Anthony Bourdain, Marco Pierre White, Michael Ruhlman (as Moderator), The Role of a Chef, 2008

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With the exponential rise of public attention focused on cooking, the meaning of the chef profession has changed. At the 2008 StarChefs International Chefs Congress, culinary author Michael Ruhlman moderated a chat between two very different food personalities. Marco Pierre White arguably began the era of chef publicity with the 1990 publication of the gritty White Heat cookbook/memoir. Anthony Bourdain won the industry over with his talent and candor, but he admitted that he hadn’t worked as a chef for nine years and was entrenched in the “undignified business” of television.
White, a former quintessential “bad boy chef” who spoke in flowery terms about the romance of food, stood in contrast with the irreverent Bourdain, who always had a finger on the pulse of the culinary world and enough perspective to laugh at it. The two argued over the expectation that the chef whose name is on the restaurant door should be in the kitchen every night and what it meant to be a food media personality.
During questions with the audience, Bourdain was asked about the harrowing Beirut episode of No Reservations that had just aired and would earn him an Emmy. Suddenly, Bourdain seemed to take on some of the emotion that colored all of White’s statements. “The best thing about doing the show is I get to do stuff- I mean, I get to do stuff that I-” he struggled but finished the thought with, “I get to live out my dreams.” But sometimes, despite the bubble of production and the perfect lighting, he would bump up against a real world where bad things could happen. A decade later, Bourdain died of suicide during a filming trip in Strasbourg and left the industry devastated with his passing.

[@TheInnerParty]

“Gordon Ramsay made himself cry” A philosophical classic.🔥

[@MaquiladoraIII]

"It was his choice." YESSSSSSS!

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

But did Mario throw the risotto on himself?

[@ZinsWorld]

#thuglyfe quote haha

[@quintonking5089]

“I don’t want four puddings. I just want to go home.” Awesome and true.

[@barrelrolldog]

Marco is a freaking quote machine.

[@giovannibastianello1039]

FIRE THE SOUND GUY.

[@drivenelement]

Ikr, basically have to listen in mono

[@paul_domici]

I'm interviewing two Legends today in front of thousands of people! Guess I'll break out my rubber sandals???

[@paul_domici]

@Qi QI What are you a psychiatrist? what do you know about depression!

[@SKRUBL0RD]

for 99% of history a cook was a working class pleb slaving for the delight of the wealthy, so kinda makes sense and pays homage.

[@paul_domici]

@@SKRUBL0RD What are you talking about the sandals???

[@savagepeace]

Do you really think either of them gives a fuck about his shoes? Calm down.

[@gmancolo]

Even worse than orange clogs.

[@michaeldavidnvitales]

“He said, ‘Marco, you can cook as well as anybody.” He said, ‘Do not be scared of the stove.’ He was absolutely right. I was intimidated by a three star stove. It changed my life. I went back the next day and I attacked the stove. You have to attack the stove. You have to have that inner confidence and that belief that you can do it. And if you mess it up - who cares? Because by messing things up you take great knowledge. Have another go. As I always say, and I think this is the most important thing I would ever say to a young chef: Cooking is a philosophy; it’s not a recipe. Unless it’s pastry, then it becomes chemistry.” -Marco Pierre White 🧑‍🍳

[@theloneangler3320]

Truth 👍🙏✝️♥️🏹🎣🛶🇺🇸

[@stj971]

That's why I don't bake

[@charaznable8072]

Attack the stove? Like Office Space?

[@devonmickel9371]

"And if you mess it up - who cares? Because by messing things up you take great knowledge." Says the man who is famous for absolutely eviscerating anyone and everyone who dared to make a minor error in his kitchen. I don't have a problem with someone who demands perfection and is a dick about it but MPW pretend he's not an asshole is insufferable.

[@barrelrolldog]

ATTACK THE STOVE.

[@raymondjames57]

Wow, To hear him say he went to them and said "take my restaurants off your list, I'm retiring". RESPECT!

[@strateshooter1402]

Who is him ?

[@mansman2167]

@@strateshooter1402 Marco Pierre White

[@deyoviC]

My right ear understood, now I have to switch to the left one.

[@Benj0010]

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[@williamalesna5703]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@GH-oi2jf]

Why don’t people use headphones which have a mono mode?

[@glasshalffull4061]

Mine was exactly opposite! (Yes, my headphones were on correctly)

[@samanthamorgan8117]

Dude right? The audio sucks!

[@abbyschneider4644]

anthony sitting like that is fantastic

[@MarksMindBox]

Bourdain repays his challenges to MPW's knowledge in respectful listening. It's a brilliant conversation to observe.

[@oscarsalesgirl296]

Marco is a king. Bourdain is a rat.

[@scottthomas4779]

Man I really enjoyed this. RIP Anthony, we wish we could have done for you what you did for so many of us and inspired you to keep going.

[@terrybruno7404]

Beautiful 😍 I was heart broken when I heard the news on NPR! They broke into the news cast, I heard his name dread, then the Reality!!! My heart is still sad 😢

[@charlesamrhein1292]

Indeed, as Terry Bruno said, "beautiful," thank you to Scott Thomas for saying this.

[@Jackulator77]

so true.....

[@ericmagee9054]

This should have been a convo between Bourdain and Marco with Bourdain running it. Why is this host even there?

[@GH-oi2jf]

Ruhlman was the moderator, not the host.

[@thekito4623]

To show off his sandals

[@scrubber1986]

@@GH-oi2jf Same thing lad. By the way the wall of sleep turns ya body to a corpse.

[@12Mojo]

Marco is million percent right here regarding chefs being behind their stoves. It’s the BIG deciding factor behind a takeaway and a high end Restaurant, anyone can be an owner of a food joint but If a CHEF makes a name for himself in a high end restaurant there’s a hell more merit involved in that then just a title.

[@mansman2167]

We all know a certain few "chefs" who spend more time in front of a camera than behind their stove.

[@bargepoled]

He's a hypocrite. He has a chain of bar and grills in the UK with his name on them,

[@mansman2167]

@@bargepoled Wrong. He doesn't pretend to be a chef anymore. His name being on the restaurant is no different from "McDonald's".

[@bargepoled]

@@mansman2167 Wrong. He said he had 3 options Carry on. Sell his soul by putting his name out there but not doing the cooking. Jack it all in. He initially chose the last option. Now he is firmly choosing the 2nd option. Your right. It's exactly like McDonald's. Which for an ex 3 star Michelin chef is a poor place to be.

[@mansman2167]

@@bargepoled Wrong. Gordon puts his name on restaurants and still pretends to be a chef. Marco puts his name on restaurants but has openly declared that he's not a chef anymore. Michelin is meaningless. Marco rose above the stars. Gordon is still shackled by them. Get it right, kid.

[@andrewhall127]

Great interview - Bourdain clearly in awe of MPW but at no time does he play the big man - nice to see people who know kitchens and know food speaking candidly... my old man was a chef and would have loved this.

[@pulpocabron]

Thank you dear uploader, for this gem of an interview with two true legends of the industry and also of popular culure. All an aspiring chef could ever wish for in a youtube video.

[@DoinBitsSince81]

I miss Anthony. My favourite guy. So real and interesting. Sadly missed. See you on the good side x

[@thecyclingguitarist2019]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@staneagle1070]

Love how Marco pauses for applause after saying quotes

[@KimberlyBishh]

He pauses for the dumb audience to absorb his words.

[@seangavin123]

2 legends RIP ANTHONY BOURDAIN not forgotten ❤❤❤

[@arthurmorris1813]

Well said

[@simonoxley2019]

they both speak from their hearts and soul - something refreshing about hearing these people - RIP Ant, loads of fun watching your life - Marco, stay Marco, I ate ate Yew Tree - bloody Gorgeous

[@MK-dg6qj]

That mother advice by Marco is gold. Hope ppl follow it

[@polaroidcaesar]

A meeting of titans. RIP Tony, the real ones will always remember. Probably the only person who could hold his own with Marco and not poop his pants.

[@BOWS3R]

I love kitchen confidential and just listened to MPW’s book. This is a great addition

[@MDP673NJ1]

Marco is spot on! Unfortunately same thing happening in every industry...

[@onetrackmind6969]

My right ear really enjoied this

[@user-er8kz2jg6o]

Two of my favorite people. Legends

[@peterperez1285]

This totally made my day!

[@1nfiniteSeek3r]

what an edifying and inspiring talk.

[@michaelbeck3766]

MPW is a fucking legend. He changed food culture in the UK, reached the highest high and then, and then, gave up his stars. Epic.

[@Macrogue65]

So happy I've found this. I read about it in Bourdain's book. It's one hell of a debate.

[@leroyholm9075]

Excellent! They set the stage for us to enjoy the theatre.

[@adamcoe]

25:09 Bourdain is dialed in. A master, but still learning from another master. Fuck Tony we miss you pal

[@gregorde]

Bourdain was talking about Jiro’s sushi restaurant.

[@terryhill1831]

i just learned of marco,and i love his spirt,and soul,transformed in his cooking,just to be in his presence would be a honor

[@32mybelle]

❤Tony was so brilliant and such a great talent.

[@xchotchskee]

Amazing conversation, knowledge that applies far beyond any kitchen.

[@c.f.pedraza4057]

Marco is just a family man. No gimmicks just a working family man that understands what feeding people is all about. But does it well, just as parents try to cook the best for their children. I dig that, and it is inspiring.

[@katarinas6012]

bruh.... he was never around when his kids were little and growing up and he's basically torturing his wife with keeping her dependant on him and not signing divorce papers....

[@user-pt1cz4ot1e]

@@katarinas6012 tabloids love people like you.

[@rogerlephoque3704]

@@user-pt1cz4ot1e She is spot on and 100% accurate in her comment. She knows!

[@rogerlephoque3704]

@@katarinas6012 You're spot on in your assessment. You forgot to mention wives number one and two, the hapless ladies who preceded the Spanish lady who is currently in situ, an on-off state of affairs that is prime-time tabloid fodder. Then there's MPW junior for whom some level of empathy is appropriate...

[@annpartoon5300]

watch Hells kitchen celebritys uk. with Marco

[@SwisstedChef2018]

In my early times, I had to serve clients with heaters on table side (rechaut on gueridon) and serve seconds, main, sides. On a table of 8 that was a lot of copper pans and pots, lots of heating plates, lot of serving cutlery and everybody had a different dish...... that was serious sweating and skills.

[@m.theresa1385]

Good memories of an old style Italian restaurant we would go to . I loved when my sauce was made tableside by chef. I’d also order their Zabaglione which was made tableside too. Very delicious!

[@ThomasAT86]

I personally think that there's too much admiration for money and being a star rather than being good at your craft and becoming a decent human being. I feel like there's a balance that we totally screw up. Streamers who play videogames, models who happen to look good, bodybuilders who happen to have great genetics and so on, earning somewhere in the 6 to 8 digits, who often have no integrity, lack responsibility, sell out for various companies, don't give much back and are so proud of themselves and what they've "accomplished" vs a housewife who's working her ass off to barely be able to feed her kids. It's just all messed up in my opinion. I feel like sir Marco Pierre has a level of integrity that we need lots and lots of. Maybe he's a little oldschool and such, but I think that he's sharing a great message that most people will dismiss because they just don't care and because they don't have the balls to get real about the bigger picture. Love and strength, Thomas

[@robtomben]

True

[@cliffcurrier6342]

Respect

[@moix5799]

Fab 👌 go Marco

[@anthonygm85]

Love Marcos philosophy and Anthony's also, kitchen work is hard and demanding. Every one should try it at least once to understand it, I did my tour of duty in the kitchen already

[@drussarmstrong6887]

A meeting of generational legends...for my part, MPW is the boss and 'gets' it- both the business and the art and simply calls it like he sees it.

[@gmancolo]

It's been downhill for Marco ever since he "turned in" his Michelin Stars.

[@charlesbirdsong6782]

@@gmancolo downhill in what regard? He’s quite well off

[@gmancolo]

@@charlesbirdsong6782 His food is lame, and he desperately tries to live off his long ago fame. His son is a train wreck as well.

[@steveetienne]

@@gmancolo I think you will find he is more content as a human being than any other point in his life.

[@petrus666love]

Why have I only just come across this , Kitchen Gold , RIP Tony miss you and so does the kitchen world 🌎

[@Alacard0malley]

Marco is viciously funny I could listen to that man talk about nothing for hours

[@ZinsWorld]

the way i found this video was search for marco and then in the filter settings look for videos 20 min or more hahaha i know exactly what you mean :) #ZinTravels

[@TheCooksTV]

I could listen to him talk about hours for nothing

[@barrelrolldog]

@@ZinsWorld #Zinsworld

[@MrSammyTeee]

very sharp too...

[@m.theresa1385]

His MasterChef judging popped up in my feed since I’ve been watching back issues of Brit MasterChef. I knew who he was but had never listened to him. I’m now on a Marco interview catch up…. Anthony I would watch on PBS and am still stunned that he’s gone. R.I.P. Anthony. You’re missed by many.

[@JakeBarraza1]

the moment marco speaks the room is silently listening

[@restlesschef3161]

This was the most inspiring thing I have listened to in a long time. Thank you.

[@skippylongstockings6281]

Gold......... absolute gold!!!!!

[@hywelgething4943]

Prophetic observation about Man United by Marco!

[@jeffreychongsathien]

The difference with 15 courses of sushi is that you get the food directly from the chef rapidly, not with a waiter in between.

[@sheridanburton4532]

I'm pretty sure he's referring to the restaurant from "Jiro Dreams of Sushi"

[@alejandromarin6912]

My right ear is now wiser than the left one

[@Greedman456]

I hit my earpieces twice and then played another video till i understood this was a "feature" haha

[@hayden5115]

Miss you Tony Inspried countless generations to come

[@TONYSESLCAFE]

WOW HOLY XXXX THIS WAS BEAUTIFUL

[@SzTz100]

Marco was prophetic about Sir Alex Ferguson.

[@CookingWithTheBlues]

Wise words from Marco about true life as a master chef. Sad to see Anthony so nervous and fidgety! He obviously hadn't been dealing w/ his issues. Sad he lost his connection to his cooking passion and went Hollywood. Marco figured out what's important in life and didn't let fame ruin him. Thanks for the nice video.

[@IndoorHydroponix]

Love your channel!!!

[@Eric_DP]

Couldn’t have said it better, daddy Jack!

[@janandersen8735]

Or maybe he knows he is utterly out of his depth sitting next Marco Pierre White.

[@michaeljohn7095]

DADDY JACKS COOKING WITH THE BLUES

[@americanorgone4743]

Love your videos man!

[@papichefitup]

You don't ever ask Marco pierre to repeat himself

[@joaoportesantava1412]

I’m behind Marco all the way! It’s different, it’s way different! When you get those starts and you cook that dish it is yours. You can teach the best chefs to cook those dishes and it will not taste the same. You fly in from another country to eat at that restaurant and you have some commi cooking? Hell no, it’s not Michelin restaurant

[@TheNedlin]

LEGENDS

[@EduardoGarcia-de7bh]

I have seen this maybe 3000 times

[@jackxiao9702]

I love how Bourdain looks like he's really enjoying himself.

[@flapdrol]

That's only because Marco looks like he doesn't want to be there. They both want to get out of there, smoke, drink a glass of wine and have a good meal. It's the only stuff that gives them pleasure, they both seem miserable.

[@andrewbudd7368]

Greatest

[@shawn1928]

as long as you're not deaf in your right ear, you'll be ok listening to this clip

[@johnmclelland4278]

Marco is the bomb!

[@gerrybgood3125]

Damn, Marco schooled Anthony Bourdain on the merits of a renowned chef being present in the kitchen.

[@mansman2167]

It's telling of the real stature of Marco, the giant in their midst.

[@Marfmellow88]

They come from different worlds…high class french cuisine and a nyc kitchen…both talented and fascinating people

[@joes3703]

Great video. Three tremendous personalities. Watching the egos at work was fascinating. They held firm for about the first 30 min then Tony relented and showed some appreciation. Marco just sat there expecting everyone to kiss it.

[@mansman2167]

What?

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

About time...Julia Child turned Larousso Gastromique into a class of classic French dishes and Organic Gardener taught me to grow the best fruits and vegetables. Growing up on a dairy farm prepared me to make the most of dairy/ poultry and gave me an understanding of wild game and fish( we had a stream and a pond.

[@1stp4ward]

Food is a philosophy and Marco is the greatest philosopher.

[@andyp7539]

bourdains voice is iconic. rest in peace.

[@andrewbudd7368]

We miss you tony

[@grahamking1036]

Rhuleman is not to be underestimated.

[@hellolemons7340]

I was going into this only thinking about marci and marci took the stage!!!!! Then someone named Anthohny came in nad you realize what you're just witnessing!!!!! RIP my brother.

[@nick1428]

Key part to these two standing out, as men; aside from their mastery of craft, is their oratory skills, and thoughtfulness to who they present to. You don’t have to enjoy cooking or pursuing being a chef to learn very valuable lessons from these two. The ability to speak, very very well. Communication is paramount in all of life. And that is with both of their stark differences in culture and delivery. Very very skilled oration skills

[@adaadjoh]

Marco reminds me of Scar from Lion King. So calculated.

[@user-er8kz2jg6o]

“Are we talking about Gordon Ramsay?”. I love Marco so much!!

[@searcherholic3473]

Marco is the purist has been carping from the sidelines. Tony thinks Michelin chefs should capitalise from their achievements. Ultimately if you eat at the restaurant it's your choice

[@Cakeashake]

A bizarre stance for MPW to take given that he presided over a substandard restaurant chain, became the face of Knorr stock cubes for several years and presents Australian MasterChef.

[@MarksMindBox]

Yeah, it does seem a little hypocritical. I wonder if his stance is a little more nuanced - something like: three-starred chefs shouldn't go down the media-heavy/unrated concept route without first acknowledging they've compromised their status as a three-star chef by doing so. I'm not sure he's saying "don't do those things as a chef". One way of hearing what he's saying is "don't pretend you're working at the three-star level when you've spread yourself more thinly across other projects which don't serve the three-star function".

[@rossturcotte419]

overall beastmode

[@kenllacer]

40:32 🔥🔥🔥

[@scramblesish]

Miss you Tony 😢

[@christinaleung7531]

I love how AB obviously loves and respects MPW. Fanboy. Fangirl x 2 . WIsh I could listen to these 2 talk for days ensemble. RIP AB.

[@pablosegura3140]

Did Michael just come from the beach? I find it disrespectful for someone to wear open sandals at an interview, I mean Anthony and Marco at least took the time to wear something casual.

[@zacharyradford5552]

Forget the disrespect it’s just plain fucking weird.

[@goldilox369]

I kinda liked it.

[@jbo4547]

If you are worried about what someone is wearing and not the way they work/are then you have your priorities in the wrong place

[@kenllacer]

Not only was it disrespectful, it was also very unprofessional. Light washed jeans and sandals does not help boost confidence when speaking in front of an audience and is apparent with the shaky tone of voice.

[@xplorer841]

@@jbo4547 When you're an interviewer, what you're wearing is part of the way you work/are.

[@felixr.6438]

"I don't want four puddings, I just want to go home." 😂

[@GTA6VIGameguy]

Great interviews, fire the sound engineer

[@recordman555]

I knew - as soon as Anthony and Marco were presented, this was going to be a clash. Two great chefs - two different philosophies. One took his own life. The other still remains, enraptured with the art - and joy - of cooking.

[@user-er8kz2jg6o]

“Our future Masters, the Chinese” He wasn’t lying

[@jrs109]

In 2002, at the age of 28, an Italian chef became the youngest chef in history to be awarded three stars by the Michelin Guide. His name was, Massimiliano Alajmo.

[@dranzerbankai7660]

In Marco Pierre Whites time he was the youngest

[@pho14]

I love the tasting menu, but I really get what Marco is saying. This is also the first time I see Anthony looking nervous in a conversation with someone. Marco can be very intimidating, but in a good way.

[@waynegrausam8273]

I have gained so much respect for Marco white after watching this. Clearly black and white between white and Bourdain. Almost as though Marco is the chef and Anthony is the boy

[@diogeneslantern18]

I wholly agree with you. With that being said however, Anthony never tried to get on the level of MPW - AB said that he was a journeyman, and that he'd rather take a higher paying job at a mid level restaurant than a lower paying job at a high end one. Just different priorities.

[@stj971]

Different mind sets. Everyone doesn't have to be the same.

[@anom3778]

The last comment from Marco was to tell the young man to venture off on his own accord or am I missing something?

[@frenchfree]

Marco is a classic Yorkshireman even with his name.

[@ToniMakaroni83]

R. I. P

[@simonkentons1719]

DAMN

[@SwisstedChef2018]

I agree with Marco. The Greats of the great cuisine times were there in their kitchens.

[@rambodope5951]

Marco pierre white and Beethoven in the same room together would have been a shit showw!!💪🏾💪🏾💯

[@erikperik1000]

My mom and other moms wrote the rules of the kitchen. Marco and this guy perfected it

[@user-er8kz2jg6o]

The Cheese Whiz line was so true. Big Corps definitely didn’t appreciate Anthony’s “F it”attitude.

[@robertkeller5536]

Way to fail with the audio levels. Who edited this, an intern?

[@NSP70]

This forum is so uncomfortable... except Marco. Body language speaks volumes.

[@chrisdennis2571]

Marco #1

[@ToldoMexes]

16.20 - Marco is saying what we all are thinking ..

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

As an organic gardner, goat farmer( small scale) for more than 50 + years I see the deviation caused by out crappy practices not only in growing but how we eat.

[@fcb7774]

RIP Anthony Bourdain 😢