Buttermilk Graffiti

A Chef’s Journey to Discover America’s New Melting-Pot Cuisine

By: Edward Lee

Narrated by: David Shih

American food is the story of mash-ups. Immigrants arrive, cultures collide, and out of the push-pull come exciting new dishes and flavors. But for Edward Lee, who, like Anthony Bourdain or Gabrielle Hamilton, is as much a writer as he is a chef, that first surprising bite is just the beginning. What about the people behind the food? What about the traditions, the innovations, the memories?

A natural-born storyteller, Lee decided to hit the road and spent two years uncovering fascinating narratives from every corner of the country. There's a Cambodian couple in Lowell, Massachusetts, and their efforts to re-create the flavors of their lost country. A Uyghur cafe in New York's Brighton Beach serves a noodle soup that seems so very familiar and yet so very exotic - one unexpected ingredient opens a window onto an entirely unique culture. A beignet from Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, as potent as Proust's madeleine, inspires a narrative that tunnels through time, back to the first Creole cooks, then forward to a Korean rice-flour hoedduck and a beignet dusted with matcha.

Sixteen adventures, 16 vibrant new chapters in the great evolving story of American cuisine. And 40 recipes, created by Lee, that bring these new dishes into our own kitchens.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2018 Edward Lee (P)2018 Tantor

Foodies delight

If you have an adventurous pallet, you’ll love this book. Great story well read absolutely fabulous. 

Good listen for the aspiring food snob

I like the book in general. Lee did a great job at telling his story, but I think it would have been better had he narrated it himself.

Fascinating and Unique Story- Absolute joy to hear!

I loved the approach to food! Having grown up in the family restaurant, I felt a strong connection and appreciation to so many of the stories. I truly admire Chef Lee's open-minded approach and desire to understand the story of the food. The eclectic stories that intertwined perfectly! It inspired me to try more restaurants that maybe I wouldn't have stopped by otherwise. This is beginning a new journey for me.

Everybody eats

What we need right now?
This is another way of connecting,
of understanding who we are we Americans As people.

The diversity of Edward Lee

Did not know what to expect but really appreciated his inquiring mind and thorough investigation of some of the overlooked ethnic enclaves in America

A fascinating way to look at, explore and better understand “American” food

I love Edward Lee’s culinary voice and insight into what is American food. As a chef myself, I have a hard time “defining” what style of food I do. It’s refreshing to hear a longtime accomplished chef talk about blowing the box apart and just doing food.
I would definitely recommend this book,
To chefs and non chefs.
I did struggle with the narrator. While the words he was reading capture the passionate enthusiasm for cooking we see in Edward On season 3 of the mind of a chef, I don’t think he was the right voice for it. Sorry.
Despite the last paragraph I wrote, I do Highly recommend this book.

Great story, dreadful narration

Great stories, great recipes -- but the narration was totally monotonous, except when Mr. Shih did a sing-songy female voice that was cringe-y. Buy the book!

Eloquent, reflective, fun, and insightful

I was charmed (and sometimes annoyed) by Edward Lee on Top Chef, and I impulse purchased this book when I finished watching his season. I wasn't sure what to expect, but, wow, this book surprised and delighted. It is thoughtfully composed and beautifully written. Complex and rich with questions and reflections on food culture, power dynamics, meaning, identity, and more. Few answers are provided, but the ride is more than worth it. For what it's worth, I also liked the narrator. Highly recommend.

The best of Food Writing

Edward Lee's writing is lyrical and disarming. This book is a must for teaching culture diversity in a country that is surrounded and built on diversity but staunchly denies it. Wonderful storytelling and fantastic performance.

Great book with terrible narrator

The narrator David Shih is incredibly bland and sounds like he is reading toilet installation instructions except for a horrible high pitched whistle with every "s." I am 10 minutes in and think the book is probably unlistenable.