jeremiah-tower.jpg

Jeremiah Tower helped start the locavore craze and ran a San Francisco restaurant that made him the first celebrity chef. Now, hardly anyone knows his name.

Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent, produced by the very famous Anthony Bourdain, is an attempt to bring attention to the man Bourdain argues should be as well-known as his former business partner, Alice Waters of Chez Panisse. It’s a remarkable portrait of ego, hurt feelings, and what it looks like to see talent both burn out and fade away.

Andrea Damewood is a food writer and restaurant critic. Her interests include noodle soups, fried chicken, and sparkles.