A Chef's Christmas

By: Anthony Bourdain

Narrated by: Anthony Bourdain

Length: 1 hr

Publisher's Summary

The author of Kitchen Confidential returns with an exclusive short story available only from Random House Audible!

Holidays aren't always happy for everyone, especially for the crew at Restaurant Saint Germain. The empty dining room has more waiters than customers, the staff is grumbling about the absence of this year's Christmas bonus, and they may soon have to file a missing persons report for "America's Sexiest Chef." Determined to go down kicking and screaming, two employees come up with a last ditch plan of action with a truly unexpected result. While it's not exactly a White Christmas, the crew of the Saint Germain find out that miracles can happen - even if they are accompanied by the sound of French lounge music.

Anthony Bourdain once again brings to light the inner workings of the "culinary underbelly" in his bold reinvention of the traditional Christmas story. At once risqué and charming, A Chef's Christmas is sure to bring holiday cheer to those who make dinner and those who only make reservations.

©2002 Anthony Bourdain
(P)2002 Random House, Inc.

Typically gritty & fun

In typical Anthony Bourdain fashion, this is a story told from the gritty perspective of the professional restaurant trade. It's not really new material but a fun adaptation of many of his previous themes and centers around the tricky restaurant season of Christmas. His characters triumph over adversity and rediscover the joy of cooking. This is less of a seasonal Christmas tale and more of an anytime story. It's short and fun and recommended for anyone who is a fan of Bourdain's storytelling talents.

Chef might be an a**hole but he doesn't own one.

A short antidote to saccharin sweet Christmas stories from the viewpoint of those on the other side of the food fest: those making the meals in the restaurants. With his usual ascerbic and irreverent wit, Mr.Bourdain tells a story of a once busy restaurant without customers just one week before Christmas, focusing on the staff and their feelings at this 'festive' time.
I enjoyed everything about it, from the tale itself to the fast paced warmth of narration. Great fun (but be prepared for bad language). As always, I am glad not to be in the commercial food preparation business and that Anthony Bourdain has been there, done it and can tell it so well.
Recommended.

God, I miss Anthony Bourdain

Bourdain was an awesome man plagued by a lot of demons, but his writing and tv shows were second to none. Although this dark little Christmas story is only an hour long, it had my wife and I laughing from beginning to end and reminded us just how much we miss him. I’d see him whenever he was in DC and that just won’t happen anymore. Thanks to audible I can listen to his best works over and over again.

Bourdain Christmas Special

For those unfamiliar with Bourdain's previous works and status as a Food TV network star, where have you been? (Just kidding.) Bourdain is a master chef who has branched out into writing and acting because he's got some talent, a cynical sense of humor, and a high energy style that would burn him out in the kitchen if he didn't do something else for awhile. Bourdain's works (including this one) take place in the restaurant world, and when discoursing in the kitchen scenes, they have an enormous depth and believability due to the author's familiarity with that environment and his willingness to tell it all like he sees it without pulling his punches (much). Outside the restaurant, Bourdain's characters lack any depth whatsoever, but hey, the author would tell you that's how it is in real life. This short work (which fits on one CD and thus is great for commuters) is another opportunity to live in the author's home territory for an hour and come out feeling like you've lost some of your innocence. From previous works, you may know that the author doesn't shy away from unhappy endings, but in the spirit of Christmas this story finishes well.

Living Vicariously

I will always be grateful for the beautiful way that Anthony Bourdain has shown me the world.

Merry Christmas A. Bourdain's Style

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

I love Anthony Bourdain's writing and his narrating styles. This is no doubt a book I wanted to listen to all in one sitting. Unfortunately, this is a short story. I wished it was longer.

A Christmas Carol meets Fairytale of New York

A Christmas Carol meets Fairytale of New York simple honest and beautiful and the narration, impatient and hurried at times, is pure Bourdain

fun one by bourdain

this one definitely has me looking forward to getting to more of his fictional works.

Great to hear Anthony's voice.

Great to hear Anthony Bourdain's voice and his story telling, again. Read his other books, but somehow never read this one. Miss him and his show. Great surprise.

In the spirit now!

This quick little happy ending story was just what I needed to get in the Christmas spirit. Having Anthony Bourdain read it is an added bonus.