The care and feeding of Bourdain and Batali

Laurie Woolever had a front-row seat to both triumph and disaster in the lives of two giants of the American food scene: Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali. Celebrity chef Batali faced allegations of sexual harassment at the height of the #MeToo movement and, by 2019, had exited all of his restaurants. Bourdain was a very different character: a celebrated chef at several New York institutions, a best-selling author, and a fixture of culinary television; he took his own life in 2018. Laurie reflects on both the bitter and the sweet of working alongside Batali and Bourdain in her candid memoir, Care and Feeding. If you are feeling distressed, or need advice or support, you should consult your local medical professional. If you're in Australia, support is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue. Guest: Laurie Woolever, writer, former assistant to Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali, author of Care and Feeding: A Memoir Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.