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A review by elsewhere5
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (Updated Edition) by Anthony Bourdain
2.5
In general, he doesn’t seem like a very nice man.
I read this based on a recommendation from a struthless video (and cause it was free at my library).
This was an okay read, I found Anthony to be pretty unlikeable but this was always pretty likely. Early on in the book he states his hatred for vegetarians so I know the feeling is mutual.
I see this book is from 2000 which might explain the author’s sexist and generally unpleasant inclinations. He seems to state in his book that all kitchens are like his, full of sexist banter in the form of abuse. However, he later gives a contemporary example of a kitchen not like this so it’s clearly possible, even in 2000 to create a pleasant work environment if the chef is willing. I would have been interested to hear from in his later years, before his death in 2018, to see if his approach had changed at all.
The strength of the book is the magnificence he finds in food. I also enjoyed the glimpse into how kitchens operate from your order being taken and returned to your table.
I read this based on a recommendation from a struthless video (and cause it was free at my library).
This was an okay read, I found Anthony to be pretty unlikeable but this was always pretty likely. Early on in the book he states his hatred for vegetarians so I know the feeling is mutual.
I see this book is from 2000 which might explain the author’s sexist and generally unpleasant inclinations. He seems to state in his book that all kitchens are like his, full of sexist banter in the form of abuse. However, he later gives a contemporary example of a kitchen not like this so it’s clearly possible, even in 2000 to create a pleasant work environment if the chef is willing. I would have been interested to hear from in his later years, before his death in 2018, to see if his approach had changed at all.
The strength of the book is the magnificence he finds in food. I also enjoyed the glimpse into how kitchens operate from your order being taken and returned to your table.