sheriffrockyraccoon's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful informative lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

5.0

Who doesn’t spend every waking hour missing Anthony Bourdain? Couldn’t be me. As a fan of his show, I figured I should go back to what may be his most famous book and see where it all started.

I had so much fun reading about Bourdain’s experiences. As someone who has worked in hospitality for a fair share of sociopaths, it was really comforting and enlightening to see someone else both experience the behavior and understand it at the same time. Bourdain clearly loves what he does and doesn’t hide behind his celebrity status as he confronts past demons. He’s just that lovable!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys celebrity memoirs, Bourdain’s shows, French cooking, or just food in general. It was fun, relaxing, and easy to read- although he definitely jumped around at times (it fits the ambience of his kitchens, though).

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thursdd4y's review against another edition

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adventurous informative reflective medium-paced

4.0


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claireh6's review against another edition

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adventurous funny informative fast-paced

4.0


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dreadspawn's review against another edition

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funny informative medium-paced

5.0


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megnut's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.25

I think I've found some of my favorite lines in this book... and definitely had a hard time not profusely swearing after listening to it for a while. 

RIP, Chef. This was a delight. 

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anna_luvs_cheez's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective fast-paced

3.75


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kutreen's review against another edition

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funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

For someone with no experience working in the food service industry, this was quite eye-opening, though I understand many things might have changed since Bourdain's career as a chef from the 70s to the 00s and also in different kinds of restaurants than the ones he worked in, and outside of NYC. Bourdain's audience is mostly other cooks, so there was a lot about different dishes, tools, and techniques that I didn't understand, but I liked that nothing seemed sugar-coated or dumbed down for us civilians. Bourdain is a great writer, which honestly I did not expect for a career chef, and is fantastic at conveying the chaotic atmosphere of a kitchen and the mind of a cook; most of all this is what kept me hooked.

There is a lot of alarming behavior by cooks in and out of kitchens that Bourdain mostly meets with an "oh well" which isn't acceptable by today's standards, but I see why that was his response at the time based on the kitchen culture he had spent ~30 years in.

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cibani's review against another edition

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adventurous informative medium-paced

3.5


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aus10england's review against another edition

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funny informative tense fast-paced

4.5

this is what memoirs should be written like!! Engaging, insightful, full of laughs, and hard to read anecdotes. Very impressed by this one.

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thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

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adventurous funny reflective fast-paced

3.5

not so much a memoir as a detailed, enjoyable account of bourdain's time in the culinary industry, kitchen confidential is a fast, hilarious, self-deprecating and informative read. there's resto secrets, kitchen dynamics, no-frill recipes, marvels on the awesomeness of food, and musings on different ppl and food cultures. man was rly ahead of his time im; whats not to like? i love food and i miss mr. bourdain very much.

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