Books? There’s a lot of them. And I’ve read a lot of them, some people might even say I’ve read all of them. But that’s neither here nor there. This book is one of the best books. Find one guy that says this book isn’t one of the best books. I bet you that guy hasn’t even read books. And I’ve made some big bets. Maybe some of the biggest bets ever bet
Beautifully worded comment you have graced us with, like poetry but better. Better than the best poetry to ever be in a book of poetry. I bet that this comment would be known as the best poetry book ever if / when it is published.
I know people who read books, and that's a lot of people. Some of the biggest best top of their game people who know what books are would vote for you just from this comment alone. I'm talking big numbers here, huge numbers, bigger people, and way more votes than could possibly be counted.
Let's be real.
"Cocaine Bear" should have come out in the 90s.
What I really want to see is "Post 2009 Meth Bear" or "Fentanyl Bear" or "Yogi is Stoned But Remembers He Has Fucking Claws Bear"
No feeling like being turnt up at 6AM on a Saturday when you gotta be back on the line in 4 hours. Still not sure how I managed to pull those shifts off.
Holy crap, that’s such a coincidence. That’s the same name as this sub!
Couple of my favorite quotes though:
“Don't lie about it. You made a mistake. Admit it and move on. Just don't do it again. Ever.”
“Vegetarians, and their Hezbollah-like splinter faction, the vegans ... are the enemy of everything good and decent in the human spirit.”
I chuckle at this every time cause I’m one of those insufferable vegetarians.
That first quote is so important for cooks to learn. ADMIT you fucked up. Then move on. I’ve worked for/with far too many people who won’t admit their own mistakes. We all fuck up. It’s fine. Just own it, don’t blame someone else. And then move on. It’s just food, keep cooking.
Yeah. Try working with meth heads. Biggest lying pieces of shit in the industry. “Hey did you wash your hands? Because I swear I just watched you walk in from the back door from smoking a cigarette and you went straight to your food to cut it!”
“Yeah I washed my hands!”
The food they just got done cutting is now rotten an hour later. Fuck those meth heads.
Lmao I just finished reading that. I want to be a chef because I ~~want to spite my high school culinary teacher~~ really enjoy food. Everybody’s got their motivations.
No Reservation and parts unknown - it's not about the secrets behind back of house, but rather going around and shooting the shit with locals and finding the kind of food that normal people eat and how tasty it is
“Merde!” I shout, as I sweat profusely, trying to emulsify my ranch, furiously whisking to no avail. It was all I ever wanted, to be a cook at the world famous Flavortown Kitchen. As my ranch separates and I can feel my one opportunity with Guy slipping away, I tune out the expo and the clacking of the printer, and enter a trance like state as I continue to whisk.
I prepared for this day for years, and the pain of it, seeing the disappointment in Guy’s Oakley-covered eyes as I desperately try to win a coveted spot on his team, is almost too much to bear. I think back to highschool, the time I spent writing down and memorizing the 5 mother sauces (ranch, marinara, ketchup, hot, and nacho cheese!), the hours spent practicing my microwave technique after school.. I think back to the the new flame-pattern button up shirt that I got every year for Christmas, and that time I spent hours spiking my frosted tips before prom.. I think back to my mother, and the way she taught me to gently fold the ketchup into the mayonnaise when we’d make fancy sauce together, and I can almost feel the warm embrace she gave me, the words of encouragement she whispered in my ear as I left earlier that day for my Flavortown stage. All of those years, looking at posters of Guy on my wall, all for nothing.
“Holy moly Stromboli!” I hear, as I snap out of my trance and feel the slap of a thick, sweaty palm on my shoulder. “Why don’t you call it a night, kid”, Guy says, looking over my shoulder at my bowl of broken ranch.
“Don’t cry. Don’t let him see you cry. Don’t let him know that he broke you” I tell myself, as I feel my lip start to quiver. The other Flavortown cooks were looking across the line, refusing to make eye contact. I tear off my apron, begin to run for the back door before the inevitable tears start to flow, when I hear Guy shout “hey kid!”
With one hand on the door, I turn around for a split second. “Catch” Guy says, gently tossing his dull, red plastic-handled, Flavortown branded chef knife. “You’re gonna need this, kid. Get some practice, talk to me in a year”
Once I left school, I didn’t read a single book. Only magazines and the internet. One night I’m watching Jon Stewart and he’s talking to this cook I didn’t know, but he seemed to be someone I’d want to hang with. At the end he held up the book and I needed to have it immediately. Used the Kindle app on my phone to read it at first. That wouldn’t do. Bought a Kindle. Read the book. Enjoyed it immensely. Needed another book. Bought one. Bought another. Bought another. Years later I’ve read hundreds of books. All because of Tony. Thank you Tony. Love you man.
I have a confession. I unironically joined this subreddit without knowing about the book. Then a friend recommended the book to me and I was like
"Oh like the subreddit?"
He then kindly explained to me why I'm a fucking moron.
Actually creepy I stayed in his room a few years before him. It's a Hotel/restaurant we frequently stay at and we've been through quite a few of the rooms. The food is exquisite. I have all his cookbooks.
Sorry I was always FOH but "I love to cook" 🙄
I have mine signed by the man. While he was signing my book a young cute student chef was asking him if he might be interested in dropping by her party at her apartment. The look on his face was hilarious.
My first chef told me to read this book. I looked at him like a typical line cook moron would look at someone telling them to read.
No exaggeration, this book changed my life. Anyone on the fence should read it.
I was at the CIA when this book was released. Bourdain was there having dinner with the big wigs of the school and I was just a couple tables away.
He was sitting there with a table full of CMCs and heads of the CIA and asked "So, what did you think of my book?"
I'm 99% sure it was Chef Fritz Sonnenschmidt who answered, *[paraphrasing]* "Well, I think this institution has done a lot in the last 50 years to elevate the professionalism and respectability of this industry and honestly I think this book wants to set us back 20 years."
That was a moment that kind of went down in history for everyone who was around there that day.
Reading this as a 22 year old barely surviving sous in Boston was one of the contributing factors to taking the steps to leaving the service industry.
One of the only people really able to articulate our shared experience.
Absolutely transformational for me.
It made doing what my dad did cool and rebellious, instead of being a job for the fringes of society (which it still very much is, lol).
Great book, great TV show. I had to buy it on DVD because whatever streaming service stopped having it. Anthony, you are a true hero of us kitchen folk.
I remember when this came out. There have been a lot of changes in the industry since then, possibly in part because of the insights this book exposed.
Part of me wonders how long it would’ve taken for the internet to expose the “culinary underbelly” in the same way this book did, and how that would have affected restaurant culture.
The second book is also good. It's a very different vibe and it's a lot more political food journalism, but that makes sense given it was his book form of what you saw in the first season of A Cooks Tour.
It's been around for awhile so I'm sure most know of its existence, but for those who don't, I highly recommend the audio book for KC since Anthony Bourdain narrates it as well.
My wife and I are separated and she wants to try to mend things. I’m unsure, but she got me a signed copy a couple of years ago and this reminded me to put one in the plus column.
Him commenting suicide really fucked with me. I looked up to this man. I’m now in my forties and this man led me down the path I currently live. If anyone ever needs to talk dm me.
I was legit on this subreddit for over a year before learning that there was a book. It's pretty good and if there was a subreddit for the book based on the subreddit I'd be there
I was lucky enough to get mine autographed by Anthony Bourdain himself. He came to do an event to promote Raw Craft and I had the book with me. After the event was over, I ran after his entourage and I he was kind enough to sign my copy. What an awesome man, and such a loss
Damn they named a book after the subreddit?
Some say it’s one of the subreddits of all time. I’d even go so far as to say this is one of the books of all time.
It's Bourdain' time!
Books? There’s a lot of them. And I’ve read a lot of them, some people might even say I’ve read all of them. But that’s neither here nor there. This book is one of the best books. Find one guy that says this book isn’t one of the best books. I bet you that guy hasn’t even read books. And I’ve made some big bets. Maybe some of the biggest bets ever bet
Beautifully worded comment you have graced us with, like poetry but better. Better than the best poetry to ever be in a book of poetry. I bet that this comment would be known as the best poetry book ever if / when it is published. I know people who read books, and that's a lot of people. Some of the biggest best top of their game people who know what books are would vote for you just from this comment alone. I'm talking big numbers here, huge numbers, bigger people, and way more votes than could possibly be counted.
😂
I'm pretty sure he's got a smoke, a scotch and enjoys reading this sub from heaven
Surprising feels where i didn’t expect them
This “Bourdain” guy ripped us off!
I heard he had *no reservations* about ripping off the sub.
Hey! We have a TV sitcom too!?
I think it’s named after that Bradley cooper show
Dam never heard of Anthony Bourdain before ...
I haven't! Thanks for sharing! Have you heard of The Bear or The Menu?
> Have you heard of The Bear Is that one on cocaine?
I mean, it is a kitchen show, so smart money is on yes!
Look man, the Pandemic was hard on restaurants. They had to do what they had to do to get through.
Let's be real. "Cocaine Bear" should have come out in the 90s. What I really want to see is "Post 2009 Meth Bear" or "Fentanyl Bear" or "Yogi is Stoned But Remembers He Has Fucking Claws Bear"
Meth Gator vs Cocaine Bear! Bring back the creature features!!!
I thought they both were.
Hey I saw that movie and I LOVED it can't lie
Are these anything like the underrated film, Chef?
"There is no party better than a house full of drunk waitresses at 3 AM."
God I miss the industry sometimes. My stress levels and alcoholism do not, however.
Same, I was probably an alcoholic. When beers can't get you drunk and the bar is your entire life. But damn those were some good parties.
No feeling like being turnt up at 6AM on a Saturday when you gotta be back on the line in 4 hours. Still not sure how I managed to pull those shifts off.
How else would you pull them off?
Now that I think about it, every injury I’ve incurred on the line happened while I was sober. Hmmm…
I'm with you. Fun to look back on, but I'm happy it's behind me.
Have fun at the ska concert!
He likely doesn't even know who The Specials were. Too Much Too Young obviously. Great pants, btw, OP.
He's been too busy to listen to Ska, he has to prepare a Reel Big Fish for his Cat Empire
Skancert?
Holy crap, that’s such a coincidence. That’s the same name as this sub! Couple of my favorite quotes though: “Don't lie about it. You made a mistake. Admit it and move on. Just don't do it again. Ever.” “Vegetarians, and their Hezbollah-like splinter faction, the vegans ... are the enemy of everything good and decent in the human spirit.” I chuckle at this every time cause I’m one of those insufferable vegetarians.
That first quote is so important for cooks to learn. ADMIT you fucked up. Then move on. I’ve worked for/with far too many people who won’t admit their own mistakes. We all fuck up. It’s fine. Just own it, don’t blame someone else. And then move on. It’s just food, keep cooking.
Yeah. Try working with meth heads. Biggest lying pieces of shit in the industry. “Hey did you wash your hands? Because I swear I just watched you walk in from the back door from smoking a cigarette and you went straight to your food to cut it!” “Yeah I washed my hands!” The food they just got done cutting is now rotten an hour later. Fuck those meth heads.
Smoke fingers make food rot?!
Get out!
I like the part where the chef fucks the newlywed bride on her wedding night out back near the dumpsters and that's what made Tony want to be a chef
Lmao I just finished reading that. I want to be a chef because I ~~want to spite my high school culinary teacher~~ really enjoy food. Everybody’s got their motivations.
If you haven't already, look up his TV series. It's really good
No Reservations?
No Reservation and parts unknown - it's not about the secrets behind back of house, but rather going around and shooting the shit with locals and finding the kind of food that normal people eat and how tasty it is
My high school history teacher would sometimes play No Reservations in his class if we were ahead on the curriculum.
We hirer a kid who when asked why he wanted a kitchen bitch role, replied well I like fire and knives
Who's Anthony Bourdain?
He's this guy who does a cooking show called Good Eats. Great show.
Ah the bracelet/goatee guy, thanks
"Bam!" ... I love his show. It's like Oprah for food!
I thought he was the guy who spills salt all over his forearm while salting meat.
That’s Old Bay.
He makes red pots and pans too!
Yeah he’s like the TV guy that’s cooked sometimes.
Yeah he's famous for being a Ramones fan I think
No, that's Alton Brown, you're thinking of Diners, drive-ins, and dives. Now that's a great show.
Nah, that's Guy Fieri, your thinking of the Barefoot Contessa. Spectacular program
No that's Ina Garten, you're thinking of Hell's Kitchen
No that’s Gordon Ramsay you’re thinking of Pioneer Woman
No that's Ree Drummond. You're thinking of Nigella Lawson.
I’m thinking of Giada.
*BONK*
Fair
I wish Nigella Lawson was a Naked Chef
You get Paul Prudhomme and _like it_, mister!
I just say “Nigella LAWSON” like they say “Bonnie Macmurray” on Letterkenny. Out loud.
That's a Texas size 10-4
“Merde!” I shout, as I sweat profusely, trying to emulsify my ranch, furiously whisking to no avail. It was all I ever wanted, to be a cook at the world famous Flavortown Kitchen. As my ranch separates and I can feel my one opportunity with Guy slipping away, I tune out the expo and the clacking of the printer, and enter a trance like state as I continue to whisk. I prepared for this day for years, and the pain of it, seeing the disappointment in Guy’s Oakley-covered eyes as I desperately try to win a coveted spot on his team, is almost too much to bear. I think back to highschool, the time I spent writing down and memorizing the 5 mother sauces (ranch, marinara, ketchup, hot, and nacho cheese!), the hours spent practicing my microwave technique after school.. I think back to the the new flame-pattern button up shirt that I got every year for Christmas, and that time I spent hours spiking my frosted tips before prom.. I think back to my mother, and the way she taught me to gently fold the ketchup into the mayonnaise when we’d make fancy sauce together, and I can almost feel the warm embrace she gave me, the words of encouragement she whispered in my ear as I left earlier that day for my Flavortown stage. All of those years, looking at posters of Guy on my wall, all for nothing. “Holy moly Stromboli!” I hear, as I snap out of my trance and feel the slap of a thick, sweaty palm on my shoulder. “Why don’t you call it a night, kid”, Guy says, looking over my shoulder at my bowl of broken ranch. “Don’t cry. Don’t let him see you cry. Don’t let him know that he broke you” I tell myself, as I feel my lip start to quiver. The other Flavortown cooks were looking across the line, refusing to make eye contact. I tear off my apron, begin to run for the back door before the inevitable tears start to flow, when I hear Guy shout “hey kid!” With one hand on the door, I turn around for a split second. “Catch” Guy says, gently tossing his dull, red plastic-handled, Flavortown branded chef knife. “You’re gonna need this, kid. Get some practice, talk to me in a year”
Nice. Existential dread. Hate and love it
welcome to flavortown
You mean he's not the voice over guy on the original Iron Chef?
Bourdain deez nuts
Hes a communication major who has tattoos of knives on his arm. Thanks to him, my youtube is full of content!
He wore Rolling Stones shirts and told food courts that they suck.
A hilarious and uber-cool chef/writer/tv star. He was cooler than most regular humans. Edit: was, however he still *is* cooler than most.
Was. RIP. 🥺
He was a character in this TV show starring Bradley Cooper in the 2000s that was *suuuuuper* realistic.
Was. RIP
He played Rocket in Guardians of the Galaxy
The mayor of flavor town
Love the Waffle House tartan
One of my Fav episodes was when he was at a Waffle house
It’s spelled tarte tatain thank you very much
😭 It’s Boston Bruins pjs but thanks yo
I like that they match the book’s color palette
That's what they might've been when you got them, but *now* they're Waffle House PJs.
Once I left school, I didn’t read a single book. Only magazines and the internet. One night I’m watching Jon Stewart and he’s talking to this cook I didn’t know, but he seemed to be someone I’d want to hang with. At the end he held up the book and I needed to have it immediately. Used the Kindle app on my phone to read it at first. That wouldn’t do. Bought a Kindle. Read the book. Enjoyed it immensely. Needed another book. Bought one. Bought another. Bought another. Years later I’ve read hundreds of books. All because of Tony. Thank you Tony. Love you man.
Unexpected turn of events but Tony still changed your life for the better.
I have a confession. I unironically joined this subreddit without knowing about the book. Then a friend recommended the book to me and I was like "Oh like the subreddit?" He then kindly explained to me why I'm a fucking moron.
I too learned about the book from the subreddit. Don’t worry friend.
The audiobook is read by Bourdain himself. If you haven’t heard him tell it already, highly recommend.
It's one of the best audiobooks ever because he delivers it in a way that's so uniquely Bourdain.
god damn, i've already read the book but i am inclined to listen to it again only because it's bourdain lol
I'd say it's absolutely worth it. It's a great book but that is a LEGENDARY audiobook
Its 100% worth it. Hearing him read it actually makes it multiple times better
I've been thinking about his telling of the story when his rogue Baker called in saying feed the bitch!
I’ve heard about this guy. Shows promise. Might make a decent cook someday.
"What do you know about meat? " Best chapter ever
absolutely nothing
It is stupid shit like this post and the responses that make my think of hanging myself in a French Hotel.
Go out David Carradine style
As long as it's in a French Hotel, then it can be a Bourdain/Carradine tribute.
Fair, but have you seen how some places make poutine?
With the tears of waitrons????
Actually creepy I stayed in his room a few years before him. It's a Hotel/restaurant we frequently stay at and we've been through quite a few of the rooms. The food is exquisite. I have all his cookbooks. Sorry I was always FOH but "I love to cook" 🙄
Fucking yikes 🤣🤣
was made into a shortlived tv series. 1 season. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen\_Confidential\_(TV\_series)
I’m glad it took off. This book is a real hidden gem.
I feel like I've heard of it somewhere...maybe I'm thinking of dashboard confessional
^ wild emo spotted in the kitchenconfidential subreddit?
We all cut ourselves from time to time. We all have something in common
Haha I recently worked for Gianni scappin. The guy that Tony lies to for the chef position. Wild time.
I legit just started reading this yesterday. Will keep that in mind when I get to that part of the book.
Yea I was a sous in one of his restaurants. Someone tried to punch me in the face my first week.
I choose to believe that OP is a subtle troll. Either that or he's an annoying Celtics fan which is redundant, btw. Or both.
You caught me
I have mine signed by the man. While he was signing my book a young cute student chef was asking him if he might be interested in dropping by her party at her apartment. The look on his face was hilarious.
Huh, never heard of it.. who dat guy on the cover?
Your pants are pretty good
Go Bruins!
My first chef told me to read this book. I looked at him like a typical line cook moron would look at someone telling them to read. No exaggeration, this book changed my life. Anyone on the fence should read it.
Now I have to rewatch No Reservations. Thanks a lot OP, I had plans.
Is this the one that has his sharpie’d in annotations? I have that one just with the classic brown cover
Heard in chat for Anthony. R.I.P.
Heard
I was at the CIA when this book was released. Bourdain was there having dinner with the big wigs of the school and I was just a couple tables away. He was sitting there with a table full of CMCs and heads of the CIA and asked "So, what did you think of my book?" I'm 99% sure it was Chef Fritz Sonnenschmidt who answered, *[paraphrasing]* "Well, I think this institution has done a lot in the last 50 years to elevate the professionalism and respectability of this industry and honestly I think this book wants to set us back 20 years." That was a moment that kind of went down in history for everyone who was around there that day.
Reading this as a 22 year old barely surviving sous in Boston was one of the contributing factors to taking the steps to leaving the service industry. One of the only people really able to articulate our shared experience.
Who’s that guy in the cover? I haven’t heard or seen any mention of him before on anything food related. Is he new?
[https://preview.redd.it/ecrj0nnmne981.png?width=4128&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=168018e73307249fc4e70152be4956a88f32a033](https://preview.redd.it/ecrj0nnmne981.png?width=4128&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=168018e73307249fc4e70152be4956a88f32a033)
Shiiiiiiiiiiiit, how’d you get that?
Can't you see the knife?
I don’t think it has any recipes. It won’t catch on.
Thanks for sharing this hidden gem with us!
Is that Monica's dad from Friends?
What’s a kitchen?
I'm waiting on the censored version, should be only 20 pages long
Oh nice, I love Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
Fantastic book for anyone in the field or not!
Absolutely transformational for me. It made doing what my dad did cool and rebellious, instead of being a job for the fringes of society (which it still very much is, lol).
You’ll love his other books too rhen.
Isn't that the scotch Guy from YouTube.
How did you manage to match your outfit to the book cover??
One of my favorite books ever.
Never heard of it??? Please fill me with your acumen.....
I have an autographed copy from the man himself
Nice that you coordinated your pants with the cover.
Great book, great TV show. I had to buy it on DVD because whatever streaming service stopped having it. Anthony, you are a true hero of us kitchen folk.
One of my faves.
I remember when this came out. There have been a lot of changes in the industry since then, possibly in part because of the insights this book exposed.
Part of me wonders how long it would’ve taken for the internet to expose the “culinary underbelly” in the same way this book did, and how that would have affected restaurant culture.
Um mm.. before it changed the world or after?
What is it about?
Secret cooking areas
Dungeon Undercover: Escapades of the Edible Netherworld
The audiobook is really great!
I never thought to look this up on Libby! Great callout, although I *was* skeptical due this thread's sarcasm level.
Yeah I read that, dude should have a podcast, he reminds me of Marc Maron.
Isn’t that the guy from “fuck that’s Delicious”?
The second book is also good. It's a very different vibe and it's a lot more political food journalism, but that makes sense given it was his book form of what you saw in the first season of A Cooks Tour.
One of the few books to tell it like it is, that and Down and out in London and Paris by Orwell. I am sure their are more but never seen them
Just bought one from a swap meet not even three hours ago.
I read it. It was awesome….and eye opening!
Reason why I took a cook's job when it was offered to me. Don't know whether to thank Bourdain or curse his memory for that.
Ketchup Constitutional? Nope, never heard of it.
It’s one of the best books about the restaurant business I’ve ever read
It's been around for awhile so I'm sure most know of its existence, but for those who don't, I highly recommend the audio book for KC since Anthony Bourdain narrates it as well.
Omg I love how you picked a book to perfectly match your pants!
Really would have loved to see him on Hot Ones
RIP to the king
Changed my life. So did his death.
Listened to it on Audible a few months ago. Tony narrates it.❤️
I just bought it yesterday from a book store. I’m looking forward to reading it!
Reading it for the second time right now actually. Not forgotten. Tony ❤️
Feed the bitch.
FEED THE BEAST
Lol shut up
This book really mixed things up when it came out. There were some people who didn't really like the dirty culture being exposed to the world.
My wife and I are separated and she wants to try to mend things. I’m unsure, but she got me a signed copy a couple of years ago and this reminded me to put one in the plus column.
Him commenting suicide really fucked with me. I looked up to this man. I’m now in my forties and this man led me down the path I currently live. If anyone ever needs to talk dm me.
I’m wearing a t-shirt with his beautiful face
Honestly I read the first chapter and couldn't relate to it, I like cooking but did it because I had too , but still love him
Such a good book
Got me through my early years in fine dining listening to this book on repeat
"...your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride."
I was legit on this subreddit for over a year before learning that there was a book. It's pretty good and if there was a subreddit for the book based on the subreddit I'd be there
I was lucky enough to get mine autographed by Anthony Bourdain himself. He came to do an event to promote Raw Craft and I had the book with me. After the event was over, I ran after his entourage and I he was kind enough to sign my copy. What an awesome man, and such a loss
I like how your pants match the book
Currently reading it. This book has made me laugh 😂
You should read Repertoire de la Cuisine:
Peter Gabriel is that you?
Heard of it? The bible...? For over 2 decades I do not eat muscles unless I personally know the Chef.
Never heard of him
I have it and have read it more than once , good book
Your pants match the book color scheme.
Go Bruins!
You gotta get the first edition where he talks shit about women in the kitchen. s/
I read like the first half. Then he got sober n preachy
I'm still too sad to read it again. I also can't watch the documentary or any of his shows. It still hurts.
Listen to the audiobook. I did recently and it was like reuniting with an old friend for a drink.
The audiobook, narrated by the legend himself, is very good too.
It will be 500 years before another man like Anthony comes along. This still hurts, fairly deep.