: House Burger
beef patty with green leaf lettuce, red onion, tomato & house pickles
served with fries
Rating: 5

SPOTTED: at Target - floating cardboard burger!

Excerpt: Comfort Food by Julia Chen

Comfort Food
by Julia Chen
-Food, Recipes
Release date: February 13, 2018
Amazon
There's nothing quite like Comfort Food to put a smile on your face and a feeling of contentment in your stomach.

Chef Julia Chen is passionate about feeding people; from the students in her university kitchen to guests and family at home.

From recipes that are as simple as a sandwich to as technical as a fruit cake, she knows the importance of creating delicious meals that are full of flavour and which always have budget in mind.

Her recipes include easy to make classics and mouth-watering family favourites, using easy to find products that are fresh and economical.

Fun, fast, indulgent and nurturing, there's a time and a place for Comfort Food in every kitchen.


Excerpt:

Chicken Stir Fry with Cashew Nuts
I got this idea simply from seeing an advert of children asking their father for a takeaway dinner. Instead the father cooks up a dish similar to this recipe but pretends it’s takeaway food by slamming the front door and presenting it in take away containers. The children are fooled, saying: “Thanks for the takeaways, Dad.” But he tells them, “Actually I cooked it myself.” This is simple, quick, delicious and cheap to make.

Ingredients:

2 chicken breast fillets
150g button mushrooms
150g young corn
100g sugar snap peas
1 red pepper
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
½ cup roasted cashews
Serves 4 to 6.

In a wok or a deep fry pan place about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Dice the chicken into small cubes or strips, thinly slice the mushrooms and also slice the pepper into thin strips. Heat the oil and add the chicken. Cook the chicken until it is a golden colour. Then add the mushrooms and the peppers. Add the sauces. Then stir in together until the mushrooms are cooked and the pepper is al dente. Then add the sugar snap peas and the corn and stir until they are warmed through but still retain their colour. Finally add the cashews just before serving.
Serve with steamed rice.


Caramel Cookies
I am a devil for punishment when it comes to caramel-flavoured things. So when I came across the idea of caramel-flavoured cookies I went weak at the knees. These cookies are just delicious and one is just not enough in a sitting.

Ingredients:

4oz butter
4oz sugar
1 dessertspoon golden syrup
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
8oz plain flour
½ cup sultanas or raisins
Pinch salt
½ teaspoon vanilla essence

Melt the butter over a low heat, with sugar, syrup and milk. Once butter has melted and sugar dissolved, add the soda. Do not boil but allow to fizz.
In a bowl place the flour, fruit, salt and vanilla, and add to cooled wet mixture.
Place in small teaspoonfuls on a tray on top of baking paper. Press lightly with a fork and bake in a moderate oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden.
Allow to cool on a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container.

About the author:

Growing up in Wellington, New Zealand, British born Julia Bettelheim enjoyed an early start in the catering industry and as a teenager took lessons from a private chef. Her family then moved to Melbourne, Australia where she lived for the next twenty-two years and worked as a tupperware sales representative travelling the city providing cookery demonstrations and sharing recipes that were suitable for storing. After her divorce in 2008, Julia moved back to England where she now lives in Chatham, Kent and works as a chef in the kitchen of the cafe at UCL in London.

~*~
* courtesy of book tour

Happy Release: Comfort Food by Julia Chen

Comfort Food
by Julia Chen
-Food, Recipes
Release date: February 13, 2018
Amazon
There's nothing quite like Comfort Food to put a smile on your face and a feeling of contentment in your stomach.

Chef Julia Chen is passionate about feeding people; from the students in her university kitchen to guests and family at home.

From recipes that are as simple as a sandwich to as technical as a fruit cake, she knows the importance of creating delicious meals that are full of flavour and which always have budget in mind.

Her recipes include easy to make classics and mouth-watering family favourites, using easy to find products that are fresh and economical.

Fun, fast, indulgent and nurturing, there's a time and a place for Comfort Food in every kitchen.

Delicious! by Ruth Reichl

Delicious!
by Ruth Reichl
narrated by Julia Whelan

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Published: 2014
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Coming of Age, Food, Mystery
Hardback: 400 pages
Rating: 4

First sentence(s):
"You should have used fresh ginger!"

Ruth Reichl is a born storyteller. Through her restaurant reviews, where she celebrated the pleasures of a well-made meal, and her bestselling memoirs that address our universal feelings of love and loss, Reichl has achieved a special place in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of readers. Now, with this magical debut novel, she has created a sumptuous, wholly realized world that will enchant you.

Billie Breslin has traveled far from her home in California to take a job at Delicious!, New York’s most iconic food magazine. Away from her family, particularly her older sister, Genie, Billie feels like a fish out of water—until she is welcomed by the magazine’s colorful staff. She is also seduced by the vibrant downtown food scene, especially by Fontanari’s, the famous Italian food shop where she works on weekends. Then Delicious! is abruptly shut down, but Billie agrees to stay on in the empty office, maintaining the hotline for reader complaints in order to pay her bills.

To Billie’s surprise, the lonely job becomes the portal to a miraculous discovery. In a hidden room in the magazine’s library, Billie finds a cache of letters written during World War II by Lulu Swan, a plucky twelve-year-old, to the legendary chef James Beard. Lulu’s letters provide Billie with a richer understanding of history, and a feeling of deep connection to the young writer whose courage in the face of hardship inspires Billie to comes to terms with her fears, her big sister and her ability to open her heart to love.

My two-bits:

Experiences at a New York food magazine and in a food shop pulled me into this coming of age and mystery rolled into this foodie themed book.

Some epistolary parts with descriptions of life during World War II and cooking.

And a touch of romance plays a part as well.

Cake recipe included.

~*~
* Listened to audiobook version.

* part of Foodies Read Challenge (here)

Foodies Read 2017

Foodies Read 2017
January 1 - December 31, 2017
hosted by Spirit Blog
Details | Pinterest
~*~
GOAL: Reading books about food.

i.e.
Cozy mysteries set in bakeries
Romance books set in tea shops
Nonfiction books about the history of ingredients
Cookbooks
Memoirs from chefs or waiters or people who just love to eat
…the list goes on and on.

~*~
My GOAL: Short-Order Cook: 1 to 3 books

Reading pile:

Cravings:
Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat
by Chrissy Teigen
-Cookbook,
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Delicious!
by Ruth Reichl
-Food, Fiction
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Jane of Austin:
A Novel of Sweet Tea and Sensibility
by Hillary Manton Lodge
-Romance, Jane Austen theme
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

Paris Inspired Treats

miette
Ferry Building Marketplace
San Francisco, CA 94111
415.837.0300
Monday-Friday 9-7 | Saturday 8-7 | Sunday 10-6
mail order option for some items available - website
=====> There are a few local eateries inspired by Paris by food and/or decor. I visited a couple this week to get into the Parisien mode. If you have a favorite in your town, tell me about it in comments.

I enjoyed a chocolate (coffee buttercream frosted) cupcake and halloween goodie (sour bats) at miette in Larkspur.

Miette: A Video from San Francisco's Most Charming Pastry Shop from 4SP Creative on Vimeo.

b. patisserie
2821 California St. @ Divisadero St.
San Francisco, CA 94115
contact@bpatisserie.com | 415.440.1700
website | instagram
Tuesday-Sunday 8-6
Monday closed
=====> Croissant dipping into a yummy mocha. b.patisserie has a granola blend that is magnifique!


~*~
* part of October Paris virtual book event (schedule)

Get Jiro! Blood and Sushi by Anthony Bourdain, Joel Rose, Alé Garza

Get Jiro!
Blood & Sushi
by Anthony Bourdain, Joel Rose, Alé Garza

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
BookExcerpt

Published: 2015
Publisher: Vertigo
Genre: Graphic Novel, Food, Japan
Hardback: 160 pages
Rating: 4

Series:
Get Jiro
Get Jiro! Blood and Sushi

Acclaimed chef, writer and television personality, Anthony Bourdain and Joel Rose (Kill The Poor) return for the follow-up to their #1 New York Times bestseller GET JIRO from Vertigo.

In GET JIRO: BLOOD AND SUSHI, Bourdain and Rose examine the origins of the mysterious Jiro and what made him into the chef he has become. Born the heir to a Yakuza crime family, Jiro never longed to travel the criminal path laid out before him, but instead chose to secretly study the rich culinary history of his homeland, something that would have significant repercussions if discovered by his gangster father.

As Jiro's interest in the culinary arts deepens, his ability to keep his artistic and criminal worlds separate becomes too great, triggering a great personal loss that will forever change Jiro's path.

My two-bits:

Although I did not read the first in this series, I enjoyed this backstory.

Nice combo of food (Japanese and Italian), yakuza and a rebellious protagonist.

I liked the artwork and the incorporation of tattoo art. Got the vibe of a fast-paced Japanese pulp story. The bit of romance was a good dosage as well.

Pasta Wars by Elisa Lorello

Pasta Wars
by Elisa Lorello

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads
Website
Twitter @elisalorello

Release date: January 17, 2017
Publisher: Adaptive Books
Genre: Humor, Romance, Food, Italy
Paperback: 256 pages
Rating: 4

First sentence(s):
There are two kinds of people in this world; those who love coconut and those who hate coconut.

Slim, successful, and soon to marry the man of her dreams, Katie Cravens is leading the life she always wanted. As the face and CEO of Pasta Pronto, a “Carbs for the Calorie-Conscious” line of frozen food, Katie chooses to live life like one of her Slimline Spaghetti dinners―no mess, no surprises, and everything tied up in a neat little package. But when Katie’s fiancé runs off with another woman and a quality control fiasco sends her customers running for the hills, it’s time for Katie to make a change.

Her company’s salvation presents itself in the form of a partnership opportunity with the legendary Ristorante Caramelli of Rome, and Katie has no other choice but to jet off to Italy to convince gorgeous, hotheaded co-owner Luca Caramelli that she’s a worthy partner. Gaining Luca’s respect proves harder than Katie could have ever imagined, however, when he insists that she must learn how to cook―and how to eat―true Italian food before he will ever agree to their companies’ partnership.

Katie and Luca's tension in Italy mounts into a fierce public rivalry that erupts back in the States with a nationally televised cooking competition. As Katie tries to channel her inner Mario Batali to win the competition, she must choose between the flavorless prepackaged life that she worked so hard to maintain and the mouth-watering uncertainty of a life chock full of carbohydrates and Caramellis.

My two-bits:

There is some arm chair traveling to Italy with this delightful sort-of coming of age romantic read. At first, I found the main character, Katie, to be a bit annoying. But as the story progressed, her character developed into a more likable and better person.

The topics of food and cooking brought about thoughts on eating healthy and cooking from scratch.

I especially loved the descriptions of preparing and cooking pasta. Made me want to make pasta despite not having recipes provided.

Issues of diet and self-image also are touched upon in this story.

Got a sense of what it is like working for a small company in the food industry.


About the author:

Elisa Lorello was born and raised on Long Island, the youngest of seven children. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth and launched a career teaching rhetoric and composition. She has been teaching first-year writing to university students since 2000, but went on sabbatical in fall 2012. Elisa spent six years in North Carolina, where she split her time between teaching and writing, and returned to the northeast in October 2012.

Elisa is the author of the Kindle best-selling novels "Faking It" and "Ordinary World", "Why I Love Singlehood" (co-authored with Sarah Girrell), and "Adulation".

Some of Elisa's favorite pastimes include chocolate, reading, and walking. She is also an avid fan of Duran Duran, pop tarts, and finding the perfect shade of lipstick.

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* review copy courtesy of publisher