Books like Hungry by Jeff Gordinier

In Hungry, food critic Jeff Gordinier follows Danish chef René Redzepi for four years as he pursues new flavors and concepts, challenging the limits of his celebrated restaurant Noma. The journey takes them from the jungles of the Yucatan, hunting for the perfect taco and mole, to the surf‑lined beaches of Sydney, foraging for sea rocket and wild celery, to a fishing boat in the Arctic Circle, where a lone fisherman guides them to prized sea urchins. Returning to Copenhagen, Redzepi plans to resurrect his restaurant on a discarded lot beside quiet canals. Along the way Gordinier meets an international crew of chefs—including Danny Bowien, Kylie Kwong, Rosio Sánchez, David Chang and Enrique Olvera—who become collaborators and friends. Hungry intertwines memoir, travelogue and portrait of a chef, illustrating how daring culinary exploration became a vital artistic expression.

First publish date: 2019