Undercooked: How I Let Food Become My Life Navigator and How Maybe That’s a Dumb Way to Live

Food Network host and comedian Ahdoot debuts with a hilarious collection of essays chronicling his food obsession. Ahdoot, a middle child, bonded with his father over their shared love of restaurant meals, until his older brother died of cancer and his parents turned to religion—and a kosher diet—for comfort. He recalls losing the connection to his father and his ensuing efforts to fill the emptiness with a culinary vengeance: “My parents had Yahweh; I had Anthony Bourdain.” In “Dan the Intern,” he details his time interning at the now defunct Manhattan hot spot Spotted Pig (“It was highly unpleasant seeing Mario in the wild,” he writes of Mario Batali, pre-scandal), while in “Feels on Wheels,” he banters with his friend about powering through hangovers to volunteer with Meals on Wheels: “I’d been so busy seeking the greatest meals to make me feel better, and here were people eating food that was pure sustenance, and they were filled with gratitude for simple blessings that didn’t require a reservation three months in advance.” Ahdoot peels back the layers through amusing anecdotes, seamlessly pairing his sharp-witted humor with an endearing self-awareness. Whether he is skewering food restrictions or lamenting relationship regrets, Ahdoot’s rib-tickling collection will satiate culinary adventurers. Agent: Liz Parker, Verve. (Mar.)