Machismo

There is a strong overriding sense of machismo throughout the book, as evidenced by the behavior and thoughts of both Bourdain and his colleagues. Machismo is a very strong masculine essence with accompanying personality traits of bravado and superiority even in the face of insecurity. Even as a young boy, Bourdain feels a sense of masculine superiority when he is the youngest and only person to swallow a raw oyster on a fishing boat in France. Bourdain experiences machismo firsthand during his summer jobs in restaurants on Cape Cod, where the chefs and cooks exhibit strong, bullying behavior. This is appealing to the slightly built Bourdain, who realizes that his real power will come not from his physical stature but from the achievement of culinary success. Machismo is very often associated with men from Latin cultures, so it is a natural extension to see it exhibited in restaurant...