“Kitchen Confidential” by the late Anthony Bourdain is a no-holds-barred, tell-all memoir that takes readers on a wild ride through the underbelly of the culinary world.
As a chef and a professional who has been there and done that, Bourdain pulls no punches as he spills the dirt on the intense pressure, long hours, and drugs that pervade the industry.
But make no mistake, this book isn’t just a bitchfest; it’s a love letter to the restaurant business.
“Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.”
― Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
Bourdain paints a vivid picture of the culture of the culinary industry, with its eccentric characters and cutthroat competition. He takes us behind the scenes of some of the most famous kitchens in the world and shows us the blood, sweat, and tears that go into creating culinary masterpieces.
He writes about the camaraderie and sense of family that can develop among kitchen staff, as well as the adrenaline rush that comes with working in such a high-energy environment.
The memoir isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Bourdain also delves into the darker aspects of the culinary world, such as drug use, sexual misconduct, and other unethical behaviors that sometimes occur in the kitchens of restaurants.
He writes about this in a frank and honest manner, drawing from his own experiences and those of other industry professionals.
“[When I die], I will decidedly not be regretting missed opportunities for a good time. My regrets will be more along the lines of a sad list of people hurt, people let down, assets wasted and advantages squandered.”
― Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
He also notes that despite these issues, the vast majority of chefs and cooks are passionate, hardworking professionals who take pride in their craft.
As a chef, author, and TV personality, Bourdain was known for his rugged, “bad boy” appearance and attitude, often wearing dark clothing and leather jackets. He also had tattoos on his body, one of the most visible was of a skull with a chef’s toque on his shoulder.
He had a unique and memorable persona, often described as charismatic, opinionated and entertaining. His writing reflects this, it’s witty, arrogant, deferential and celebratory all at the same time.
Overall, Kitchen Confidential is a must-read for anyone with an interest in the culinary world. It’s a thrilling, often scandalous, and always entertaining look at the business of cooking and the people who do it.
The book is both a cautionary tale and a celebration of the culture of the culinary industry, and it’s a fitting legacy for a chef and raconteur like Anthony Bourdain.
You can get a copy online here and here.
Check out our review of another one of his books — Medium Raw.
