Kitchen Confidential

By: Anthony Bourdain

Narrated by: Anthony Bourdain

Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Bloomsbury presents Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, read by Anthony Bourdain.

After 25 years of 'sex, drugs, bad behaviour and haute cuisine', Chef and novelist Anthony Bourdain decided to tell all. 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 the 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, as shocking as they are funny.

©2000 Anthony Bourdain (P)2000 Penguin Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A compelling book with its intriguing mix of clever writing and kitchen patois...more horrifically gripping than a Stephen King novel." (Sunday Times)

"Fantastic: as lip-smackingly seductive as a bowl of fat chips and pungent aioli." (Daily Telegraph) 

"Elizabeth David written by Quentin Tarantino." (A.A. Gill) 

Brilliant

This book is as good as they say it is. Hugely entertaining. RIP to the legend.

Brilliant storytelling with the voice of the maestro Chef, author, storyteller

Anthony Bourdain gives us a raw portrait of his life as a chef, from scrubbing floors and pots and pans to running and flopping multiple businesses - he’s a gifted and natural storyteller and his narration makes it so much more real. A pity he’s not around for round two. What a loss.

A perspective changer

Listening to this I was drawn in with Bourdain’s descriptive yet Frank nature. His words, his tone and his willingness to take it in the chin inspired and assured me that everything is going to be alright. I had an emotional response to the ending knowing that Bourdain was no longer living how his book had inspired. I’m so happy I listened to this instead of reading it. Thank you Anthony Bourdain. ❤️‍🔥

Your body is not a temple it's an amusement ride.

Or "The invasion of Normandy every day of the week."
I first heard of author, Anthony Bourdain, in a review discussion of his exposé of behind the scenes restaurant life on BBC Radio Four over twenty years ago. Two days later I bought and read Kitchen Confidential, and was totally blown away. I bought copies for family members, bored anyone who'd listen with excerpts and advice from the book, then started on a succession of other cook's tales, but none was as funny, scary, evocative as that by Bourdain. He remained an hero throughout the years to come. His recent, sad departure from this world prompted me to read the book again but this time literally in his own voice as he is also the narrator. And if I thought it breathtaking before, well, he really has to be heard to be believed.

His full bodied, pleasant voice, warmed like honey, wry amusement always present, reads quickly almost not bothering to take a breath. Long streams of invective, description, drugs, people flash past, creating a visual animated queue.
He has advice to give - don't eat the fish dishes on Monday, and if the lavatories are dirty the kitchen will be worse - and tips to easily make restaurant style food at home - if you are unsure which will cave in first, your pan or the head of the person you are hitting, throw away the pan. He advocates the use of shallots and garlic, but never that put through the 'abomination' of a garlic press, and he doesn't have much fondness for vegetarians, other than the large charge he can make, if they insist in eating in his restaurant, from a couple of artistically placed vegetables. He has so many funny anecdotes about others in his trade, and his own rather checkered biography in the food world from the adventurous kid who'd eat the freshly caught raw oysters, to his running the kitchens at the Supper Club, placing meat orders each day of $10,000. But for me, the best section of it all is following a day of service in the kitchen, frantic action just as frantically recounted. At the end of the chapter, just listening, I was exhausted!
Bourdain was a man so full of life, of fun, determination and of experiencing all he could, and, boy. does this book reflect it. Great in print, even better as an Audio, this is a must read for anyone interested in cooking, in food, in restaurants, in different lives, in sex and drugs and rock 'n roll, in comedic anecdotes and in living life to its fullest every minute. Bourdain might be gone but still lives large on every page of this amazing book.

Having just listened to Marco Pierre White's autobiography, I decided again to return to Bourdain's tales of life as a Chef, my fourth reading now, and still as good as first time around. It was so wonderful to hear his brilliant narration, too, a voice to remember. A voice filled with his love of life, his life and all it's imperfections, the people he'd worked with, be they good, bad or quirky. So full of humour and the enjoyment of discovery. How different from the coldness and self obsession of White.

If there is anyone who still has not read his book, get it now and enjoy. A great read in print but oh so much better in audio

An amazing tale of an amazing person

A look into the memorable, beautiful, difficult yet intensely passionate life, of one of the most iconic souls in recent history

Tony is Brilliant

Amazing as always, anything by Tony is brilliant. Im grateful its read by him. RIP.

Finished this book in 2 sittings.

I never would have expected this to be the most binge worthy book I've read. I could've listened 8 hours straight if I didn't have to charge my earphones and eat some lunch.
A wonderfully interesting insight in to the culinary world from a great man.
Rip Tony

Kitchen Confidential

I’ve admired Tony Bourdain’s writing since KC first came out 20 odd years ago. I’ve listened and read everything he’s written (including his book on Typhoid Mary) and loved it all. His writing is elegant, witty and so so so descriptive. In KC his own weaknesses and personal integrity are described beautifully along with the life of a piratical vagabond outsider chef as he journeys through his chosen career. I’ve waited oh so patiently for the unabridged Audible version of KC to become available in the UK and have just gorged the whole book in one glorious self indulgent happy thankful session. It is truly brilliant.

Brilliant in every way

Love this man and everything he stood for , exceptional human being with an amazing story to tell . The highs and lows of the restaurant game tied with the behind the scenes adventures and schemes. The genius of Anthony is on full display throughout and he will no doubt take you on a journey you won’t soon forget , I Can not recommend this book enough . 5/5
RIP Anthony bourdain

R.I.P Thanks for the memories

A great book about cooking and very heart felt and honest memoir. I heard about Mr Bourdain after he died. Sounded like his life was going so well. these kinds of deaths always leave me wondering what the truth is. This book is one of those that made me feel like I walked a mile in his shoes, and I'm definitely the richer for his experiences and commentaries. Thank you for sharing.

Great listen

I've always wanted to read this book so delighted when I saw it available on Audible. Narrated by Anthony Bourdain himself which made the experience even better. Really good story and a simple must for a foodie.

wish it was 5 times as long

loved this...didnt want it to end. funny, direct and utterly charming, I couldn't stop listening

A glimpse behind the vale

Any chef listening to this must be getting flashbacks from their own life and anyone else gets a taste of what it's trully like behind their exquisite meals.

Boring and snobbish

It's a reverse Resume/CV , he goes over his education and jobs in random order and tells how he sucked at them. Incredibly dull and very pretentious at times, especially the never ending enumeration of French dishes that brings nothing to the table (pun intended). Oh, he also keeps talking about drugs and getting laid - I guess that's 'funny' if you're 17 and slightly high yourself.

He did have a pretty good style, though, and read his own book well, it's a shame that he couldn't follow it up with some content.

Two stars only for the butter paragraph.

Amazing tales.

Incredible stories throughout a crazy career path. Bourdain writes beautifully, and offers a stunning insight into the industry, what good food means, and how it all works.

Highly recommended, even if you’re not a foodie.

Superb

an incredible insight into hospitality in the 90's. the fact it is read by Bourdain himself makes it even more special.