Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain Review

I loved this book, and it was one of the highlights of my reading year. It truly encapsulates why we read for entertainment while also providing another big reason for reading: learning. Because I was hugely entertained by the sharp and fast-paced writing of the book, the high energy, high stakes feeling of being a chef or cook, the camaraderie and rapport amongst people in the industry, the love and passion for food, the hopelessness and frustration of being in such a difficult business. How it seems to attract the misfits, the weirdos, but the good and ugly in people seem to shine brightly in the midst of service and the epic journey through the industry that Bourdain takes his reader on.

I’ll be honest, I don’t really know much about what goes on in a professional kitchen. My knowledge of cooking comes from YouTube videos of how to be a home chef, the tinkering with recipes I do in my own kitchen, the experience I accumulated since I was a child slicing ham and apples to put on top of Ritz crackers and burning quesadillas after school got out. But Bourdain’s world is so utterly different, it almost seems unfair to compare the two. I had no idea what he was talking about at times in regards to the employees of restaurants, the jargon, and he even says that the book is meant for others in the industry to feel seen. But I’m so glad he allowed us commoners to get a glimpse into what he lives and breathes. Any person who has such a profound passion for any sort of profession or activity has earned my respect and appreciation. I can't imagine a single person not enjoying this one, it's a very quick read and an easy one as well. 

I don’t know if Bourdain actually wrote this word for word, or if he had someone help, but I’m assuming and hoping he wrote this himself because his fame was mostly launched upon the publication of this one. He is such a good writer in this one though; he never misses a beat and his storytelling is absolutely top-notch. I’m in awe of his abilities, both in and out of the kitchen, and most of all, his utter self awareness, which is absolutely rare.