Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
Almost fourteen years after its initial publication, Anthony Bourdain's memoir of cooking in New York's underbelly retains its cult following among food-industry personnel for its raw storytelling and sharp words. Somewhat perversely, the mixed shadiness and dubious glory related therein still compels people to seek out line-cooking jobs. "Nobody has done a better job — and will never — of writing both the freaking National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance of line cooks everywhere in the universe, than Tony Bourdain," says chef and author Gabrielle Hamilton. "I've read Kitchen Confidential half a dozen times and still stand up and place my hand over my heart every time."