Customer Reviews

Feeding Frenzy: Across Europe in Search of the Perfect Meal

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The mark of many great travel books is the identification of a quest and then the author's weaving of a great story to hang on that base structure. Here Stevens has dreamed up the quest and sets himself up for another Malaria Dreams-style home run, but somehow that isn't what he ended up with. I saw vestiges of the humor from his earlier books and situation set-ups, so I know he is still capable of it, but overall this one failed to deliver the success of his other adventures. He never says exactly why he hates Germans so much. He didn't develop the dog and the Mustang troubles into a great comic device. And he definitely got sick of writing at the end because the last chapters fall off without any memorable lines. After Malaria Dreams this was a bit disappointing, but at least it did occupy a cross-country plane ride.

The mark of many great travel books is the identification of a quest and then the author's weaving of a great story to hang on that base structure. Here Stevens has dreamed up the quest and sets himself up for another Malaria Dreams-style home run, but somehow that isn't what he ended up with. I saw vestiges of the humor from his earlier books and situation set-ups, so I know he is still capable of it, but overall this one failed to deliver the success of his other adventures. He never says exactly why he hates Germans so much. He didn't develop the dog and the Mustang troubles into a great comic device. And he definitely got sick of writing at the end because the last chapters fall off without any memorable lines. After Malaria Dreams this was a bit disappointing, but at least it did occupy a cross-country plane ride.

If you like travel and food writing, but aren't a stickler for accuracy, then you'll enjoy this book. It's a fun, mindless tale. I liked reading about the various menus, meals and restaurants (although some were defunct or stripped of their third star by the time the book came out). Some of the anecdotes were quite funny. Unfortunately, the author comes across as a jerk of the first order. Early on he attaches himself to a model. He then spends many, many pages telling us how great she looks, that she is a model, what sexy clothes she wears, that she is a model, how much attention she gets, that she is a model. He also spends many, many pages writing about his problems with his car, an old Mustang that everyone in Europe apparently covets. Beyond that, there are also the many, many pages devoted to the distractingly large dog he has in tow. While this book is somewhat about traveling around Europe eating in Michelin three-stars, it's REALLY about the kind of guy who would attach himself to a model, ship a vintage Ford Mustang all the way over to Europe, and adopt a large golden retriever, so he can create an attention-getting, wacky-but-chic presence while traveling around Europe eating in Michelin three-stars. If you are dying to read a food-and-travel book and are forgiving of irritating personalities, then this book is for you.

Stuart Stevens had an incredible idea and has executed his story very poorly. The book starts with the promise of a spectacular gastronomic adventure and deteriorates into a frienzied, unrewarding tale. The parallel chronicle of his Mustang auto troubles is the biggest obstacle to enjoying the book. I know automobiles and Michelin traditionally go together but NOT in this case; Stevens serves up VERY lukewarm Bill Bryson-like plot points and other leftovers. The last chapter, which races at light speed to the end of the three star eating odyssey, is an example of an author (like his broken-down car) out of gas. Like the fabled Michelin inspectors, I am strongly tempted to remove a third star from this review...

A friend passed this book on to me several years ago and I just now picked it up thinking I was in for a fun romp. This is one of the most shallow books that I can think of reading in a long, long time. The author offers few insights but repeats often that his traveling companion is a striking ex-model who seems to turn heads and open doors wherever they venture. The "striking ex-model's" lawyer boyfriend offers to pay for their trip to Europe if they can eat in all of its Michelin three-star restaurants on consecutive days...29 in 29. A 1965 vintage Mustang convertible and a golden retriever are thrown in for good copy. The car is always breaking down...surprise...and repairs for a vintage American car in Europe...surprise...are difficult to achieve.

While the author offers a few witty comments his prejudices are many and he loves to spew them at the reader: dislikes Belgium, hates Germans, hates dogs and resents that the ex-model has impulsively adopted the brute for their journey, dislikes a BBC reporter yet calls him and invites the fellow to join them for dinner because "he is only one of two people he knows in Brussels." It just goes on and on. He name drops Elizabeth David, Edith Wharton, Laurie Colwin and others as a way of telling us that he is such an erudite foodie, yet he does practically nothing with these references.

Having eaten in many Michelin 3-star restaurants myself, I can attest that few were worth the effort or the price--Tante Claire (London), Taillevent (Paris), L'Esperance (Vezelay), and George Blanc (Vonnas) being exceptions and well worth it given my experience. But Stevens tells us very little of his actual eating experiences.

Early in the trip they blow the bet, but all is well because the "ex-model" will simply lie to her boyfriend and he will pay up regardless. These people are creeps.

The book is a sloppy jumble told poorly by an egoist. It came as no surprise to learn that he is a campagin/media consultant for Republican candidates. After slogging through about 75% of the book I quit, thinking I was just wasting my time and becoming angry that such a book was even published.

Instead of "Feeding Frenzy," I think "Reading Frenzy" would be a more appropriate title. I couldn't finish this book even though I avidly read every foodie-type book I can get my hands on. I think Mr. Stevens is capable of writing a very good book, but this one seems to have been written while he was on some sort of "high" because it's so disjointed. I read for pleasure, not to feel frenzied.

I haven't been as repelled by a piece of light entertainment in years. If the writing had been any shallower, the type would have sunk into the page. Allegedly the memoirs of a wacky, food-filled trek across Europe, this roast turkey doesn't even ring true as fiction. It comes across more as a middle-aged male's mid-life-crisis fantasy. Was this serialized in Esquire by any chance? To pull off this kind of narcissistic, "look at me, aren't I wonderful?" sort of writing--ala Peter Mayle--requires a certain style, which this book has in negative numbers. In fact, if you add up the primary elements--pseudo-alpha male lead; attractive, eccentric female lead; overbearing dog; and a beloved car with a mind of its own--what you really have is the making of a 60's Disney Love Bug movie, "Herbie Goes to Europe." Except with less depth and humor.

Laugh out loud funny! You don't have to be a gourmet to enjoy reading about this parade through so-called "fancy restaurants"!

If there ever was an author sure to check the reader's comments on this site, Mr. Stevens should be the one. The original idea and some witty and downright funny comments make this an enjoyable read - the question of some of the author's minor flaws (discussed by some others already here) and most of all of some overly general generalizations (see his downright stupid comments on Belgium)hamper the enjoyment a lot.

I picked up this book by accident in Central London. By the time I had made it out to the airport and by shuttle flight to Amsterdam, I was done reading it! It is a terrific, engaging, fast moving adventure across Europe. Very well written and outside the mold. Highly recommended to anyone who is getting bored of the same old thing in travel narratives. Congratulations to Stuart Stevens on his sense of humor.