Undercooked: How I Let Food Become My Life Navigator and How Maybe That's a Dumb Way to Live -- Dan Ahdoot, Hardcover

A collection of hilarious essays about how food became one man's obsession and coping mechanism, and how it came to rule--and sometimes ruin--his relationships, from the Cobra Kai actor, stand-up comic, and host of Food Network's Raid the Fridge

"When most people say they have an unhealthy relationship with food, they mean they eat too much of it or too little. When I say I have an unhealthy relationship with food, I mean it's what gives my life meaning. That's a really dumb way to live your life, as the stories in this book will attest to."

Despite an impressive résumé as an actor and writer, Dan Ahdoot realized that food has been the through line in the most important moments of his life. Growing up as a middle child, Ahdoot struggled to find his place in the family until he and his father discovered their shared love for la gourmandise. But when the tragic death of his brother pushed his parents to strengthen their Jewish faith and adopt a strictly kosher diet, Ahdoot and his father lost that savored connection.

To fill the absence left by his brother and father, Ahdoot began to obsess over food and make it central in all his relationships. This, he admits, is probably crazy, but it makes for good stories. From breaking up with girlfriends over dietary restrictions, to hunting just off the Long Island Expressway, to savoring his grandmother's magical food that was his only tactile connection to his family's home country of Iran, to jetting off to Italy to dine at the one of the world's best restaurants, only to send the risotto back, Ahdoot's droll observations on his unconventional adventures bring an absurdly funny yet heartfelt look at what happens when you let your stomach be your guide.

Author: Dan Ahdoot
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
Published: 03/21/2023
Pages: 240
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.76lbs
Size: 8.48h x 5.81w x 1.02d
ISBN: 9780593240793

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal Prepub Alert 10/01/2022 pg. 19
Kirkus Reviews 12/15/2022
Publishers Weekly 01/02/2023
Booklist 02/15/2023 pg. 11

About the Author
Dan Ahdoot is a stand-up comic, actor, writer, and restaurateur. He's appeared on Netflix's Cobra Kai, Showtime's Shameless, Disney's Kickin' It, and NBC's Bajillion Dollar Propertie$. Host of the Food Network show Raid the Fridge as well as the #1 food podcast in the country, Green Eggs and Dan, Ahdoot is also part owner of the acclaimed restaurant Estela in New York City.