Anthony Bourdain's Tribute To Michael Batterberry

Michael was one of the first people anywhere to treat me like a writer--back when I was an anonymous, line-cooking journeyman chef, long before Kitchen Confidential. The Food Arts offices were down the street from Les Halles and he'd stop in often, always--always--impeccable in pin-striped, bespoke suits. He seemed, from outward appearances, the last person in the world who would know me--or care much what the hell I had to say. But he did. He assigned me articles, talked with me about the industry, asked my opinion at a time when no one else cared. The cover photo of Kitchen Confidential was, in fact, originally commissioned by Michael for Food Arts. It illustrated the article I wrote for him, "Mission To Tokyo", which later appeared in slightly different form in the book.

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