Kitchen Confidential

So there is this book that I have to share with all of you. First of all, let me warn you: This book is not for the faint of heart. This book is not for those people who believe that the food they order at their favorite four star restaurant is personally prepared by the clean and careful hands of their favorite celebrity chef. This book IS for people who are curious to know just exactly how a real kitchen works and what it takes to survive in the second ring of hell that is a busy dinner rush; let me tell you, it is nothing like the safe and relaxed atmosphere of Emeril's TV kitchen.

"Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly", by Anthony Bourdain, is a brutally honest, eye-opening look into the world of cooks and kitchens, about the world of the people who prepare the food you eat. Bourdain is bitter, vulgar, and cynical; He is whip-smart and is a quintessential New Yorker. He completely de-mystifies the world of working in a restaurant, from dish washer to executive chef. I must warn you, though, that what you find in these pages may not always be pleasant. You will find, however, hysterical and memorable moments that you will be repeating to your friends and loved ones over and over again. I am pretty sure that my fiance is sick to death of listening to me prattle on and on about what "Bourdain says in his book."

For instance, you will learn just what is in your Hollandaise sauce and why under no circumstances should you order fish on a Monday. You will also learn about the journey Bourdain took to become the executive chef of Les Halles in Manhattan. Bourdain's experience is a unique one, and he shares it with complete honesty and integrity. The world of the cook is not necessarily as rough and gritty as Bourdain's, but it's good to know it could happen. For any one thinking about becoming a chef or trying to run a restaurant, this book will probably cause you to think twice. But it could also inspire you.

Anthony Bourdain is also the Author of "The Nasty Bits" and most recently "A Cook's Tour", a record of his travels around the world. He can also be seen on the Travel Channels "No Reservations".