Laurie Woolever Reflects on Life with Bourdain and Batali in New Memoir

BROOKLINE, Mass. — Laurie Woolever, once an assistant to famed chefs Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain, is unveiling her personal journey in her new memoir, “Care and Feeding.” The book captures the complexities of the restaurant industry in New York City during the late 1990s and early 2000s, a stark contrast to Woolever’s roots in small-town New York.

“For me, this is just the truth of my story,” Woolever said in an interview. “I wanted to share the highs and lows without holding back on my own faults and mistakes, as those are integral to the narrative.”

Throughout her career, Woolever navigated the tumultuous waters of the culinary world, working side by side with two larger-than-life personalities. She served as Batali’s assistant before his public fall from grace during the #MeToo movement, and worked closely with Bourdain as his confidante and coauthor until his death in 2018.

In 2021, she published “Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biography,” yet her personal story remained untold until now. “Care and Feeding” offers candid reflections on her struggles with alcohol and drugs while crafting a life filled with chaotic experiences in the demanding restaurant scene.

Woolever’s memoir is not just a collection of entertaining stories about celebrity chefs; it also dives into the personal trials she faced. Readers can expect unflinching honesty, as she recounts risky situations that often overshadowed her professional achievements.

“There are misconceptions about what it means to be in this industry, and I wanted to set the record straight—both about the environment and my own behavior,” Woolever remarked. “Working with Batali and Bourdain taught me a lot, but it also came with its own pack of challenges.”

As Woolever prepares for an upcoming event at Brookline Booksmith on March 21, she acknowledges the complex dynamics of the restaurant world then and now. “I think big personalities can still thrive, though they might have to tread more carefully in today’s climate,” she said. “The total cultural dominance we saw in the late ’90s has shifted significantly.”

Reflecting on Bourdain’s tragic death, she expressed her ongoing admiration for the chef. “He was incredibly complex. I thought I knew him well, but everyone I spoke to during the oral biography revealed different facets of his personality. He was a hopeless romantic who struggled with isolation and heartbreak.”

Woolever cites charisma as the core of Batali’s allure—charisma that concealed layers of troubling behavior. She recognizes the transformations happening in the culinary landscape, noting that today’s chefs and restaurateurs may need to adapt their approaches to align with evolving workplace expectations.

Woolever’s journey to sobriety has also framed her narrative. “I’m in a really good place now,” she said. “I joke that I retired from drinking because I got too good at it, but the truth is, I did enough for a lifetime, and I know where it leads for me.”

Her memoir not only serves as a personal reckoning but as a window into a turbulent yet enriching period in the culinary world. With insights from a life shared with two legendary figures, Woolever remains a custodian of their legacies while forging her path forward.