Hungry

More about the book

A food critic chronicles four years spent traveling with renowned chef Rene Redzepi in search of the most tantalizing flavors the world has to offer. This narrative explores not just a hunger for food, but also for risk, reinvention, creative breakthroughs, and connection. Feeling stagnant in his work and personal life, writer Jeff Gordinier serendipitously meets Danish chef Redzepi, whose restaurant, Noma, is celebrated as one of the best globally. A restless perfectionist, Redzepi seeks to dismantle his successful establishment to explore new culinary horizons. Thus begins a four-year globe-trotting adventure, with Gordinier as his companion. Together, they embark on quests for the perfect taco and mole in the Yucatan, forage for sea rocket and wild celery on Sydney's beaches, and seek out elusive sea urchins in the Arctic Circle. Back in Copenhagen, Redzepi plans to resurrect his restaurant in an unexpected location—a garbage-strewn empty lot. Along the way, readers meet Redzepi's vibrant circle of friends and collaborators, including acclaimed chefs like Danny Bowien, Kylie Kwong, and David Chang. This work serves as a memoir, travelogue, and a portrait of a chef, capturing the thrilling evolution of daredevil cooking as a groundbreaking form of artistry.