Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary UnderbellyKitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
Score Modern
What it's about
Anthony Bourdain was the executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles in New York when he wrote this memoir about life in restaurant kitchens. He tells how he fell in love with food on a childhood trip to France, worked his way up through New York kitchens, and survived a heroin habit. He also reveals what really goes on behind the swinging doors, including why you should never order fish on a Monday.
Why it's worth reading
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and made Bourdain famous, launching his television career. It's funny, profane and full of love for the people who cook.
You'll love it if you liked
Just Kids
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four MealsGood to know
The language is very strong, and there's a lot of drug use. Some of its kitchen advice is dated.
By the numbers
- Readers81 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller77 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #67 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #166 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #331 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Quick answers
Is Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly worth reading?
Yes. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller and made Bourdain famous, launching his television career. It ranks #331 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 80.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly about?
Anthony Bourdain was the executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles in New York when he wrote this memoir about life in restaurant kitchens. He tells how he fell in love with food on a childhood trip to France, worked his way up through New York kitchens, and survived a heroin habit. He also reveals what really goes on behind the swinging doors, including why you should never order fish on a Monday.
How long does it take to read Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly?
About 8 hours (328 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly?
If you liked it, try Just Kids by Patti Smith, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King or The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan.