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Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain
55 reviews
abbyslittelife's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.0
such a lovely read. bourdain has such a funny, snarky writing style that makes the story jump off the page. I’m ready for the next season of the bear.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual content
taracloudclark's review
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.
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
1wingedbalrog's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
Ah, Anthony Bourdain... let's get it out of the way - we all miss him.
But going back to the start, I wanted to ask if after all the subsequent books and different TV shows - does the foundational text still hold up? Yes, mostly.
If someone is curious about Bourdain and they want to get a sense of the full man, then an off-episode of Parts Unknown might not be the best part. This is a true memoir: a highly personal and expansive look at the world Bourdain loved and dedicated his life to just before he became a star. I listened to it on audiobook, which he narrates, and I almost recommend that over a physical copy because the text oozes such delicious sarcasm but also the tenderest affection. It's clear that Bourdain was no cynic and clearly adored the world of restaurants and food as much as he loved to high out all its dirty laundry for the world to see. The description of going to town on the after-midnight sushi bar is outrageous but somehow inspiring with Bourdain's pen, and it made me hungry even as I started getting a headache imagining all that liquor flooding into my gut. I should mention this book is frequently gut-bustingly funny.
The book's best feature though is the love. Bourdain goes on many a rant over the variety of schmucks who start restaurants, tourists who don't appreciate the food, upstart line-cooks, lazy suppliers, and - controversially - vegetarians. It may seem petty, but it's never off-putting (even if you're a vegetarian) because all of it is borne from love not disgust. One of the quotes I'll always carry with me is "our bodies are not temples; our bodies are amusement parks." Frankly, that sounds a lot more fun and honest.
All of that being said, this book was written in the late 1990s and parts of it show. And although Bourdain was already sliding into middle age at the time, he had yet to experience some of the growth that would create his later persona as a kind of "food diplomat." Even looking past the occasional off-color jokes, a lot of Bourdain's takes have since become outdated (a friend who worked at a restaurant in New York assured me that you can dine out on the weekends now - Bourdain spilling the beans helped curb that practice). Some of his advice is also different in a new age as the restaurant industry changes. But most of all, a lot of his attitudes on treatment of staff changed over the course of his life. There's rarely a chapter that doesn't affectionately describe a common practice in the restaurant industry that people are now starting to recognize as exploitation.
In particular, Bourdain's descriptions of women left me ambivalent and cold. He professes to admiring women cooks especially, citing their toughness and grit and how they can take any stress coming their way, from the demands of the service to the harassment by their co-workers. Yet any woman will recognize what Bourdain isn't noticing - needing to build a shell around yourself to withstand constant barrage of demeaning and hostile behavior. I wish Bourdain had stopped before he praised a cook for being tough, and instead asked why she needed to grow that tough? Was that moment where she pinned a guy on the cutting board and held her knife a "cool moment" or gasping for air after yet another guy pinched her ass at work? For the record, Bourdain would later change his perspective and talk about his regrets in some parts of this book. He also became an advocate against sexual assault in the restaurant industry in the final years of his life.
While I'm knocking off some marks for everything I just mentioned, this was a terrific read. Reading such a smart, funny, and insightful man is always blessing. It may not make you want to become a chef, but I now savor of every bite of food in the amusement park of life. Unless it's overcooked meat.
But going back to the start, I wanted to ask if after all the subsequent books and different TV shows - does the foundational text still hold up? Yes, mostly.
If someone is curious about Bourdain and they want to get a sense of the full man, then an off-episode of Parts Unknown might not be the best part. This is a true memoir: a highly personal and expansive look at the world Bourdain loved and dedicated his life to just before he became a star. I listened to it on audiobook, which he narrates, and I almost recommend that over a physical copy because the text oozes such delicious sarcasm but also the tenderest affection. It's clear that Bourdain was no cynic and clearly adored the world of restaurants and food as much as he loved to high out all its dirty laundry for the world to see. The description of going to town on the after-midnight sushi bar is outrageous but somehow inspiring with Bourdain's pen, and it made me hungry even as I started getting a headache imagining all that liquor flooding into my gut. I should mention this book is frequently gut-bustingly funny.
The book's best feature though is the love. Bourdain goes on many a rant over the variety of schmucks who start restaurants, tourists who don't appreciate the food, upstart line-cooks, lazy suppliers, and - controversially - vegetarians. It may seem petty, but it's never off-putting (even if you're a vegetarian) because all of it is borne from love not disgust. One of the quotes I'll always carry with me is "our bodies are not temples; our bodies are amusement parks." Frankly, that sounds a lot more fun and honest.
All of that being said, this book was written in the late 1990s and parts of it show. And although Bourdain was already sliding into middle age at the time, he had yet to experience some of the growth that would create his later persona as a kind of "food diplomat." Even looking past the occasional off-color jokes, a lot of Bourdain's takes have since become outdated (a friend who worked at a restaurant in New York assured me that you can dine out on the weekends now - Bourdain spilling the beans helped curb that practice). Some of his advice is also different in a new age as the restaurant industry changes. But most of all, a lot of his attitudes on treatment of staff changed over the course of his life. There's rarely a chapter that doesn't affectionately describe a common practice in the restaurant industry that people are now starting to recognize as exploitation.
In particular, Bourdain's descriptions of women left me ambivalent and cold. He professes to admiring women cooks especially, citing their toughness and grit and how they can take any stress coming their way, from the demands of the service to the harassment by their co-workers. Yet any woman will recognize what Bourdain isn't noticing - needing to build a shell around yourself to withstand constant barrage of demeaning and hostile behavior. I wish Bourdain had stopped before he praised a cook for being tough, and instead asked why she needed to grow that tough? Was that moment where she pinned a guy on the cutting board and held her knife a "cool moment" or gasping for air after yet another guy pinched her ass at work? For the record, Bourdain would later change his perspective and talk about his regrets in some parts of this book. He also became an advocate against sexual assault in the restaurant industry in the final years of his life.
While I'm knocking off some marks for everything I just mentioned, this was a terrific read. Reading such a smart, funny, and insightful man is always blessing. It may not make you want to become a chef, but I now savor of every bite of food in the amusement park of life. Unless it's overcooked meat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Alcohol, Misogyny, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Racism and Violence
elledanie's review against another edition
Might finish later just not in the mood for such a negative or aggressive take rn
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual content
cibani's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Deportation, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Alcohol, Addiction, Fire/Fire injury, Vomit, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, and Drug use
nicolebobby's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
“I wallow in it. Just like all the other sounds in my life: the hiss and clatter and spray of the dishwasher, the sizzle as a fillet of fish hits a hot pan, the loud, yelping noise — almost a shriek — as a glowing sizzle-platter is dropped into a full pot sink, the pounding of the meat mallet on a cote du boeuf, the smack as finished plates hit the 'window'. The goads, curses, insults and taunts of my wildly profane crew are like poetry to me…”
Incredibly intimate, atmospheric, profane, and completely Anthony Bourdain. All about food. All about life. Then again, the two are inextricably linked, after all. It took me a bit to get through this, but I’m glad and better off that I did.
Incredibly intimate, atmospheric, profane, and completely Anthony Bourdain. All about food. All about life. Then again, the two are inextricably linked, after all. It took me a bit to get through this, but I’m glad and better off that I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Drug use
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
not so much a memoir as a detailed, enjoyable account of bourdain's time in the culinary industry, kitchen confidential is a fast, hilarious, self-deprecating and informative read. there's resto secrets, kitchen dynamics, no-frill recipes, marvels on the awesomeness of food, and musings on different ppl and food cultures. man was rly ahead of his time im; whats not to like? i love food and i miss mr. bourdain very much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing
Moderate: Sexual content, Racism, Drug use, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicide
paizliibubs's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
alanabenjamin's review against another edition
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
This book was a lil too bro-ish for me but I see why it's a bestseller and a literary staple.
His voice & perspective are unique and fresh for its time. Every time I wanted to give up, there was a line or a turn of phase that kept me reading...
Happy that the food industry isn't like this anymore. However, I wonder what he would say of the TikTok food reviewers. Lol.
His voice & perspective are unique and fresh for its time. Every time I wanted to give up, there was a line or a turn of phase that kept me reading...
Happy that the food industry isn't like this anymore. However, I wonder what he would say of the TikTok food reviewers. Lol.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use
lori_j's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Alcohol
Moderate: Drug abuse and Alcoholism