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

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

28 reviews

vulco1's review

adventurous funny informative reflective fast-paced

3.5

This book wasn't necessarily for me. It's an interesting mix of autobiography and kitchen expose. I would have preferred more of the biography than the expose, but it is what it is.

Still enjoyed. It was a good book for book club. Funny, enlightening. Learned a bit. 4 really good chapters and the rest I probably could have taken or left.

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art_books_chemistry's review against another edition

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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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champa_reads's review

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fast-paced

5.0

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jedore's review against another edition

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funny informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.25

"If you are easily offended by direct aspersions on your lineage, the circumstances of your birth, your sexuality, your appearance, the mention of your parents possibly commingling with livestock, then the world of professional cooking is not for you."

Although I am what I would call an entry level "foodie," I'm not into food-related shows or celebrity chefs. For some reason, Anthony Bourdain caught a bit more of my attention than his peers before his death. There was just something about him.

When he intentionally ended this life, I became intrigued. Not in a morbid way. I just hoped to get a better understanding of what it is I had sensed and why he did what he did. So, I picked up Kitchen Confidential to see if I was right.

I'm glad I did! This was an enjoyable and insightful read. Eating at a busy urban restaurant will never be the same for me again...wow! I'd heard it was heavy on drugs and alcohol and high on stress, but Anthony opened my eyes wider. This is definitely not a habitat I would survive in...and, honestly, I have a difficult time understanding those who not only do, but who thrive in it.

Turns out I was right about Anthony. He was a sweet and sensitive man underneath his surly exterior — and, I can understand how the world was finally just too much for him.

Looking forward to reading Into the Weeds by Tom Vitale, Anthony's long-time director and producer.

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