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thelurlurlife's review against another edition
4.0
Eye-opening and thoroughly entertaining. It had a lot of real laugh out loud moments. I've always been a fan of his TV work, so maybe this is where all the bias comes from but the guy writes really well. The book is part travel show, part Fear Factor, part history lesson and part ethnography. It's a good balance of skepticism, enthusiasm and worldliness.He does tend to romanticize and wax poetic over a slab of meat, but every foodie knows too damn well that you can't describe a great meal with just two adjectives. Looking forward to reading his other books soon!
cinnachick's review against another edition
4.0
This is good to get a few behind the scenes snippets of what filming with the Food Network crew was like for Tony. It was obvious that he thought they were idiots and were more interested in getting "good film" then experiencing "good food".
But he is pompous, and arrogant, and opinionated, and he knows it. Which doesn't necessarily make it okay, but it does make him human. He knows his faults. And at the end of the day, I really think that those blustery puffery traits are all about keeping himself from being hurt for being too genuine. He can't hide his love for food and his appreciation of people who make food the best way they can. And he makes me hungry every time I watch him.
But he is pompous, and arrogant, and opinionated, and he knows it. Which doesn't necessarily make it okay, but it does make him human. He knows his faults. And at the end of the day, I really think that those blustery puffery traits are all about keeping himself from being hurt for being too genuine. He can't hide his love for food and his appreciation of people who make food the best way they can. And he makes me hungry every time I watch him.
hashtag_alison's review against another edition
5.0
Headline
I was worried after I found Kitchen Confidential just...okay, but it turns out this is just how I like Bourdain best. Eating everything, in love with everyone, trying everything he can, and slightly confused about why he's being allowed to.
I was worried after I found Kitchen Confidential just...okay, but it turns out this is just how I like Bourdain best. Eating everything, in love with everyone, trying everything he can, and slightly confused about why he's being allowed to.
eling's review
4.0
I liked Anthony Bourdain anyway from watching him on No Reservations and Top Chef, but this made me like him even more. great read for any foodie.
katywhumpus's review against another edition
4.0
Chronicling Bourdain's travels during the first season of his (now much copied) television show of the same name, the book hints at the growing tensions between himself and the show's producers. That tension would result in his exodus from the Food Network and his current show, No Reservations, on the Travel Channel. I'm an avid fan of Tony's no holds barred, carnivorous, drink swilling ways and, being used to seeing him a bit more watered down on television, I enjoyed the lack of censure in the book.
clarelou612's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
tw1tch's review against another edition
3.0
I think I would have liked this a lot more if I'd read it when the tv show was on and I could have watched it to connect what he was writing in the book with what was happening in the show. It was still well written and he makes some decidedly gross sounding food appealing but so much of what is in the book is connected to the show that it reads more like a behind-the-scenes tour than a food-related memoir.
tuai's review against another edition
4.0
Ha envejecido regular. Leyéndolo ahora, diecisiete años después de su publicación, tiene a veces un tufillo sexista que no me hace ninguna gracia.
Obviando eso, y la traducción tan poco acertada de la mayoría de los términos culinarios (culpa mía por leerlo en castellano), es un libro muy interesante sobre todas las cosas que confluyen cuando uno se sienta a la mesa, la cultura y la historia y la gente, desde Vietnam hasta México pasando por Escocia.
Obviando eso, y la traducción tan poco acertada de la mayoría de los términos culinarios (culpa mía por leerlo en castellano), es un libro muy interesante sobre todas las cosas que confluyen cuando uno se sienta a la mesa, la cultura y la historia y la gente, desde Vietnam hasta México pasando por Escocia.