more pictures than his other books this is an excellent book for aspiring chefs, food writers and home cooks alike. bourdain relates his early yearnings to become an exceptional cook and imparts with his decades of product knowledge. it's rare to find a cooking book that isn't aimed at the typical bored housewife but this is one of them. the beautiful pictures combined with the wonderfully interactive and humourous tales of origin set this book far above the rest. with more television series in the works this is definitely a chef you want to invest in.

I had first seen the TV program which I caught almost near the end of the series, and I wanted to know more. A Cook's Tour was an amazing account of a hardened New York chef who wanted more out of life and his food. The book really portrayed his emotions and sometimes fears of what he was getting himself into. Playfully written in an almost conversation style that made you feel like he was just telling it to you over coffee - and the thing is that I didn't want the coffee to end! Addictive writing and hilarious situations that I felt more comfortable reading about rather than doing it myself!