Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain

5 reviews

kurtwombat's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny informative tense fast-paced

5.0

I’ve watched Anthony Bourdain’s food/travel show on and off for years, enjoying his long cool languid demeanor and hip, inquisitive voice. What provokes is the sense that there is a vigorously lived life idling beneath the surface. In KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL a younger than TV age Bourdain provides a florid splash of his adrenaline-fueled life as a chef. The pace is fast like his kitchens and is at turns shocking and hilarious--feeling like Jim Carroll’s BASKETBALL DIARIES meets Upton Sinclair’s THE JUNGLE delivered by Spalding Gray on speed. Because of his sad passing I had stayed clear of his shows and hesitated picking up this book. Enraptured, my concerns fell away as I realized every page celebrates his life and passion.  The book will teach you about different foods and may encourage you to learn more but you don’t have to care about food at all to enjoy KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL.  Able to pinpoint the childhood meal that ignited his interest in food, soup served cold, that love never wavers despite page after page working insane hours under grueling conditions in crazy environments for little pay. Does that sound like fun, probably not, but it certainly is.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Alcohol

The graphic warnings I gave above are definitely referenced in the book but are not condoned but rather just to describe the atmosphere of this kind of workplace.

taracloudclark's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

I noticed a friend of mine posting about Bourdain often. I knew almost nothing about him, so I decided to take in a book by him. First, Bourdain is sexy as hell. How did I never know this?! He also gives great voice to his own words. Makes me want to be in the NY restaurant culture. Second, this is such a fun read. A bit vulgar for milder tastes, but such a great insight into the biz. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

hmetwade's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Alcohol, and Classism

jedore's review against another edition

funny informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

4.25

"If you are easily offended by direct aspersions on your lineage, the circumstances of your birth, your sexuality, your appearance, the mention of your parents possibly commingling with livestock, then the world of professional cooking is not for you."

Although I am what I would call an entry level "foodie," I'm not into food-related shows or celebrity chefs. For some reason, Anthony Bourdain caught a bit more of my attention than his peers before his death. There was just something about him.

When he intentionally ended this life, I became intrigued. Not in a morbid way. I just hoped to get a better understanding of what it is I had sensed and why he did what he did. So, I picked up Kitchen Confidential to see if I was right.

I'm glad I did! This was an enjoyable and insightful read. Eating at a busy urban restaurant will never be the same for me again...wow! I'd heard it was heavy on drugs and alcohol and high on stress, but Anthony opened my eyes wider. This is definitely not a habitat I would survive in...and, honestly, I have a difficult time understanding those who not only do, but who thrive in it.

Turns out I was right about Anthony. He was a sweet and sensitive man underneath his surly exterior — and, I can understand how the world was finally just too much for him.

Looking forward to reading Into the Weeds by Tom Vitale, Anthony's long-time director and producer.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Minor: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

spaghettireads's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Suicide, Blood, and Medical trauma