Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (2000)

I loved this book. Bourdain seemed to give an honest and entertaining account of his career in the culinary arts. I would recommend this book to anyone whether you're entertaining the thought of entering the restaurant business or not. ( )

What a wake up call this book was. I had no idea what happened behind the scenes in a large upscale kitchen. I had no idea how hard the job of a chef is. ( )

Bourdain comes across as a loveable bastard. ( )

Now this is the cooking memoir I've been wanting to read. I may never feel comfortable eating in a restaurant again, but the stories are excellent and Bourdain has a life well lived. ( )

[edit]

This is pretty great, as someone who mostly forgot about Bourdain until watching Roadrunner. It’s one of those books where the chapters are short but impactful, making it perfect for a commute or short break.

Bourdain is witty, self-aware, and likeable enough even though he recognizes he can be an asshole. He had some bad opinions (who doesn’t) but I have a lot of respect for what he did with his show and how he writes about food. The chapter on Tokyo cuisine was particularly captivating.

I also really like how this updated edition had not just a “where are they now” afterword but also handwritten notes that would touch on stuff he wrote (no one uses demi-glace anymore, etc). In a book that’s just about one’s life experiences while focusing on the culinary industry, really cool to see how he’s changed. Also hilarious to see how one’s memories don’t always shape up in reality.

Definitely worth reading for anyone who’s worked in a restaurant, even (especially?) a shitty one. ( )