Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (Updated Edition) by Anthony Bourdain

10 reviews

kurtwombat's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny informative tense fast-paced

5.0

I’ve watched Anthony Bourdain’s food/travel show on and off for years, enjoying his long cool languid demeanor and hip, inquisitive voice. What provokes is the sense that there is a vigorously lived life idling beneath the surface. In KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL a younger than TV age Bourdain provides a florid splash of his adrenaline-fueled life as a chef. The pace is fast like his kitchens and is at turns shocking and hilarious--feeling like Jim Carroll’s BASKETBALL DIARIES meets Upton Sinclair’s THE JUNGLE delivered by Spalding Gray on speed. Because of his sad passing I had stayed clear of his shows and hesitated picking up this book. Enraptured, my concerns fell away as I realized every page celebrates his life and passion.  The book will teach you about different foods and may encourage you to learn more but you don’t have to care about food at all to enjoy KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL.  Able to pinpoint the childhood meal that ignited his interest in food, soup served cold, that love never wavers despite page after page working insane hours under grueling conditions in crazy environments for little pay. Does that sound like fun, probably not, but it certainly is.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Vomit, Bullying, Body shaming, Infidelity, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, and Toxic relationship

The graphic warnings I gave above are definitely referenced in the book but are not condoned but rather just to describe the atmosphere of this kind of workplace.

taracloudclark's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

I noticed a friend of mine posting about Bourdain often. I knew almost nothing about him, so I decided to take in a book by him. First, Bourdain is sexy as hell. How did I never know this?! He also gives great voice to his own words. Makes me want to be in the NY restaurant culture. Second, this is such a fun read. A bit vulgar for milder tastes, but such a great insight into the biz. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Body horror, Bullying, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Blood, Body shaming, Drug use, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Cursing, Drug abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

ladelgado13's review

dark funny medium-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual content, Racism, Xenophobia, and Misogyny

hmetwade's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Medical content, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Sexual content

Moderate: Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Classism, Drug use, and Sexual violence

crssmith's review

adventurous dark funny informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Addiction, Emotional abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Misogyny, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Racial slurs

mandaraffe's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Racism, Xenophobia, Fatphobia, Blood, Cursing, Sexism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content

Moderate: Animal death and Racial slurs

Minor: Suicide

kumquats87's review

adventurous funny informative fast-paced

4.5

Reading this just reminded me of how much I miss his unique voice.

Also, don’t order the fish on Mondays.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Alcoholism, Blood, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Bullying, Gaslighting, and Classism

Minor: Excrement, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Sexism

justacurse's review

dark funny informative medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Racial slurs, Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Drug use, and Racism

art_books_chemistry's review against another edition

emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

Must read for anyone who has worked in the food business if they want to affirm the fact that every kitchen is equally as insane as theirs! Alright, maybe they aren't all completely crazy but there are definitely common adult themes in a lot of them. And Kitchen Confidential is FULL of adult themes. If you're squeamish about sex, drugs, cursing, or blood I recommend steering away from this. Granted if those are true, I'd avoid commercial kitchens in general. 

I do also recommend this book to all those who have never worked in a kitchen and are at all curious about what goes on. Bourdain gives some interesting tips on what he will or will not eat depending on whether he knows the chef or not. Like which days you should or shouldn't order the fish. 

I loved listening to Anthony Bourdain read this book himself even if it was a bit depressing at the same time. It was sad to hear that he overcame so much addiction and issues over the course of his life just for him to ultimately lose the battle with himself. There is a certain amount of self-deprecating humor that allows you to see some of where his head was at in hind sight. 

Highly recommend this book (especially listening to Bourdain reading it)!! I did take off the smallest amount of star because he says "mise en place" Way. Too. Much. My (chef) Mom laughed when I said that and said clearly I didn't work with my Uncle much. Anyway, Read this! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Gore, Medical content, Sexual content, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Racial slurs

lorinew1's review against another edition

adventurous informative fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Moderate: Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism