Latest news with #KitchenConfidential:AdventuresintheCulinaryUnderbelly
Scroll.in
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘Kitchen Confidential' at 25: Anthony Bourdain revealed high-end chefs as rock-star pirates
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly was released 25 years ago into a culinary world vastly different to today's. With his signature semi-gonzo style, all sarcasm, wit and profanity, Anthony Bourdain lifted the pot lid on the world of the professional restaurant kitchen. That world, if we were to believe Bourdain, was full of ne'er-do-well line cooks, shady produce purveyors, drug-fuelled hijinks and ego. Lots of ego. It was also full of people who loved food, who recognised, as Bourdain put it, that 'food had power'. Smash-hit show The Bear is set in a kitchen universe resembling this very world. Bourdain's book is part memoir, part journalistic tell-all. Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh has written the introduction to the anniversary edition. Food writer AA Gill once called the book 'Elizabeth David written by Quentin Tarantino'. In its pages, Bourdain unfolds the story of a contrary young man who enters the culinary world because food made him feel something. A kitchen fever dream By the time he published Kitchen Confidential, Bourdain was contentedly installed as executive chef of the Manhattan branch of Brasserie Les Halles, the culmination of years of experience in the professional kitchen. The catalyst for his love of food, we're told, was an oyster, shucked fresh from the bed by a French oyster-fisher, sampled in defiance, his horrified family looking on. In his usual economically descriptive style, Bourdain tells us that 'it tasted of seawater … of brine and flesh … and somehow … of the future'. He recounts his journey from pretentious teenager, smoking pilfered cigarettes and failing out of Vassar College, to arrogant kitchen hand thrust into learning classic techniques at the Culinary Institute of America, and finally to his substance-addled climb up the professional ladder. In between this personal narrative, Bourdain offers his readers insights and opinions: why you shouldn't order fish on a Monday, the set-up of a diligent line cook's mise-en-place (the cook's prepared ingredients and essential tools), the best knife to buy if you wanted to try this at home. Bourdain wasn't the first culinary 'bad boy' to write their memoir. Marco Pierre White's White Heat, published a decade prior, portrayed White as a chain-smoking culinary savant. However, Bourdain's book went further and deeper, and his innate storytelling skill made Kitchen Confidential stand out. Reading it, it's easy to imagine the bone-deep exhaustion, feel the exhilarating rush of service, hear the patois of the kitchen. Kitchen Confidential made the work of a professional kitchen seem like a fever dream. To Bourdain, chefs were anti-authoritarians. Rockstars. Pirates. Being a chef was cool. Of course, that patina of cool hid systemic problems: drug addictions, misogyny, racism, stress and exploitation. Dark restaurant underbelly Kitchen Confidential was certainly a response to the emergent trend of food as entertainment at the time. The Food Network started programming in 1993 and turned chefs, previously known only in the depths of the culinary world, into superstars on television sets across the world. Of course, there had been cooking shows around for a long time: Julia Child's The French Chef was first broadcast in 1963. But those programs were for housewives, lacking the commercial glamour with which the Food Network gilded their stable of chefs, including American chefs and restaurateurs Emeril Lagasse and Bobby Flay. Bourdain was hypercritical of this 'credulous' approach to food, an attitude which suffuses Kitchen Confidential. Rather than embracing what he saw as the sterility of those television chefs, he revelled in the 'dark recesses of the restaurant underbelly'. He wanted us to, as well. Bourdain set out to shock the establishment. He succeeded. Kitchen Confidential is also a reflection of the state of masculinity at the turn of the 21st century. When Bourdain describes the restaurant kitchen, it is hyper-masculine. He points out those rare women who could 'cut it' in the machismo-heavy atmosphere. He claimed he had worked 'with some really studly women line cooks'. What made them so good? They 'refused to behave any differently than her male co-workers'. In order to succeed, women had to behave like men. While Bourdain may have tempered these views in his later career, men are still the dominant gender in the professional kitchen. It is not friendly to women, as non-binary Australian chef Jess Ho pointed out in their recent kitchen memoir, which has been compared to Bourdain's. You can imagine a slew of young men would have been encouraged to try their hands at the culinary arts after reading Bourdain's macho, swashbuckling stories of life on the line. Passion, isolation, abuse Kitchen Confidential also sheds light on the overwhelming amount of mental health issues at play in the professional kitchen. He detailed his own ongoing struggles, as well as those of colleagues. He recounted the story of his friend, who fired a 'cocaine-stoked and deranged employee' who then went home and took his own life. Bourdain is chillingly cold-blooded about the story, stating 'the guy had to go', acknowledging the kitchen is a cut-throat ecosystem – only the fittest survive. The stress of the kitchen and toxic workplace culture contribute to chefs currently being more likely than the general population to die by suicide, so it seems these issues have not been addressed even 25 years later. While Bourdain may have been one-dimensionally critical of those who couldn't cut it, Kitchen Confidential also provided searing commentary about equality. He illuminated the ironic divide between the haves (those enjoying high-class meals) and the have-nots (those cooking them). He was particularly keen on showing the diligence of immigrant staff, often illegal, often 'downtrodden' and 'underpaid' by unscrupulous restaurant owners who exploited their work ethic. Bourdain felt these cooks, who 'come up through the ranks', were 'more valuable […] than some bed-wetting white boy whose mom brought him up thinking the world owed him a living'. It's clear Bourdain was critiquing himself as well. Twenty-five years ago, Bourdain's work was revolutionary. Now, we see reflections of the kitchen culture exposed in Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential everywhere. A forum on Reddit for food service professionals is titled r/KitchenConfidential. Television shows such as reality show Hell's Kitchen, hosted by Gordon Ramsay, and recent smash-hit drama The Bear, reinforce that in the kitchen, passion is still the tool that gets you through the inevitable isolation, abuse and suffering. Food for everyday people Kitchen Confidential became a bestseller, arriving as popular interest in food and the restaurant industry began to take off. It launched Bourdain's further career. Despite his disdain for sanitised food television, Bourdain himself went on to become a television host. His first series, A Cook's Tour, was accompanied by a book of the same title and appeared on the same Food Network he disparaged in Kitchen Confidential. With his shows filmed in far-off places, Bourdain could have easily become a 'food adventurer', making a spectacle of and exoticising ethnic cuisines. He wasn't perfect, but his genuine enthusiasm and curiosity connected his audience not only to the food he ate on screen, but also with the social and cultural context of the people who made that food. It fostered in many, including myself, a similar curiosity about food: about why we eat what we do, with whom and how. Bourdain died by suicide in 2018 in France, while filming Parts Unknown, his final and most successful series: it had 12 seasons. There was an immediate outpouring of grief, with mourners adding to a memorial at the then-closed Brasserie Les Halles in Manhattan. Bourdain could talk and write about food for everyday people, making them think about where our food comes from, who is cooking for us, and the connections that food forms between us all. In light of his death, his final lines from Kitchen Confidential strike tragically differently 25 years on. He reflected: I'll be right here. Until they drag me off the line. I'm not going anywhere. I hope. It's been an adventure. We took some casualties over the years. Things got broken. Things got lost. But I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Lauren Samuelsson, Associate Lecturer in History, University of Wollongong. This article first appeared on The Conversation.
Newsweek
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Joe Rogan Haunted By Anthony Bourdain Death—'I Could Have Stopped Him'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Joe Rogan felt there was something he could have done had he been with Anthony Bourdain on the day he died. Newsweek reached out to Rogan's representative via email for comment. The Context Bourdain was a chef, author and television personality known for his popular culinary travel shows including Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. He had several New York Times best-selling books including Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly and Medium Raw. The New York native died on June 8, 2018 at the age of 61 after taking his own life. At the time, Bourdain was filming a new episode of Parts Unknown, according to CNN. His friend, Eric Ripert, found Bourdain unresponsive in his hotel room. "Anthony was my best friend. An exceptional human being, so inspiring & generous," Ripert said at the time on X, formerly Twitter. "One of the great storytellers who connected w so many. I pray he is at peace from the bottom of my heart. My love & prayers are also w his family, friends and loved ones." Joe Rogan (L) during the UFC 247 ceremonial weigh-in at the Toyota Center on February 7, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Anthony Bourdain (R) of the Travel Channel's "No Reservations" at the Zoom on January 22,... Joe Rogan (L) during the UFC 247 ceremonial weigh-in at the Toyota Center on February 7, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Anthony Bourdain (R) of the Travel Channel's "No Reservations" at the Zoom on January 22, 2006 in Park City, Utah. More; Jason Squires/WireImage What To Know On Friday's episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan spoke out about his late friend Bourdain while chatting with chef José Andrés. "There's moments when people take their own life where the worst feeling is, 'I feel like if I was there, I could have stopped him from doing that,'" Rogan said. "You know, the feeling like he just was alone, and sometimes you just need to know that you're not alone and you're gonna be OK," the 57-year-old continued. "Like whatever you think is gonna be the worse thing that's happening here, it's not. You're loved. You're loved, you're an amazing person. There's so much more to see. You don't want to leave these people behind, you don't want to hurt them. You don't want to hurt these people in your life, you don't want to hurt your family, you don't want to hurt your daughter, you don't want to hurt your wife. Don't do it. I know it feels impossible, but it's because you're alone." The UFC commentator added: "Maybe I wouldn't have been able to do anything. Maybe I'm wrong. But there's that haunting feeling that I could've talked to him and go, 'Man.' That feeling f***ing sucks. That feeling of if I was there with him, I think we could've had some laughs, we could've joked around about some stuff, and we would've been OK." In response, Andrés said: "I know you think that's something I didn't close yet. Obviously I'm not going to talk on behalf of Eric [Ripert], but Eric was so strong, and Eric obviously was shooting with him in France when that happened." "I understand that feeling because I'm still going through it," he said, agreeing with Rogan's take on the matter. "It's OK to feel responsible because that means you care for those people. But the message here is that we all need to be checking always on each other. That's what friends are for." What People Are Saying Rogan and Bourdain had bonded over their love of UFC and jiu-jitsu, and Bourdain appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience in 2011. Despite the episode airing nearly 14 years ago, there are new comments on the podcast on Spotify. Steve Messina wrote on the streaming platform one week ago: "One of THE Greatest Artists of the past 50 Years... and so humble he didn't consider himself one." Tuomas Rimpinen said two months ago: "Rip Anthony, one of the realest celebrities." Rico B Larso added in a note six months ago: "Joe really admired this man. If you ever want sobbing just get Joe talking about anthony." If you or someone you know is considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "988" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
Dominic Sessa to play Anthony Bourdain in new biopic: Details
Dominic Sessa will star as Anthony Bourdain in a new biopic about the late chef's life. A24 confirmed the casting news for the upcoming film -- which will be called "Tony" -- on Wednesday, re-sharing a post from Variety about the casting news on the social platform X. Antonio Banderas will also appear in the movie, though his role is being kept under wraps, Variety reported. The film will take place in 1976 and cover the life-changing experiences Bourdain had working and living in Provincetown, Massachusetts, according to the outlet. Bourdain enrolled in culinary school in 1978, two years after the film is set. He was the executive chef of Brasserie Les Halles in New York City and penned the 2000 memoir "Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly." Bourdain also received several Creative Arts Emmy Awards during his life, as well as several posthumous Emmys, for his work on the unscripted series "Parts Unknown." He died in Strasbourg, France, in 2018 at age 61. Matt Johnson is set to direct the biopic from a script written by Todd Barrels and Lou Howe. The project begins shooting in May. Bourdain's estate rep Kimberly Witherspoon serves as an executive producer on the film.
Express Tribune
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
A24's Anthony Bourdain biopic ‘Tony' stars Dominic Sessa and Antonio Banderas
Dominic Sessa, best known for his breakout performance in 'The Holdovers,' has officially signed on to portray the late chef and author Anthony Bourdain in an upcoming A24 biopic titled Tony. The film, directed by Matt Johnson (BlackBerry), will chronicle a pivotal moment in Bourdain's early life — his transformative time in Provincetown, Massachusetts in 1976. Joining Sessa in the cast is Oscar-nominated actor Antonio Banderas, whose role has yet to be disclosed. Production for Tony is scheduled to begin next month. The biopic is set before Bourdain enrolled in culinary school, focusing on his experiences that ultimately inspired his renowned culinary and storytelling career. Bourdain rose to global prominence with the release of his 2000 memoir Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly and gained further fame through Emmy-winning TV series such as No Reservations and Parts Unknown. He passed away in 2018 in Strasbourg, France at the age of 61. Tony is written by Todd Bartels and Lou Howe. The film is being co-produced and co-financed by A24, Star Thrower Entertainment, and Zapruder Films. Star Thrower, led by Tim and Trevor White, recently wrapped another A24 project titled Eternity. Director Johnson co-produces alongside Matthew Miller under the Zapruder banner. Bourdain's estate representative, Kimberly Witherspoon, will serve as executive producer, along with Chris Stinson, Amy Greene, Lou Howe, Todd Bartels, and Emily Rose. Sessa is represented by CAA, Untitled, and Steve Warren at Hansen Jacobson. Banderas is repped by Emanuel Nunez of NuCo Media Group and George Hayum. Director Matt Johnson is repped by CAA and Chris Spicer at Akin Gump.
