But the contest that Bourdain is currently pimping, one in which he's asking his groupies to pen a 500-word (or less) essay answering the philosophical question "What does it mean to cook food well?" isn't a joke. In fact, the victor, whom the almighty Bourdain will hand-select, will get his or her words published as a new chapter in the paperback edition of Medium Raw, which will be released later this year.
But here's where life gets cruel: Bourdain isn't paying the winner a damn cent for their work, which really kinda sucks. I mean, there are plenty of advertisements on Craigslist from scum-of-the-earth scammers soliciting writers who will, inexplicably, write for no other reason than the "opportunity to have a byline," but this is Tony Bourdain, for chrissakes, who makes millions and change. And he can't pony up a few bucks to pay the person whose words will undoubtedly be written over blood, sweat and tears?
Then again, laying claim to your own chapter in Bourdain's book is a whole lot better than a cameo on Glee. In any case, if you want to enter, go to the book's website, which also includes a directional video from Bourdain, and there's not one f-bomb in the entire 42-second spiel.
