Hungry

Eating, Road-Tripping, and Risking It All with the Greatest Chef in the World

By: Jeff Gordinier

Narrated by: Jeff Gordinier

A food critic chronicles four years spent traveling with René Redzepi, the renowned chef of Noma, in search of the most tantalizing flavors the world has to offer.

“If you want to understand modern restaurant culture, you need to read this book.”—Ruth Reichl, author of Save Me the Plums

Hungry is a book about not only the hunger for food, but for risk, for reinvention, for creative breakthroughs, and for connection. Feeling stuck in his work and home life, writer Jeff Gordinier happened into a fateful meeting with Danish chef René Redzepi, whose restaurant, Noma, has been called the best in the world. A restless perfectionist, Redzepi was at the top of his game but was looking to tear it all down, to shutter his restaurant and set out for new places, flavors, and recipes.

This is the story of the subsequent four years of globe-trotting culinary adventure, with Gordinier joining Redzepi as his Sancho Panza. In the jungle of the Yucatán peninsula, Redzepi and his comrades go off-road in search of the perfect taco. In Sydney, they forage for sea rocket and sandpaper figs in suburban parks and on surf-lashed beaches. On a boat in the Arctic Circle, a lone fisherman guides them to what may or may not be his secret cache of the world’s finest sea urchins. And back in Copenhagen, the quiet canal-lined city where Redzepi started it all, he plans the resurrection of his restaurant on the unlikely site of a garbage-filled lot. Along the way, readers meet Redzepi’s merry band of friends and collaborators, including acclaimed chefs such as Danny Bowien, Kylie Kwong, Rosio Sánchez, David Chang, and Enrique Olvera.

Hungry is a memoir, a travelogue, a portrait of a chef, and a chronicle of the moment when daredevil cooking became the most exciting and groundbreaking form of artistry.

Praise for Hungry

“In Hungry, Gordinier invokes such playful and lush prose that the scents of mole, chiles and even lingonberry juice waft off the page.”—Time

“This wonderful book is really about the adventures of two men: a great chef and a great journalist. Hungry is a feast for the senses, filled with complex passion and joy, bursting with life. Not only did Jeff Gordinier make me want to jump on the next flight (to Mexico, Copenhagen, Sydney) in search of the perfect meal, but he also reminded me to stop and savor the ride.”—Dani Shapiro, author of Inheritance

Awesome

Super interesting listen. Shows a lot of the culinary creativity of René Redzepi. Totally worth it

I was left wondering if Rene was depressed?

I love the drive Rene has to continue to innovate and reinvent. I resonate with it, which inspires me to keep moving forward myself, taking big risks. However, at parts, the way Jeff Gordinier writes about it Redzepi you are left wondering if he is actually sick or depressed. And this is not to say I didn't immensely enjoy the book, I just ended up being worried about the guy. In the day and age where mental health is at the forefront, it seems like Redzepi is on a path where he will eventually collapse. I truly hope not, but I also hope that if that is the case he gets the help he needs or finds peace somewhere along the way.

powerful, elegant and delicious!

I loved this book so much that I read it AND am listening to it. Jeff is an amazing storyteller - and it's awesome to listen to him narrate his story. It's powerful. The prose is elegant. It makes the mouth water, the mind contemplate and the soul reflect.

Well written, poignant

Look at a unique, interesting, influential culinarian doing his best for his staff, guests and world at large

#jealous

What an amazing adventure! Stories of food, wine, tacos, Mezcal and divorce. The whole book I was just imagining being this guy. The best chef in the world just calls you up out of the F'n blue, invites you to a wonderful new land with amazing riches and you feel all wishy washy about it? In the immortal words of my good friend (not really) Keyshawn Johnson...... "C'mon Man!" So dude reluctantly decided to go, has the time of his life and half way through decided give us the "going through the big D and I don't mean Dallas" spiel. Solid read my man, I just wish I were you, so NO STARS! OK, sorry I didn't mean that. I'm just jealous, sue me.