The chapter on eating in my book centers around a visit to Alinea, acclaimed even then (2006) as the Finest Restaurant in the World, and becoming even more storied, famous, and busy since. I presented Grant Achatz, Alinea’s owner/chef/presiding genius, with a copy of the book, of course, but never heard back (nor did I expect to) although I did hear that Achatz’s business partner read it and started referring to me as “the guy who left hungry.” Which isn’t exactly what I was trying to say, of course, but I learned long ago, back in my collegiate lit-crit classes, that the reader’s interpretation is paramount.

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