Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (Updated Edition)

My son, a bartender, wanted me to read this. I was not an Anthony Bourdain fan, having never read any of his books, nor watched his shows. This book didn't make me a fan, either.

I think I would have liked it if I'd read it in the early 2000s when it was first published. As a forty-something person, I would have enjoyed this book's rough, vulgar, stream-of-consciousness. But reading it in 2023 was a different experience. I found the repeated descriptions of substance abuse, criminal activity, and swearing tiring and boring.

The book's best parts were the detailed descriptions of what it takes to manage and run a restaurant and the incredible skill and timing of the people working on the line.

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myclutteredbookshelf's review

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4.0

I should preface this review with the admission that until about a year ago, I knew basically nothing about Anthony Bourdain. I had heard his name before and knew that he was big in the culinary world. But as I have never had much interest in reality TV, that was the extent of my knowledge. It was only after viewing this incredible video essay by Lola Sebastian (which you should definitely watch if you have the time) that I found myself wanting to learn more about the man. And his most well-known memoir seemed the best place to start.

Kitchen Confidential is a difficult book to review, since Bourdain himself would go on to regret most of what he wrote here. This is particularly obvious in this edition, which includes handwritten annotations Bourdain wrote 12 years after the original publication date. It creates a stark contrast between the more inexperienced—I'm hesitant to say 'immature,' considering Bourdain was in his 40s when the book was released—narrator of the main text and the Bourdain that the world would come to know. As he states in the book's introduction, "I never knew shit about shit."

Read the full review at My Cluttered Bookshelf.

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kellyofcali's review

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challenging dark funny informative inspiring tense medium-paced

4.0

I really enjoyed this book - it's interesting, while I was very aware OF Anthony Bourdain, I don't think I knew much about him, and this is very much him unfiltered (or feels that way) - which both makes you like him more, and less, and feel very sad for what eventually happened to him. It's both a great book for people who love food and restaurants and a terrible one, as it's very honest (and often gross) but the man just loves food.

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mandaraffe's review against another edition

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dark funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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thesubwayreader's review against another edition

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dark funny fast-paced

4.0

I'm 22 years late to reading this book, but I'm glad that I finally did. Anthony Bourdain was a decent writer - his language is evocative and really puts you in the place and time he's writing about. I knew that Bourdain was the chef at Les Halles (it's been renamed to La Brasserie) before he became a television person, but I never knew just how rocky his start was in the industry. I liked how he differentiates between his cheffing style and how others chefs run their kitchens - none are wrong, just different. I've never worked in a restaurant or in the food service industry, but I have a greater appreciation for those who make my food and serve it after reading this. My one takeaway: the specials aren't necessarily special at all!

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kumquats87's review

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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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