Kitchen Confidential

Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

By: Anthony Bourdain

Narrated by: Anthony Bourdain

Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Recently, The New Yorker published chef Anthony Bourdain's shocking, "Don't Eat Before Reading This." Bourdain spared no one's appetite in this tell-all about what happens behind the kitchen door.

Now, the author uses the same "take-no-prisoners" attitude in his deliciously funny and shockingly delectable audiobook, sure to delight gourmands and philistines alike. From his first oyster in the Gironde, to his lowly position as a dishwasher in a honky-tonk fish restaurant in Provincetown, from the kitchen of the Rainbow Room atop 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.

Kitchen Confidential will make your mouth water while your belly aches with laughter. You'll beg the chef for more, please.

Anthony Bourdain is the author of the novels Bone in the Throat and Gone Bamboo. This is his first work of nonfiction. He is the executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles in New York City.

Hear an exclusive interview with Bourdain.

©51
2000 Anthony Bourdain
(P)2000 Random House, Inc.

Kitchen Confidential

This is one of the best books I've listened to; or read for that matter. It was addictive. I was swept away by the author's own narrative, he is the only one who could possibly do his own book justice. All the French & Italian terms and the ease with which he describes his experiences...this was a mind-visual-smell-and mostly tasty escape into someone's life which I'd always thought glamorous. Well, what a fun ride, and how enlightening! This man is a BRILLIANT writer, and so much fun to listen to. Give it a try, and even if you don't like food, you WILL love this book. This is the one that finally got my husband into audiobooks...we couldn't "put it down", and were so sorry when it ended!

SPELLBINDING

I found this audio book spellbinding. If you read this book, you cannot put it down. I was amazed at how well Bourdain narrated the book. I learned plenty about food and the chef's world. I listened to his narration in my car. Some times I would sit in my driveway for half an hour before going into the house, I was so entranced by the book. Listen to a sample and you will be hooked. ENJOY!

I'll never eat out again

Thoroughly entertaining nonfiction. I didn't care for the author; I found him to be very arrogant, but he does tell a good story. This book was a great insight into the restaurant business, and any one that has ever waitressed at a nice place will appreciate it. He tells it like it is.

fantastic, laugh-out-loud funny

Bourdain gives more than 8 hours of humourous, insightful, and honest tales about the sometimes less than glamourous life of a chef.

Witty, a wealth of knowledge, & a punk rock edge.

This book is well written detailing personal stories, influences, and the rough life of being a kitchen rat.
Anthony Bourdain does not sugar coat his experiences, as he speaks about the good times of discovering new cuisine for the first time, and the camaraderie he's had with kitchen mates through the years. Bourdain unabashedly goes into the dark times of drug addiction, and going down the path of loneliness.

My favorites is the overall tone of the book, and the speaking off the cuff. It reminds me of a recent day variation of words that would be reminiscent of a punk rock inspired Jack Kerouac.

There are a few lulls at times when it seems that he is trying to fill space but he quickly makes up for it with a good story, or a cooking technique that draws you in.

The only regret is that the book finally ends. I need more!

Tony is an over-privileged White Boomer...

And, he'll tell you that himself. I appreciate that. In fact, I appreciate this entire book which is not a cookbook, but more a practical explanation of simple cooking and the restaurant industry. He doesn't refer to himself as a guru by any means. In fact, he tells you his way of doing things, and then suggests that his way may not even be the best way. I appreciate that too. This book is about fantastic food prepared in seedy places explained to you by a regular guy.

Love that Tony is the narrator

This book is made for hearing narrated by Tony himself. I got through this in a day--it's a fascinating life story told from the eyes of a genuine and honest chef.

A real inside look at the food industry 🥗

I've been working in this industry for the last 20 year's. This book is a raw look inside what's really going on behind the scenes. Customers have no idea about the drugs, sex, fighting and chaos that's taking place in some of their favorite restaurants. I've always liked No Reservations because Anthony is a no BS kind of guy. He doesn't glamorize a business that will chew you up and spit you out. Food may give comfort to the customer, but it's stressful as heck to the ones working there. I'm glad there's a chef courageous enough to speak the truth. People in the restaurant business need at least two vacations a year for mental stability lol. This book was worth my credit!!

Loved It!

Would you consider the audio edition of Kitchen Confidential to be better than the print version?

If you are a fan of No Reservations, The Layover, or Parts Unknown, you too will love this. It is a great book that even though you will probably read it in Tony's voice, it is taken to another level when actually heard in his voice.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Adam real last name unknown, because how Tony explained him and the stories he had about him. And the guy who chopped of his finger while Tony worked at the rainbow room at 30Rock. Scrooonk!

Have you listened to any of Anthony Bourdain’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No not yet but I will.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes but I couldn't. Really long and I listen at work.

Any additional comments?

"Feed the Bitch!"

Brilliant, passionate, brutally honest

Great listen from start to finish.. Couldn't stop until it was done, I felt as if I was in the kitchen with him... miss you Anthony