kitchen confidential

Kitchen Confidential….that’s the book I finished reading today. Its an autobiography by Antony Bourdain. I’d never heard of the guy till before I got my hands on the book.

Thing is, a couple of years ago I wouldn’t have ever considered reading an autobiography. I mean why would someone want to read something so boring??, Would have been my wonderful yet-to-be-truly-enlightened brain’s immediate response. And I might have still gone with that response of my brain if I hadn’t discovered the pleasure of baking and now, cooking. Though baking remains my forte and love, an autobiography of a man in a line parallel to my interest made me want to read it, get through it. And best of all, I enjoyed getting through the book. Once I got through the first couple of chapters, namely the appetizers, I couldn’t wait to get to each next course. And were they all good !!!!

The guy is so straight. No sweet talking, boot-licking for him. Sure, he dissed some, he praised some. He tells you about his drug-addicted, booze infested and dope years. He tells you of his love for all things that crawl, swim, creep, walk and just live (apart from homosapiens). Of his irritancy for vegetarianism. His numerous failures. Of what happens in most restaurants. Of the amounts of food recycled. Of what your brunch is made of. Of the not-so-endearing conditions in which your food is prepared.

The best part of the whole book is that Bourdain manages to bring through his love for meat, the absolutely unhygienic atrocities committed by various cooks and chefs while at the same time not annoying or upsetting ardent food-lovers who love eating out or vegetarians. But that is my view.

Everything said, Bourdain is truly refreshing, honest, humorous and gratifying.