Amazon.com Review Most diners believe that their sublime sliver of seared foie gras, topped with an ethereal buckwheat blini and a drizzle of piquant huckleberry sauce, was created by a culinary artist of the highest order, a sensitive, highly refined executive chef. The truth is more brutal. More likely, writes Anthony Bourdain in Kitchen Confidential, that elegant three-star concoction is the collaborative effort of a team of "wacked-out moral degenerates, dope fiends, refugees, a thuggish assortment of drunks, sneak thieves, sluts, and psychopaths," in all likelihood pierced or tattooed and incapable of uttering a sentence without an expletive or a foreign phrase. Such is the muscular view of the culinary trenches from one who's been groveling in them, with obvious sadomasochistic pleasure, for more than 20 years. CIA-trained Bourdain, currently the executive chef of the celebrated Les Halles, wrote two culinary mysteries before his first (and infamous) New Yorker essay launched this frank confessional about the lusty and larcenous real lives of cooks and restaurateurs. He is obscenely eloquent, unapologetically opinionated, and a damn fine storyteller--a Jack Kerouac of the kitchen. Those without the stomach for this kind of joyride should note his opening caveat: "There will be horror stories. Heavy drinking, drugs, screwing in the dry-goods area, unappetizing industry-wide practices. Talking about why you probably shouldn't order fish on a Monday, why those who favor well-done get the scrapings from the bottom of the barrel, and why seafood frittata is not a wise brunch selection.... But I'm simply not going to deceive anybody about the life as I've seen it." --Sumi Hahn
Product Description An adrenaline-fuelled behind-the-scenes look at the restaurant world in audiobook read by Bourdain himself. After twenty-five years of -sex, drugs, bad behaviour and haute cuisine-, chef and novelist Anthony Bourdain has decided to tell all. From his first oyster in the Gironde to his lowly position as a dishwasher in a honky tonk fish restaurant in Provincetown (where he first experiences the real delights of being a chef); from the kitchen of the Rainbow Room atop the Rockefeller Center to drug dealers in the East Village, from Tokyo to Paris and back to New York again, Bourdain's tales of the kitchen are as passionate as they are unpredictable, as shocking as they are funny. This unforgettable book will change the way you view restaurants for ever.
fun in the kitchenSeptember 5, 2010 M. R. Everleth(oldsmar FL) lots of fun to read in his typical breezy manner. would recommend this book to any foodie or travel fan
Kitchen Confidential reviewSeptember 1, 2010 T. Robus I really enjoyed getting to know Bourdain a little more in this book. I love his travel shows and his take on different customs, food, people. I get a kick out of his no nonsense opinions and how he states them. I learned a few things about kitchen ware and have new appreciation for chefs, cooks and all the work it takes to run restaurants.
kitchen confidentialAugust 27, 2010 Ashley Z. Edwards(Florida) 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The book was great. Arrived quickly. Good condition.
Thank You Ashley Edwards
Introduction to a work ethicAugust 23, 2010 B. Darnell(Southern California) 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Mr. Bourdain's story of not only his life but his opinion of the kitchen subculture was enlightening for his opinion of the behind-the-scenes cooks life but mostly for the point of view of working for personal satisfaction and not just for a buck. The chapters which described working all hours necessary, never being late, and doing things that may not be your job for the business really sunk in for me. The idea of thinking of yourself as a warrior in your life and doing your best no matter what is hard one to visualize but is portrayed over and over again kitchen confidential. I enjoyed the stories, descriptions, and insights in the book a lot and will probably read it again but really what sunk in for me was the truly inspiring work ethic. If you want to know what doing your absolute best and putting in your all looks like, read this book.
Very informative veiw into the culinary worldAugust 23, 2010 Jcallie 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I find this book to be very informative to the culinary world. Anyone interested in that career has to read this book. Anthony Bourdain really grabs your attention and keeps you coming back for more!
