Flavortown

by Danny Caine

At FLAVORTOWN's core is a sequence of poems that imagines a place called, well, Flavortown, an American culinary dystopia where Guy Fieri is patron saint and everything is painfully delicious and "authentic." The book juxtaposes the dispatches from Flavortown with portraits of the real-life Midwest, in the process exploring fatherhood, masculinity, and nostalgia.
"Because it is easy for me to get swept up and away in the joyously referential nature of this glorious book, let me first say that the writing in Flavortown is stunning. Touchable imagery, a playfulness and excitement around language that drew me in repeatedly. But, of course, I am also drawn to the world this book builds. A world of dairy queens and waffle houses. A stunning ode to the Midwest, a place more than worthy of such beauty." -Hanif Abdurraqib
"People who say they don't like poetry need an order of Danny Caine and a side of fries. I guarantee they won't stop at one fry, at just one poem - because Danny Caine is the poet laureate of the fast-food joint, of the diner, of the almost-special occasion, of visits to Waffle House at 2 a.m., of the love and loss and hope people process as the Food Network plays on in the background of another day. His poems explore the real ingredients of lives, the humor, the gaucherie, and even the promise of Danny Caine reminds us that grace is there, there - over by the Weinermobile. His poems always crackle your soul as they end - the grace is the sauce, the taste left on your tongue. I should probably add that Flavortown is also an appreciation of Guy Fieri - the loudest, cookingest, Donkey-Sauciest everyman around - and a gentle inquisition of him too - it is, sure, of course - but this book is much more than that. This book is a family meal. Pull up a seat." - Daniel A. Hoyt
"Flavortown is a hilarious and unsettling dip into a hellacious society held hostage by a Willy-Wonkafied Guy Fieri. While the spiky-haired TV chef at the book's center is often lampooned, Caine asks readers to look past the flames and sunglasses, into the mystery of the man, his brand and empire. It's a wild carnival ride-only Caine could write a poetry collection that makes you feel like you're flying through a cloud of MSG down a highway strapped to the side of a donkey-sauce covered Wienermobile-and still, you'll walk away cradling your own heart in awe. For Caine is a poet who understands there is beauty, love, sadness, and humor to be found in everything from fatherhood and complicated heroes to the flashing neon lights of a chain restaurant calling you home." - Christopher Gonzalez

Genres: Poetry, Food, Nonfiction, Humor, Memoir

88 pages, Paperback

Published May 4, 2021

Reviews

[Roxane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not just a fun collection of poems about life in Flavortown though that’s part of it. This is also about the Midwest and how corporate restaurants influence our foodways and our lives. Smart poetry.

[Alli Cadle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The change.org petition to change the name of Columbus, Ohio to Flavortown has over 100,000 signatures. It was with this knowledge and an Ohio upbringing that I picked up this book and I was not disappointed. I grew up in a town where the McDonald's was the only thing open past like 7 p.m. I definitely, like Caine, ate Dairy Queen ice cream in the parking lot behind my high school. My college cross country coach took the team to Perkins before at least one meet. I remember classmates selling me on my transfer university by saying the city was a test market so I would get to try experimental Wendy's menu items.

I could go on! But I liked these poems beyond the nostalgia/references, too. There are a few points where Caine wonders when his visits to these places go beyond irony and become things he simply likes, exploring the shame that seems expected when admitting you watch Guy Fieri's shows. Maybe this is part of a learned shame about the Midwest, too. Well like Anthony Bourdain in these poems all you other regions can keep talking shit and, like Guy Fieri, I will enjoy my nice people and jojos and shirts with flames on them. Flavortown gets a "funkalicious, lights-out delicious" from me.

[TJ Neer · Rating 5 out of 5]

a perfect book that explores that rare, nostalgic intersection of lovely food and a complicated, loving life (and fatherhood especially). Danny Caine is the poet who bridges the divide between comforting dinners at chain restaurants and core memories baked into the very mythos of the midwest.

i have one submission for a poem title/premise, which i devised after reading “The Flavortown Citizenship Test, With One Trick Question” — Whenever Guy Is In Philadelphia, He Orders The Philly Special.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so strange but I was really amused by it. I love that the author is the owner of The Raven Book Store in Kansas -- I'm planning on visiting when I go see my sister next month! I recommend the Hotdogger series of poems here; got a good laugh out of it :-)

[Shawbear · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious and witty collection of poems about the American industrial food system. Equal parts nostalgia and critique. To quote the poet, " 'God bless us, / every scattered, / smothered, and / covered one of us.' "

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read "It's a Cracker Barrel Christmas" in Cracker Barrel, which felt very 4D.

[Kinsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first part of this collection was the strongest. Funny, smart, and totally in line with a Midwest upbringing. It made me a bit homesick.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally poetry I understand, these are close to my heart. I especially loved the kidwest section.

[Kamaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

bury me in flavortown

[nomadreader (Carrie D-L) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am absolutely the audience for this book.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could I resist picking this up when I just so happen to be at my local bookstore on this books pub day? What a delightfully odd collection of poems. An ode to the Midwest, a reckoning with the cultural impact of Guy Fieri, a commentary on American capitalism, an absurdist world of Flavortown. I have been to a Guy Fieri restaurant in an entertainment district, and I, too, wondered what the hype was.
I have to say though, as a former three-star-aproned Cracker Barrel hostess myself, the poem “It’s a Cracker Barrel Christmas” is, in fact, impossible, as Christmas is the only day of the year where Cracker Barrel is closed.
This is a fun little book that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I’m obsessed with the cover photo.

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a lovely collection of poems that tell the story of the midwest experience through food

a lovely subplot of the rocky relationship between anthony bourdain and guy fieri

i’ve never read about poem about the weinermobile until now… shout-out to the hotdogger

hi sami

[Brittany Viklund · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a uniquely odd collection of poems that felt so oddly nostalgic & uncomfortable hehe, the poems about parenthood were scarily relatable. Good stuff!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of poems is hilarious, but it is more than that. The writing is really, really good; the insights are heartfelt; the tone is a bit introspective and melancholy and whip-smart. I enjoyed this collection in ways I didn’t expect and for more than just the Flavortown bit. Highly recommend!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went in expecting silly Guy Fieri poems and left feeling so seen and understood it was shocking. This book captures what it's like growing up in the rural Midwest. It is strangely touching but achieves this in an unassuming, un-condescending, funny yet humble tone--in other words, thoroughly Midwestern.

[Raino Isto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely revelatory. I'm kind of joking, but these poems are incredibly simple and sincere but feel transformative nonetheless. I related to A LOT in here, despite only having lived briefly in the midwest. Highest possible rec--

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Guy Fieri poetry cycle for those of us with an Anthony Bourdain-sized hole in our hearts. Less gimmicky than that probably makes it sound, too...

[Librarian Jessie (BibliophileRoses) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humorous poetry worth every penny of your money and time. Truly the most flavorful of flavortown texts.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

A 2.5

As someone who hasn't watched many food shows, and rarely eats fast food, it was tough to get into the poems.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the sonnets. I feel that Hotdogger. Omg the bad Walmart when there's two Walmarts in one town. "In the Bad Walmart's Parking Lot" yes.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poems inspired by Midwest food culture and Guy Fieri ("Pop culture's jalapeño popper." (3)). Many made me LOL.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an amazing book of poetry

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the perfect book for those who like food and poetry and have seen, somehow, nearly every episode of DDD and live in Columbus, Ohio (me, on all accounts).

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I liked this book of poetry! Flavortown is an invention of Guy Fieri, the Food Network personality from "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," "Guy's Grocery Games," and many others. (I became quite fond of him during the first part of the pandemic.). Reading the book is a sometimes mind-boggling and often moving blend of Midwestern cultural observations and in-jokes about Flavortown.

[Sarah Berk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most unique and entertaining collections I've ever read. I'm excited to revisit it over time, and I'll be seeking out more books by Danny.

[MorgyyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect blend of hilarious and touchingly poignant, this poetry collection kept me entranced from page one. Danny Caine’s love and respect for the Midwest absolutely drips off the page. Danny Caine is the writer for the Flavortown gazette, the historian in the Flavortown museum, and an author that I will forever be impressed by. Pick up this wonderfully weird and absolutely delicious collection.

[Aime · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gem that I will always go back to when I need a laugh. It is very hard to find good poetry with humor that isn’t trashy or cliche and this book is so unique and vibrant with imagination. Themes include food, the Midwest, fatherhood, family life, and world building. Caine beautifully decorated the landscape of the fictional Flavortown by Guy Fieri.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole book was great, but I felt "In the Bad Walmart's Parking Lot" deep in my soul.