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  • Kitchen Confidential

  • Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
  • Written by: Anthony Bourdain
  • Narrated by: Anthony Bourdain
  • Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,942 ratings)

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Kitchen Confidential

Written by: Anthony Bourdain
Narrated by: Anthony Bourdain
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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.

©51
2000 Anthony Bourdain
(P)2000 Random House, Inc.

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What listeners say about Kitchen Confidential

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A must hear / Must read.

I meant to read the book years ago and then I moved away and lost the book to an ex girlfriend. long story short, I discovered Audible around the same time Anthony took his life / died. I looked this up in Audible as I was told by everyone who knew of Anthony. Read that Book!. So I listened to the sample and I was floored. It was Anthony Bourdain's voice over his book. I decided not to listen to it as his passing was very sad and tragic. Almost 3 years later here I am finishing the book and leaving a review. I loved it and even more so that it was read by him. I know so much more about the man now and love what he did as a chef even / human being now than I ever thought I would. R.I.P Thank you Anthony Bourdain, for allowing me to learn and listen and gaze upon you on screen and listen to your one of a kind infectious voice. With any pause, you are deeply missed. READ OR LISTEN TO THIS BOOK, It's a must for any Anthony B. fan.

Cheers

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7 people found this helpful

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Great book

My son was a cook tryjng to become a chef but he passed away a year and a half ago. He told me many great stories fo his own. just like in this book he would have really enjoyed this book. he also would have been a great chef her had it l would have really enjoyed listening to this with him. Miss you Ian love and miss you

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6 people found this helpful

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definitely one of my favourite books.

great book, and even better that tony reads it to you. sad that I got around to listening to this after he passed.

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4 people found this helpful

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Healing

I have watched Anthony on CNN for many years with my dad. After he passed away this book was healing for me to listen to, especially since it is narrated by Anthony. I think that this book gave me a snap shot into his mind and life and helped me work through the loss of a role model of mine. #Audible1

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pure love

I have loved this book for basically 2 decades. this is the first time I have listened to Anthony narrating it however. and it was bittersweet. it reminds me of all the things we no longer have in our lives since his death on 2018. I absolutely 10/10 recommend everyone listen to him reading his breakthrough book. It is worth the listen.

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rest in piece chef.

listened to this on the line the day we found out about his death. Very emotional for the chefs today.

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best kitchen book

love this book about cooking in kitchen and the world of culinary Arts, I recommend

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great book

great book for chef or home cook. unfortunately Anthony Bourdain rushes through a bit.

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Fascinant, comme toujours

J'ai suivi plusieurs émissions de voyages culinaires d'Anthony Bourdain. J'ai su qu'il avait écrit des livres. ce fût un plaisir de l'entendre raconter ses histoires de son passé et son parcours de chef.

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A book. It only for cooks

Great to listen to the kitchen stories of Anthony Bourdain, it takes you back to 1999 and the NYC Restaurant scene, that I’m sure has changed enormously since, but his honesty comes through and I’d suggest to anyone and everyone

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  • Holly
  • 2003-02-20

Kitchen Confidential

This is one of the best books I've listened to; or read for that matter. It was addictive. I was swept away by the author's own narrative, he is the only one who could possibly do his own book justice. All the French & Italian terms and the ease with which he describes his experiences...this was a mind-visual-smell-and mostly tasty escape into someone's life which I'd always thought glamorous. Well, what a fun ride, and how enlightening! This man is a BRILLIANT writer, and so much fun to listen to. Give it a try, and even if you don't like food, you WILL love this book. This is the one that finally got my husband into audiobooks...we couldn't "put it down", and were so sorry when it ended!

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183 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Jeff
  • 2003-03-13

Funny, witty, insightful...and brutally graphic

Ok, so color me "sensitive" if you like, but I found myself at least wishing for some sort of warning about the vulgar language and graphic depictions of base (usually sexual) behavior. I'm not saying you shouldn't listen to it for that reason--I could have turned it off any time, and did not--but rather just trying to warn similarly constituted listeners what they're in for. The book *is* very entertaining, and Mr. Bourdain is an engaging story teller. The theme did seem to wander about a bit, from expose to documentary to lecture to diary...back and forth. All in all, though, a witty and entertaining (if brutal) look into life of a professional chef. You'll never look at a restaurant meal in quite the same way again, and, as Mr. Bourdain advises, you'll definitely want to "be polite to your waiter."

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112 people found this helpful

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  • Darwin8u
  • 2015-01-21

A Crazy, Hyper Dance From the Kitchen to the Table.

There is a certain thrill to being the first person to reach the top of a mountain, the first to eat at a soon-to-be famous restaurant, the first to discover an author, a band, a new food or experience. Well friend, the thrill of a late discovery (even when you are 15 years late to the party) is still pretty damn sweet. I might have seen Bourdain's books as I wandered through a bookstore. I might have seen him on CNN, the Travel Channel or the Food Network while searching for another show on another station. I didn't hardly notice him. He was, like that girl you know in class, but have never given much real attention to (only later to discover she is witty, wicked, and everything you want in a lover and fear in a daughter.

Over Christmas, while visiting and bonding my foodie brother in Arkansas, he introduces me to Parts Unknown on CNN. I am hooked. I love Bourdain. I'm addicted to the show. It mixes things that mix well: my love for travel, my love for food, my love for a good damn story with interesting characters. So, I figure, I might need to actually read his book. Yeah this one. The one that put him on the map. The one that turned him from an executive chef with personality to THE chef with personality.

The book is a quick read. It dances. It seems to operate with a certain mechanical, hyper-caffeinated efficiency. Whatever money it made Bourdain, he probably deserved even more. Right now, I've muted my desire to put it on the bookshelf next to my other just reads. I want my wife to read it first. Oh, I've got a friend who would love it too. My initial reaction to finishing this book is the same I get when I discover a fantastic new restaurant (Republica Empanada in Mesa, AZ) -- I want to take friends and family to it. I become not just a disciple, but a crazy-eyed evangelist.

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38 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Eugene M
  • 2005-11-21

SPELLBINDING

I found this audio book spellbinding. If you read this book, you cannot put it down. I was amazed at how well Bourdain narrated the book. I learned plenty about food and the chef's world. I listened to his narration in my car. Some times I would sit in my driveway for half an hour before going into the house, I was so entranced by the book. Listen to a sample and you will be hooked. ENJOY!

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35 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • "bogweed"
  • 2005-09-19

It's Cooking

Hey, he swears, he talks about drugs, sex, food. Especially the food. He clearly loves his food.
I cannot believe that some reviewers take against the author for honesty and being himself. He swears! Aaargh! He is honest about his past: "I was a jerk" - and I imagine he was. Perhaps is. Who knows? He writes what comes out of his head, what he feels, no holds barred. And he narrates it very well.
I am a Brit, so a lot of the references to restaurants, chefs, places meant diddly squat to me, but it doesn't matter. The book is funny - laugh out loud in places - it is informative, profane, full of foodie terms I have no idea about (but so what, it ain't a recipe book). It is a good listen.
I mark it down a point because I think the quality of recording could be better - a strange fade-in thing going on at the start of sentences/sections, but not so bad that it is to the detriment of the tale. Kitchen Confidential? AB will hate it - but I say 'well done'. Arf.

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34 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Lorelei
  • 2007-11-11

For the food service in us ...

If you've ever worked in a kitchen, this is how it really is. Not how it "should" be, but most of the time how it actually is. This book is written by Anthony, but could have thousands of other names as the writer. But only he, it seems, could have put it in the words that he has. A great tribute from all of us that have gone through it.
This is a must read for anyone even remotely interested in the writer (good or bad), ready to eat in a fine food joint (when to order certain foods, when not to, and why), or thinking of working in the kitchen industry. Very well written, full of very logical and technicial facts from the food industry, a very good and enjoyable read, and just down right funny! My very first full 5 star rating and I just don't give those ratings away.
I respect the writer much more after seeing where he came from and what he went through, though I must say I found him entertaining before reading it. This was a wonderful glimpse behind the kitchen doors written by a person able to tell it better than most. Very well done Mr. Bourdain!! Learn from his decisions, and hope to be as fine a Chef as he actually is. Very well written indeed.

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30 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Karen Wilson
  • 2003-02-21

What a Great Read!!!

Funny, insightful, irreverent, articulate...all fit this outstanding effort by Anthony Bourdain. My first read of his material and I can't wait to download his earlier works while eagerly awaiting his next effort!

If the workings of a professional kitchen intrigues you, you must read this book!!!

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24 people found this helpful

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  • Professor
  • 2012-11-27

AUTOBIOGRAPHY MASTERPIECE

I was a fan of "Kitchen Confidential" TV Show and I Decided to read the book it was based upon, and I loved It!!!!!

Sense of humor and facts of the story make it unbelievably good.
Excellent narration of the author himself giving it final touch making it better than TV show.

PS
I began listening it through the loud speakers of my phone during my meal time break in one of my usual restaurants, and in 20 minutes 3 tables closest to me asked me to make it louder, I have no doubt they BOUGHT a copy of their own.

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  • NickS
  • 2018-06-12

Disgusting, tasteful, enlightening and disturbing

A captivating listen as Anthony Bourdain takes you through a wild ride of his restaurant grind, from the bottom to the top. This book was an incredible opportunity to see a life that is more foreign to me than almost anything I can imagine. I regret that it's the news of his recent suicide that turned me on to his book. Honor this man by giving his book a listen, you won't regret it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Justin Gordon
  • 2004-10-15

One of the funniest books I've ever heard...

Besides containing great information about what to order where and when, and what really goes on to make a restaurant run, the author is absolutely hilarious. His description of restaurant lingo was beyond funny. This is one of the funnest books to listen to ever. But be warned that the language is graphic, but, as the saying goes, "if you can't take the heat..."

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2022-10-19

Fantastic listen

Anthony did an amazing job narrating this one, you can really easily imagine being in the scenes and evolving with his story

Numerous smiles were spotted on my face while listening to it

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  • Anonymous User
  • 2018-06-19

Amazing audiobook

Amazing book read by the big-screen experienced author, giving it an even greater reception. Gives a great insight into the cooking world and its vicious nature.

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