One of my goals for this summer is to fit in a pile of culinary reading. I just finished the book, The Sharper your Knife, the Less you Cry. Fun rendition of a gal taking a hard right from her life and pursuing her culinary dreams. Huh, and she is a writer besides. Sounds oddly familiar... Just started a regularly recommended culinary read: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. I have told you once and will tell you again: my humble little family has one show we watch together religiously and that is Top Chef. And whenever Anthony Bourdain is on as a guest judge we are completely tickled and await his prowess. Be warned: he is blunt, bare, ballsy. He throws caution to the wind; restraint is not his friend.

I learned to hold back, train my thoughts, not say certain things. Not so with Bourdain. He is out there, says it all, shares all in his closet and more. He is lucky charm is on his side; his sincerity is as real as his glaring honesty and you cannot help but listen and be amused, coming back for seconds. He is the friend you have that both shocks and entertains you, but all the while maintains whit and insertions of culinary intelligence that you cannot resist hearing.

A perfect pal for vicarious indulgences.

But I did say shock, don't get me wrong. He represents all I was taught not to say, lest I be rude or hurtful. He is all I was taught not to do, to the demise of my health. Yet intrigue remains, as with many of my friends who push the envelope so I can peek.

He hosts a series called No Reservations on the Food Network, and has a blog. He puts great effort into describing the underbelly, what is gross and inappropriate, giving you candor and sparing you candy-coated truths. In one breath, he is both vulgar and refreshing. Note: you have been warned.