THE MAN WHO ATE THE WORLD is a journey through the great cities of the world. It s about extraordinary restaurants and the people who visit them. It s about the globalisation of high culture, the market in taste and the money spent on it. And, of course, it s about dinner. From Las Vegas to Moscow, Dubai to Tokyo and New York to London, Jay Rayner chronicles the revolution in high-end gastronomy that has been sweeping the world since the late eighties. Not simply an account of endless meals in high-end restaurants, it is an exploration of the cities and cultures in which they are found; the inevitable involvement of Russian mafia in Moscow s luxury post-soviet catering business, Tokyo s efforts to fuse ancient Asian culture with Western ideas, and the feverish cult of the Manhattan restaurant in a town which considers itself the most cosmopolitan in the world. Part character-driven travelogue, part food critique, always sharp and funny, this book, now available in paperback, is the result of Jay's lifelong campaign to find the perfect meal. Just don t read it if you re hungry.