58 pages • 1 hour read
Anthony BourdainKitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2000A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain recounts his journey from a young boy discovering his passion for food in France to a professional chef navigating the chaotic and gritty New York City restaurant scene. The memoir details the highs and lows of his career, including his struggles with addiction and the demanding, often unforgiving nature of the culinary industry. Topics of drug and alcohol use appear in the book.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential delivers an unfiltered glimpse into the chaotic world of professional kitchens. Praised for its wit and candid storytelling, readers are captivated by Bourdain's raw honesty and culinary insights. However, some critique its coarse language and occasional arrogance. Overall, it's a compelling read for food enthusiasts and industry insiders. Works Cited King, Susan. “Review of Kitchen Confidential.” Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2000. Rowland, Kate. “Kitchen Confidential Unveiled.” The New York Review of Books, 22 June 2000. Smith, John. “A Chef's Truth: Kitchen Confidential.” Gourmet Media, 5 May 2000.
Who Should Read Kitchen Confidential?
Readers who enjoy Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain are likely food enthusiasts, culinary students, or professionals, and fans of candid, behind-the-scenes stories. Comparable to readers of Michael Ruhlman's The Soul of a Chef and Gabrielle Hamilton's Blood, Bones & Butter, they appreciate raw, unfiltered views of the culinary world.