SyndicationAug182009
His weight and waist ballooned
His weight and waist ballooned, as did his unhappiness. Finally after his Washington stint, Bruni began a serious, consistent exercise program tempered by portion moderation. "Less is more" became his new mantra.
Bruni, 44, is a nimble, observant writer. What makes his restaurant reviews so entertaining — often a lot more enjoyable than many of the establishments he critiques — is a combination of his love of eating coupled with a sharp journalistic eye.
Bruni's enthusiasm for eating borders on adoration, and he knows how to turn readers into true believers when it comes to praising a restaurant. Or warn them when things aren't up to snuff.
Yet "Born Round" is more than just amusing, gossipy anecdotes for serious foodies, although the tidbits Bruni supplies should satisfy them, particularly descriptions of his extensive planning to dine unrecognized.
The book is as much a psychological journey as it is a gastronomical adventure. You root for Bruni's triumph over size 42 pants, a goal tempered by the realization that the battle against creeping weight gain is never really over. (He now wears size 34 jeans.)
Still, it's his elaborately detailed descriptions of food, such as his grandmother's strascinat (her signature pasta dish) and his mother's calorie-laden chicken divan, that make you want to pull up a chair in their kitchens. Second helpings, please. We'll go to the gym tomorrow.
Bruni, 44, is a nimble, observant writer. What makes his restaurant reviews so entertaining — often a lot more enjoyable than many of the establishments he critiques — is a combination of his love of eating coupled with a sharp journalistic eye.
Bruni's enthusiasm for eating borders on adoration, and he knows how to turn readers into true believers when it comes to praising a restaurant. Or warn them when things aren't up to snuff.
Yet "Born Round" is more than just amusing, gossipy anecdotes for serious foodies, although the tidbits Bruni supplies should satisfy them, particularly descriptions of his extensive planning to dine unrecognized.
The book is as much a psychological journey as it is a gastronomical adventure. You root for Bruni's triumph over size 42 pants, a goal tempered by the realization that the battle against creeping weight gain is never really over. (He now wears size 34 jeans.)
Still, it's his elaborately detailed descriptions of food, such as his grandmother's strascinat (her signature pasta dish) and his mother's calorie-laden chicken divan, that make you want to pull up a chair in their kitchens. Second helpings, please. We'll go to the gym tomorrow.