This Serious Eats post from a couple of weeks ago talks about Chef Grant Achatz and the book deal he has just put together for his new cookbook that will include an online community for people who buy the book so they can interact with the chef and with one another. People who pre-order will also have advance access to assorted online content prior to the Fall 2008 publication date.

Tucked into the post is also the news that the cancerous tumor in Achatz’s tongue has been reduced by 80% following his initial chemotherapy treatments. That has to be good news for him, even though he is not out of the woods yet. Clearly he’s optimistic enough about his treatment to be looking ahead to next fall and this interesting new venture.