Buzzfeed's Isaac Fitzgerald on Chefs and Tattoos, Dec. 2
Buzzfeed Book Editor Isaac Fitzgerald reveals the fascinating stories behind famous chefs’ most infamous tattoos during a discussion on his latest book, Knives & Ink: Chefs and the Stories Behind Their Tattoos (with Recipes) , at ¶¶Ňô»ĆƬapp’s DiMenna-Nyselius Library on Friday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and part of the University’s Inspired Writer Series presented by the MFA in Creative Writing program with support from the Humanities Institute of the College of Arts and Science and the Department of English.
From gritty grill cooks in backwoods diners to executive chefs at the world's most popular restaurants, Knives & Ink profiles 65 chefs from every kind of kitchen and details the cheeky and poignant tales behind their body art. Like the delicious dishes they have crafted over the years, each chef’s tattoo is a beautiful work of art that oftentimes shares an equally beautiful backstory. Danny Bowien of Mission Chinese Food honors his mother’s memory with a pair of fiery angel wings on his forearm, while Kate Romane, owner and chef at E2 Restaurant in Pittsburg, proudly sports a tattoo of the Library of Congress call number for The Joy of Cooking . Toro Bravo's John Gorham, Alaska-fishing-boat cook Mandy Lamb and 2014 James Beard Award-winner Jamie Bissonnette are also among the wide range of chefs that dish on the delicious inspiration behind their ink.
Deemed one of Entertainment Weekly ’s “must-read books for the fall,” Fitzgerald’s latest project, not only offers readers a glimpse into the minds of some of the world’s favorite chefs, but features beautiful, full-color illustrations by Wendy MacNaughton that bring new life to each tattoo. The book also features recipes contributed by a handful of chefs that range from simple seasonal rubs to gourmet dishes best left to the pros.
"We are so excited to bring Isaac Fitzgerald to campus,” said MFA in Creative Writing Program Director Sonya Huber. “He helped create and sustain The Rumpus , which is a wonderful outlet, and his writing and editing have helped many marginalized voices reach a wider audience.”
No stranger to tattoos, Fitzgerald sports some ink of his own and has also penned another book on the subject entitled Pen & Ink: Tattoos and the Stories Behind Them , that focuses on the interesting ink of writers and rockers like Cheryl Strayed, Five Finger Death Punch, Roxane Gay and Korn. In addition to being an author, Fitzgerald has served as Buzzfeed ’s book editor since 2013, a role that followed a stint as the managing editor of The Rumpus , an online literary publication that he also co-owns. His writing has also appeared in the Bold Italic , ˛Ńł¦ł§·É±đ±đ˛Ô±đ˛â’s , Mother Jones and the San Francisco Chronicle.
Photo Caption
: A page from Knives & Ink, edited by Isaac Fitzgerald and illustrated by Wendy MacNaughton. Published by Bloomsbury USA.
