Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential
Anthony Bourdain is brilliant, funny, crazy, intense, knowledgeable, crude, crass, honest and most of all, himself in his depictions of life as a "restaurant lifer." He keeps readers entertained with anecdotes from his youthful, smart-assy beginnings in the restaurant industry, as well as, horror stories about the responsibilities and difficulties of running a kitchen as The Chef. Anyone who has ever worked in a restaurant will be able to appreciate many of his experiences in the kitchen.
The last chapter is especially incredible and educational. Bourdain provides readers who want to be a chef some really practical advice including something like get to know your line cooks's nationalities because there is a big difference between Ecuadorian, Peruvian, and Mexican. And you DON'T want to get them confused, or worse, be ignorant.
I have no star system for good marks in these sections, but I would give this book high marks for "restaurant lifers" and normal folk alike. After reading this book, I have a greater appreciation for all of the men AND women who work in restaurant kitchens, even if they're just flipping burgers. In my mind, any book that can cause me to have a greater appreciation for my fellow man ia a very good thing.
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