Anthony Bourdain: "Alice Waters Annoys the Living [Expletive] Out of Me."

Anthony and Alice

Khmer Rouge? Tony, overstatement may be your style, but come on.

Instead of expander her empire, like your buddies, by opening a Chez Panisse Vegas, or Maurice a Mer in New York, Alice has worked out a plan that pays the farmers and her workers a living wage. She encourages them to pursue other interests in their lives, in addition to restaurant work, and pays them enough to have the time to do it.

Also, she is actively trying to expose children to organic produce, teach them how to grow it and how to cook it.

As a Berkeley citizen, this opinion sounds like a complaint I hear often. Yes, we are an opinionated group. We tend to think globally and act locally, but MacDonalds beat us. When I moved here in 1974, there were no fast food joints in Berkeley. Now a couple have made it.

Do you eat at MacDonalds?

Jude LaBarre of CA @ May 08, 2009 18:15:52 PM

Isn't it obvious that this country has a problem?

It's true that we Americans may be too stupid to realize that we are poisoning our food before we eat it, but, no one is ramming any style of eating down our throats. All Alice Waters is doing is presenting an alternative and sane approach that deserves attention and can only be of benefit to this society. Hormone, chemical and pesticide-free food isn't the norm, but should be. Bourdain mouths off on all matters under the sun, yet seems reluctant to give that right to others.

Pinkie of NY @ Mar 20, 2009 12:02:03 PM

Food costs

when you include the cost of poor health due to poor eating habits, the price we pay for local, organic food is of great value. Alice Waters' vision is exactly the direction we need to go. The corporate processed food companies are getting fat off of the population getting fat. Wake up people!! Stop the abuse and be a victim no more!

Sandi Smith Davis of AR @ Mar 15, 2009 22:10:24 PM

oh chet you fool

learn how to spell check and read before you write

Chet Everett of Illinois of IL @ Feb 06, 2009 10:42:43 AM

Childish

Anthony Bourdain annoys the living [expletive] out of me. As usual, he speaks without thinking. Last time I checked, we're still living in a free country. We eat what we like and what we can afford.

Alice Waters has only brought to light the opportunities and choices we have for a better diet.

.

Julie Maxwell of WA @ Feb 01, 2009 21:39:41 PM

Missed the point!

The effort to move towards organic and/or locally grown produce does offer many benefits and does not have to cost more money. Individuals, coops and local farmers markets are all options for making more produce available to people at a cost which is no greater than the cost in local grocery stores for nonorganic options.

To those who say that sometime farmer's markets and organic choices are too expensive, I think it's important to realize this is not always the case.

I grew up in a suburb and my grandfather once kept a garden in our backyard. That was 40 years ago! There is something special about eating fresh, home grown, and... organic. Oh, and seed packets are far less expensive than anything else out there.

Caroline of TX @ Feb 01, 2009 14:55:16 PM

I Do Understand and Agree

I always seem to agree with Tony Bourdain. His lack of BS is most refreshing. So, go, Tony! We have to keep our feet on the ground and be watchful when it comes to the influence peddlers in this world. I don't need Oprah to tell me which books to read, nor do I need Alice Waters to tell me what to eat. Our current obese condition is the result of lousy portion control. We, as a nation, simply eat too much of everything. Sometimes farmer's markets can be quite expensive, although the quality is certainly there. But not all of us can afford to indulge in overpriced vegetables.

Diane of NH @ Feb 01, 2009 12:41:37 PM

Bourdain

I agree with Bourdain, local organic food is more expensive. it's so easy for Waters to push organic and local when she has the means. Whereas, most Americans are buying the cheapest food possible so they can still have money to pay the rent.

kmcollado of NC @ Feb 01, 2009 10:55:56 AM