Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

By Anthony Bourdain

An updated and revised edition of Anthony Bourdain's mega-bestselling Kitchen Confidential Almost two decades ago, the New Yorker published a now infamous article, “Don’t Eat before You Read This,” by then little-known chef Anthony Bourdain. Bourdain spared no one’s appetite as he revealed what happens behind the kitchen door. The article was a sensation, and the book it spawned, the now classic Kitchen Confidential, became an even bigger sensation, a mega-bestseller with over one million copies in print. Frankly confessional, addictively acerbic, and utterly unsparing, Bourdain pulls no punches in this memoir of his years in the restaurant business. Fans will love to return to this deliciously funny, delectably shocking banquet of wild-but-true tales of life in the culinary trade from Chef Anthony Bourdain, laying out his more than a quarter-century of drugs, sex, and haute cuisine—this time with never-before-published material.

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Published Jan 9, 2007

312 pages

Average rating: 7.9

329 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say Anthony Bourdain's "Kitchen Confidential" offers a raw, entertaining, and eye-opening glimpse into the chaotic world of restaurant kitchen...

Sue Dix
8/10 stars
Reading books about food, cooking, chefs is always interesting and this book is no exception. I knew nothing about Anthony Bourdain's history and I'm amazed that he has lived through everything he describes and come out alive. It does explain a lot about the voracious appetites on display in his TV shows, though. I have always liked him and even after reading this, I still do, but with a better appreciation.
boyleschris
Lesa's recommendation.
K Olson
6/10 stars
While there are some interesting chapters the book dragged for me at points.
Sophie Davies
4/10 stars
While I enjoy watching Anthony Bourdain's television series Parts Unknown, his book - Kitchen Confidential - falls flat. The "seedy underbelly" Bourdain promises to expose is neither seedy nor shocking (unless the revelation that kitchen staff curse and tell crude jokes comes as somewhat of a surprise to you); nothing new or novel is revealed and the reminiscent stories of Bourdain's past aren't all that interesting either. I found Bourdain's narration to be monotone without life nor passion (even when he recalls the memory that ignited his love affair with food). Kitchen Confidential only served to make me realise the reason I like seeing the places Anthony Bourdain visits has nothing to do with Bourdain himself but the countries, food, and culture he experiences.
AmaliaSilva
Wow, this book really pulls back the curtain on what goes on behind restaurant doors. I never realized how chaotic and fast-paced a professional kitchen can be! Speaking of keeping kitchens running smoothly, having a reliable service for dishwasher repair pittsburgh pa is a game-changer. It’s amazing how a properly working appliance can save time and reduce stress in the middle of a hectic night—plus, all kitchen appliances working well just makes life easier. Definitely makes me appreciate the behind-the-scenes crew even more.

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