Alton Brown – chef, television personality, writer, food scientist and videographer (he directed R.E.M.’s 1987 music video for “The One I Love”) – says his 10th and newest book was “a happy accident.” The first of 39 essays that would later appear in “Food For Thought: Essays and Ruminations” emerged while Brown was repairing one of his manual typewriters. 

"I sat down at my typewriter and noticed it had a sticky J," says Brown. "So I lubricated it and then just started typing (to make sure it was fixed.) A day later, my wife read what I had typed and she said, 'you should do more of this.' And so I did."

Brown, a two-time James Beard award winner known for his work on the Food Network’s “Good Eats,” “Iron Chef" and “Cutthroat Kitchen," wrote a very different book this time. The literary collection shares personal and professional anecdotes about the culinary world, film, childhood, impactful meals of his life and more.

Brown will bring his final large-scale tour (he will visit 62 cities!), “Last Bites,” to the Riverside Theater on Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available here.

Brown will make a pre-show stop at Boswell Book Company for a reading and book signing at noon. Tickets for this intimate event are available here.

OnMilwaukee had the chance to talk to Brown about the new book, his love of Cranky Al's donuts, food poisoning (ope!) and his appreciation of manual typewriters.

OnMilwaukee: Is this really your last tour?

Alton Brown: Yes. In 2013, I planned to do four big tour shows like this. I’m going to keep my word to myself on this. It will not be my last live performance. I am going to design a show for much smaller venues and fewer dates so I’m able to fly home and make adjustments in between performances.

What do you hope people take away from “Last Bite?”

Most of all, I want to entertain people. I also want them to think a day or two later, see something or hear something or cook something that makes them realize they learned something. 

What is your favorite food on tour?

I’m eating as little as possible on this tour. On my last tour, I went to places people recommended. I got food poisoning at a place highly recommended. I lived in agony for days and missed two shows. So now, I eat mostly almonds and canned sardines and try not to eat at all until after shows.

However, I am going to have to break the rule and go to Cranky Al’s while I’m in Milwaukee. It’s my favorite donut shop in the United States. I’ve had boxes of their donuts shipped to me. And although these days I’m trying to lay off foods that aren’t good for the waistline, I won’t be able to resist.

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As a typewriter collector and user, did you know the typewriter was invented in Milwaukee?

I did!

How did you get into typewriter collecting?

My parents owned a radio station and newspaper. They were around constantly when I was growing up. I can identify an IBM Selectric 1 from a 2.

How many typewriters do you own?

Currently, about 15.

The one on the cover of your book, the Hermes 3000, is that your favorite?

Absolutely. It’s a rock solid portable. I have four of them. I also like the Hermes Rocket, Olympias, Olivettis. I use them constantly.

What’s next, after the tour?

I'm trying to decide. I don't think I'm going to make another TV show. I don't like the television business. I would like to do some shows in smaller clubs; maybe write another book. But I promised my wife three months of not doing anything.