Book Review: Kitchen Confidential - A Review Aged 21 Years
The year was 2021, and I was on my way to Budapest. I was already a seasoned traveler and a hungry writer. I had published my first book and had a few articles in circulation, which was good enough for me at the moment. I was scrolling through my Audiobook library and saw “Kitchen Confidential.” I couldn’t recall downloading it, but then a hazy memory replayed of a drunken night spent watching the Roadrunner documentary on his life. “Oh yeah, that was like the book that started it all for him,” I said to absolutely no one but myself as I was the only one on the train that spoke English. Calculating my train beer stash and travel time together, I came to the very scientific conclusion that I had enough of a buzz and time in transit to devour this book.
First off, I hate classics. Half the time, they’re overhyped and ruined by the time you get to take your first glance. Hence why I usually steer clear of popular novels. “Old Man and the Sea'' was probably the worst Hemingway novel. Hardly worth the Pulitzer Prize, and I will fistfight you on that subject. But, this book was different. Granted, I already knew the backstory and the ending of my idol’s adventure, but not really. This tale was told before he was an icon, when he was just a Chef in New York, trying to pay the bills and stay off dope.
The first half had me hooked, recounting his childhood and how he came to love food, humble beginnings in the kitchen, and how much it just absolutely sucked moving up the line. Something I knew well, having worked through the ranks of the kitchen in a local bar before I joined the Army. It brought back fond memories of the characters I met along the way that shaped me just like the ones who shaped him. Like an employer who fired me twice and yet still hired me back. A shady fry cook who stole cars from dealerships to set them on fire. Line cooks who threatened to cut hostesses if they sat large parties near closing time. Bourdain’s tales reminded me of a million other blessed nutjobs I don't have enough time to list. He eloquently describes the typical crew you will find in any kitchen across the globe, but the lessons you learn from them become gospel. Bourdain's lessons were simple and extended to almost any career path. Show up on time, work hard, don't steal, pay a fair wage, and above all: cuts on your hand are a badge of honor. So it is written, so it shall be.
As the book progresses, he divulges details of the dark times; drugs, cheap sex, squalor, and chasing every thrill that presented itself. As I finished my last beer, I was hit with the dingey musk of the train’s cabin and realized just how long I had been sitting there. Three hours were gone, just like that. “Fuck, maybe this thing is worth the hype.” I hopped off at the next stop in Eastern Europe, bought a couple of beers from a vendor, then dove back into debauchery with Bourdain.
Written By William "Buck" Bolyard
11/18/21
