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.

Simply wonderful

I do enjoy Anthony Bourdain's television show "No Reservations", but it was the recommendation of someone I spoke with that convinced me to "read" this book. As someone who enjoys watching cooking shows and learning about food, if not good at cooking myself, I was immediately sucked into this audiobook.

Bourdain himself is a fantastic narrator. He presents his fluid and witty style clearly and with great pacing. You can tell how much effort he put into this book, and the listener is rewarded with a great variety of information. I enjoyed hearing the insider secrets about what to order when, what kinds of utensils and cookware are actually worth having, etc., but far more interesting were the stories of Anthony working behind the scenes at many restaurants in many cities.

One word of advice: this book is gritty in the sense that he pulls no punches in his description of the restaurant industry and those who make it up. If lengthy references to or all-out discussions about drugs use and sex offend you, you'll not be wanting this audiobook. On the other hand, this is the most gratifying "cooking show" experience I have*ever* had.

I have recommended this book to at least ten people since finishing it. Off to listen to the next offering from AB.

Great Book

I just finished listening to this book over the Christmas holidays and I can't say enough good things about it. Not only is the content interesting and funny, but also the fact that Anthony read it adds texture to the story. I felt like I was sitting across the table from him having a few drinks while he told me his story. I recommend this book to anyone that might be interested in food, restaurants or great biographies.

Makes me glad I didn't become a chef...

Love that it's read by Anthony Bourdain himself. Learned a lot about the inner workings of a career as a chef, and it's not nearly as glamorous as it might have sounded before reading this book. Gave me a much bigger appreciation for chefs who stick it out night after night-- most of them never owning their own place, becoming a celebrity chef, or hosting their own travel show.

Wow

Tony, we will miss you....the book is raucous and sublime just like you

Au revoir

Must read for foodies...

Excellent book that made me look at restaurants completely differently, and also an amazing story of perseverance on Anthony Bourdain's part. I liked Anthony Bourdain's narration, but the editing of it wasn't that great. The voice quality would change throughout the story and chapters ended very abruptly sometimes cutting off the last word.

Fantastic

Absolutely loved it. It was great hearing Anthony's voice and accounts of his personal experience in the industry. Highly, highly recommend.

Audio quality

Love the book, love Anthony bourdon, hate the fact that all the audio sound muffled and like it was recorded in a bunker.

Outstanding

Exceeded my expectations. Very entertaining and informative. Highly recommended. The 14 point list at the end of the book is sage advice.

All good, except.....

The book, it’s contents and it’s performance are all fine. It’s the TECHNICAL side that can be a little crap. This was clearly recorded before people gave a damn about how your audiobook SOUNDED. Sure it’s a good mic- the levels are good- not a ton of noise save for you can hear whatever is going on the the background. You’ll hear headphones and think something is going on outside of your hearing and you’ll pause the book- only to realize the BOOK was the one making the noise. Otherwise this is top notch and you should pick it up.

Just do it.

Totally awesome. Must listen. RIP to an interesting guy that changed the way I understand food.