I love Anthony Bourdain, but have never read any of his books - which one do you consider the best, must read one?
I liked Kitchen Confidential best but I’ve only read chapters of Medium Raw
Kitchen Confidential is my favorite
Kitchen Confidential and Cook’s Tour.
Bone in the Throat, a novel, is hilarious.
I think I have 'em all, unless he’s written more since I bought them.
You have to start with Kitchen Confidential – the novels are amusing.
Really my favorite is probably the les Halles cookbook…
Fun to read whether you are making the recipe or not.
I have not read Bone in the Throat but I just may now that it has the Fleming Seal of Approval.
I think Kitchen Confidential was the best, particularly as one who has spent time in a professional kitchen.
My suggested order of preference:
Kitchen Confidential
Medium Raw;
Cook’s Tour. [Cook’s Tour is the script for the TV programs].
The highlight of Medium Raw is the description of the chef doing prep work at Le Bernardin. He was subsequently featured on a Top Chef episode.
If you like “back of the house” style books, I would highly recommend:
Heat - by Bill Buford - a travel journey through a NYC kitchen (Mario Batali) and Italy. Funny and engaging.
Soul of a Chef - by Michael Ruhlman -that chronicles the Master Chef program at the CIA, the back of the house at “Iron Chef” Michael Symon’s Lola, and Thomas Keller and The French Laundry.
Both Heat and Soul of a Chef are so good I would recommend them even if you don’t like books about the “back of the house” in the restaurant world. The description of Thomas Keller, his dedication and striving to perfection, is inspiring.
T.
Start with Kitchen Confidential. Great quote regarding wine and I think he was referencing Burgundy to some extent – I can’t remember…
“I am vaguely aware that California seems to produce drinkable product these days. But I couldn’t tell you grape variety with any more assurance than I could talk about stamp collecting or phrenology. And to be truthful, I’ve always felt that I’ve survived enough dangerous obsessions in my life; the knowledgeable appreciation of fine wine has always seemed to me to hold potential for becoming yet another consuming habit—an expensive one. When you know what it’s like to squat on a blanket on upper Broadway in the snow, selling off a lifetime’s accumulation of rare books, records and comic books for drugs, the idea of spending next week’s paycheck on a bottle of red seems like, well, something I probably shouldn’t be doing.”
I have read a few. I like him, but also think he’s an ass so I can’t reccommend any of them.
The secret ‘after dark’ culture of chefs and cooks. Give me a break.
When I was aged 13-18, I worked in a catering hall as a busboy and later a waiter. 9 guys swimming in my friends pools and eating greasy burgers while sipping beers (later on) after 2 am could hardly be a secret culture, although it was fun…
Read Heat. A much better read.
I love them all and just started Medium Raw today. Great stuff.
“Heat” is a damn good book!!
Kitchen Confidential is absolutely classic. I loved Medium Raw as well. The chapter on St. Barts was one of the funniest things in ages. By the way, highly recommend getting these on audiobook as they are narrated by Bourdain, which definitely adds to the experience.
Have read both of these and found very entertaining. The thing about Bourdain that I like is the bashes others, yet bashes himself
at the same time. He does not regard himself as a good chef, and admits to it.
Think he’s a breath of fresh air in the sometimes stuffy world of food and dining.
Kitchen Confidential is awesome.
I think if you watch his show A Cook’s Tour is the least necessary to read. I would read Kitchen Confidential and Medium Raw, in that order.
I agree with you. I also agree with Mike that Heat is better. Love 'em both.
Kitchen Confidential is a contemporary classic - what Ball Four is to baseball, Kitchen Confidential is to restaurants.
The other stuff is all fun - the mysteries, the essays, even the cookbook. But in 100 years the man will be remembered for one book.
Even Typhoid Mary?
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Typhoid-Mary/Anthony-Bourdain/e/9781582341330/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If you like KC - I strongly recco you get the audio book. Anthony reads it and his delivery is fantastic.
Yes Robert, I bought that and gave it away – my neighbor’s son has a boat and has been exploring the islands around Manhattan, and the ruins of the buildings. I suppose you see the relevance of that?