Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

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. Does any part of his professional journey resonate with you? How might your own career track resemble, or diverge from, Bourdain’s?

4. Bourdain is interested in providing readers with a window into what he calls the subculture of the restaurant world. How would you describe that subculture? If you have experience in the restaurant business, does his account ring true, or are there places where your experience diverges from his?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. As Bourdain notes, much has changed in the world of professional kitchens since he wrote this book. In what ways has the industry addressed issues of racism, sexism, and antigay bias?

2. How does this book comment on the rise of the celebrity chef? How did high-profile chefs alter the restaurant industry and reshape the way that Americans felt about dining out?

3. Consider the book’s depiction of the New York restaurant world during the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s. Does it seem consistent with the larger New York or United States culture at the time?

4. Discuss the book’s representation of substance use and misuse in the restaurant industry. Do you find parallels with other industries you are familiar with?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does Bourdain’s approach to writing this book reflect his cooking philosophy as well? How would you articulate Bourdain’s philosophical orientation toward cooking and eating?

2. Choose one or two of the real-life “characters” that Bourdain describes in the book. Discuss their traits and characteristics and how their beliefs, values, and work ethic resonated with Bourdain’s.

3. Discuss Bourdain’s writing style. How does he use voice, tone, and other devices to enhance the feel of a restaurant “insider” giving readers advice about fine dining?

4. Consider Bourdain’s emphasis on proper mis-en-place. How does his concept of the importance of “meez,” as he calls it, speak to his broader views about cooking? How do these views manifest in his writing as well?

5. This book blends multiple genres in its attempt to expose the truth about the restaurant industry. Which genres do you see in the text? How do they contribute to the themes and philosophies Bourdain extolls in the narrative?