Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of substance use, addiction, racism, gender discrimination, antigay bias, and mental illness.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What were your overall impressions of the book’s depiction of restaurant culture? Did anything surprise you?

2. Discuss the author’s writing style. How did his use of both humor and a more serious, reflective tone add to his story?

3. Have you read other books by Bourdain, like Medium Raw or The Nasty Bits, or seen any of his television shows (Parts Unknown, No Reservations)? How did Kitchen Confidential compare to other examples of his work?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Bourdain is honest about his struggles with drugs and alcohol. How did that honesty and openness impact the way you read the book? Did you find yourself empathizing with him?

2. Does Bourdain’s approach to eating and cooking resonate with you? Which aspects of his personal philosophy do you find the most compelling?

3. A large part of this book is dedicated to the ups and downs of the early days of Bourdain’s career.