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A Chef's Christmas
The author of Kitchen Confidential returns with an exclusive short story available only from Random House Audible!
Holidays aren't always happy for everyone, especially for the crew at Restaurant Saint Germain. The empty dining room has more waiters than customers, the staff is grumbling about the absence of this year's Christmas bonus, and they may soon have to file a missing persons report for "America's Sexiest Chef." Determined to go down kicking and screaming, two employees come up with a last ditch plan of action with a truly unexpected result. While it's not exactly a White Christmas, the crew of the Saint Germain find out that miracles can happen - even if they are accompanied by the sound of French lounge music.
Anthony Bourdain once again brings to light the inner workings of the "culinary underbelly" in his bold reinvention of the traditional Christmas story. At once risqué and charming, A Chef's Christmas is sure to bring holiday cheer to those who make dinner and those who only make reservations.
Holidays aren't always happy for everyone, especially for the crew at Restaurant Saint Germain. The empty dining room has more waiters than customers, the staff is grumbling about the absence of this year's Christmas bonus, and they may soon have to file a missing persons report for "America's Sexiest Chef." Determined to go down kicking and screaming, two employees come up with a last ditch plan of action with a truly unexpected result. While it's not exactly a White Christmas, the crew of the Saint Germain find out that miracles can happen - even if they are accompanied by the sound of French lounge music.
Anthony Bourdain once again brings to light the inner workings of the "culinary underbelly" in his bold reinvention of the traditional Christmas story. At once risqué and charming, A Chef's Christmas is sure to bring holiday cheer to those who make dinner and those who only make reservations.
Audio
First published November 12, 2002
2 people are currently reading
662 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Bourdain
84 books5,641 followersAnthony Michael Bourdain was an American celebrity chef, author, and travel documentarian. He starred in programs focusing on the exploration of international culture, cuisine, and the human condition.
Bourdain was a 1978 graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and a veteran of many professional kitchens during his career, which included several years spent as an executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles, in Manhattan. He first became known for his bestselling book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (2000).
Bourdain's first food and world-travel television show A Cook's Tour ran for 35 episodes on the Food Network in 2002 and 2003. In 2005, he began hosting the Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure programs Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005–2012) and The Layover (2011–2013). In 2013, he began a three-season run as a judge on The Taste and consequently switched his travelogue programming to CNN to host Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. Although best known for his culinary writings and television presentations, along with several books on food and cooking and travel adventures, Bourdain also wrote both fiction and historical nonfiction.
Bourdain was a 1978 graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and a veteran of many professional kitchens during his career, which included several years spent as an executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles, in Manhattan. He first became known for his bestselling book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (2000).
Bourdain's first food and world-travel television show A Cook's Tour ran for 35 episodes on the Food Network in 2002 and 2003. In 2005, he began hosting the Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure programs Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005–2012) and The Layover (2011–2013). In 2013, he began a three-season run as a judge on The Taste and consequently switched his travelogue programming to CNN to host Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. Although best known for his culinary writings and television presentations, along with several books on food and cooking and travel adventures, Bourdain also wrote both fiction and historical nonfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 19, 2019
A quick little novella that’s a little after the season. The topic is just what Bourdain knows. His insights into the human animal are so keen. Still miss the guy. I’ll have to parcel out his body of work so I don’t burn through it too fast.
November 3, 2017
This is a a great, quick audiobook read by the author himself. He amps up the four-letter language compare to Kitchen Confidential for what is the galley pirate's equivalent to Burroughs' Junky's Christmas. He spends the first few acts tearing down Rob Holland and the Saint Germain New York restaurant to build him back up in an uplifting, restaurant industry Bourdain final act of transformation through drugs and daring.
December 21, 2017
( Format : Audiobook )
"Chef might be an a**hole but he doesn't own one."
A short antidote to saccharin sweet Christmas stories from the viewpoint of those on the other side of the food fest: those making the meals in the restaurants. With his usual ascerbic and irreverent wit, Mr.Bourdain tells a story of a once busy restaurant without customers just one week before Christmas, focusing on the staff and their feelings at this 'festive' time.
I enjoyed everything about it, from the tale itself to the fast paced warmth of narration. Great fun (but be prepared for bad language). As always, I am glad not to be in the commercial food preparation business and that Anthony Bourdain has been there, done it and can tell it so well.
Recommended
"Chef might be an a**hole but he doesn't own one."
A short antidote to saccharin sweet Christmas stories from the viewpoint of those on the other side of the food fest: those making the meals in the restaurants. With his usual ascerbic and irreverent wit, Mr.Bourdain tells a story of a once busy restaurant without customers just one week before Christmas, focusing on the staff and their feelings at this 'festive' time.
I enjoyed everything about it, from the tale itself to the fast paced warmth of narration. Great fun (but be prepared for bad language). As always, I am glad not to be in the commercial food preparation business and that Anthony Bourdain has been there, done it and can tell it so well.
Recommended
June 26, 2012
A real fun short read.
December 21, 2023
So Bourdain, and listening to him read it himself makes a wonderful hour drive. Definitely adult language, but what an authentic view of the restaurant world. This is something I know a little about, I found myself matching up his descriptions with my memories working in a four star restaurant. Fun listen Chef. I hope to thank you in a future place. :)
December 19, 2011
Originally published as a thirty page bonus story within Anthony Bourdain's 2006 book, "The Nasty Bits: Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones," "A Chef's Christmas" is available, by itself, as an hour long unabridged audiobook, read by the author. While this work of fiction is a rare departure from Bourdain's culinary non-fiction genre; the only other work of fiction, to my knowledge, being the murder mystery "Bone in the Throat;" "A Chef's Christmas" contains elements one would expect find within one of his books.
Review continued at http://onjamesplate.blogspot.com/2011... .
Review continued at http://onjamesplate.blogspot.com/2011... .
January 5, 2013
A Great audio book! Very entertaining to hear Bourdain's voice tell the story.
December 11, 2017
Good book, albeit short and very similar to Kitchen Confidential. I like Bourdain’s “pull no punches” style. Well worth reading.
December 26, 2017
Classic Bourdain: Clever and formulaic. While this combo works for some of his non-fiction, it completely fails in fiction. #snooze
January 9, 2018
If you've ever worked in the food service industry, this is the holiday book you've been missing. Get the audiobook read by the author and enjoy the fiction-side of Bourdain's writing.
December 1, 2024
When it comes to holiday novellas, A Chef’s Christmas by Anthony Bourdain feels like an unexpected dish you didn’t know you needed on your holiday menu. Equal parts funny, gritty, and emotionally grounded, this story is a testament to Bourdain’s ability to capture the soul of the culinary world and wrap it up in a messy, beautiful, and entirely authentic package.
The novella follows a chef whose holiday season is anything but merry as he faces a journey of self-reflection, redemption, and reconnecting with the things—and people—that truly matter. For such a short story, the character development is surprisingly robust. Our chef protagonist embarks on what can only be described as a hero’s journey, packed with equal measures of chaos and heart. The relationship between him and his second-in-command shines brightest in the story, culminating in a tender and beautifully raw moment in the kitchen that feels like a love letter to the craft of cooking. The two of them working side by side, creating something meaningful in the face of personal and professional challenges, is as earnest and heartwarming as it gets.
As someone who always admired Bourdain’s authenticity and grit, this novella captures those same qualities. While the story flirts with a touch of holiday cheesiness, it never crosses the line into Hallmark territory. Instead, it remains grounded in Bourdain’s signature style—raw, unfiltered, and surprisingly lovable. The ending, in particular, hits all the right notes. It’s satisfying, emotional, and brimming with the kind of warmth that makes you want to pour yourself a glass of wine and toast to the complicated beauty of life.
If you’re looking for a quick read with humor, heart, and a touch of holiday magic that doesn’t feel too saccharine, A Chef’s Christmas is worth a spot on your winter TBR. It’s a holiday tale with an edge—like Bourdain himself—and will leave you smiling, a little hungry, and maybe even a little misty-eyed.
Spice Rating: None, but this one’s all about the heart.
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ / 5
The novella follows a chef whose holiday season is anything but merry as he faces a journey of self-reflection, redemption, and reconnecting with the things—and people—that truly matter. For such a short story, the character development is surprisingly robust. Our chef protagonist embarks on what can only be described as a hero’s journey, packed with equal measures of chaos and heart. The relationship between him and his second-in-command shines brightest in the story, culminating in a tender and beautifully raw moment in the kitchen that feels like a love letter to the craft of cooking. The two of them working side by side, creating something meaningful in the face of personal and professional challenges, is as earnest and heartwarming as it gets.
As someone who always admired Bourdain’s authenticity and grit, this novella captures those same qualities. While the story flirts with a touch of holiday cheesiness, it never crosses the line into Hallmark territory. Instead, it remains grounded in Bourdain’s signature style—raw, unfiltered, and surprisingly lovable. The ending, in particular, hits all the right notes. It’s satisfying, emotional, and brimming with the kind of warmth that makes you want to pour yourself a glass of wine and toast to the complicated beauty of life.
If you’re looking for a quick read with humor, heart, and a touch of holiday magic that doesn’t feel too saccharine, A Chef’s Christmas is worth a spot on your winter TBR. It’s a holiday tale with an edge—like Bourdain himself—and will leave you smiling, a little hungry, and maybe even a little misty-eyed.
Spice Rating: None, but this one’s all about the heart.
Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ / 5
Read
November 24, 2019'Give Santa a fuckin vodka mart' he snarled ...before he was wrestled to the ground by security who were not in the spirit of the season...
Rob' said Michelle 'For Chrissakes. Wipe yer mouth! u're droolin!'
...Rob heard the distorted tones of 'jingle bells' playin from a damaged speaker and glimpsed an unhappy lookin Paki, also in a Santa suit handin out flyers. the two locked eyes in a brief sec...
Michelle had never in her life been an optimist... people'll inevitably disappoint you... But lookin down at Rob's unconscious face...eyes closed without expression or care, the snowflakes beginin to collect on his lashes.. Tank u for a taste of fiction
November 25, 2025
A fun, quick novella to get you into, or out of, the holiday spirit, depending of where you are at mentally. Originally published not long after Kitchen Confidential, A Chef’s Christmas serves as a great companion piece to the former, with many obvious links to Bourdain’s real experiences and the real life characters he writes about. I really enjoyed reading about a fictional event or character in A Chef’s Christmas and immediately recalling the real life inspirations of which Tony recounts in his many nonfiction publications.
May 22, 2024
A certain amount of bias. You know , it's Anthony. This feels like a No Reservations Episode, but without the restraint. Great use of profanity and usual Bourdain elegance in prose.
A feel good story for all the gang in the restaurant.
A feel good story for all the gang in the restaurant.
July 2, 2019
As always, Tony never ceases to entertain with his wit, humor and sentence construction.
December 19, 2019
Great story to listen to over the holidays.
December 24, 2019
I miss you Tony but nevertheless this story gave me an hour rant about an over indulged chef. Good thing it was short and cheap.
April 26, 2021
Another little gem from Anthony Bourdain.
No matter how short or long, Bourdain's work pretty much jumps off the page, bristling with life and juice.
No matter how short or long, Bourdain's work pretty much jumps off the page, bristling with life and juice.
May 1, 2022
A great listen
June 11, 2024
Bourdain being Bourdain. Fantastic, sharp writing that makes you want to cook and cook
December 14, 2024
A horrifying dip into Christmastime kitchen nostalgia with a happy ending. 500 stars. RIP AB
March 22, 2025
excellent little novella read by the man himself
May 28, 2025
Anthony Bourdain can do no wrong. An adorable little Hallmark book for chefs. It's wonderful to hear his voice again talking about food and restaurants.
July 4, 2025
quite enjoyed this even though I read it during summer
November 17, 2025
little christmas detour on my bourdain hyperfixation
November 19, 2025
Quintessential Bourdain. A fun way to spend an hour in the car, and perfect for the upcoming holidays.
December 12, 2025
Wow this sucked
February 12, 2019
Anthony Bourdain is a master of his craft - able to connect with the lives of the everyman so effortlessly that it inspires countless others to do the same. However, few can match him in style or authenticity.
A Chef's Christmas is short but sweet. It is Bourdain's interpretation regarding how a mashup of various Christmas stories could told through the lens of a down-and-out restauranteur, and seasoned with a healthy dose of vulgarity and black humor.
The only problem with this story is that it is short. Bourdain's problem was that he had too many talents, and his writing is sadly limited to a few brilliant pieces. This is worth a read for any fan of the late chef and humanitarian.
A Chef's Christmas is short but sweet. It is Bourdain's interpretation regarding how a mashup of various Christmas stories could told through the lens of a down-and-out restauranteur, and seasoned with a healthy dose of vulgarity and black humor.
The only problem with this story is that it is short. Bourdain's problem was that he had too many talents, and his writing is sadly limited to a few brilliant pieces. This is worth a read for any fan of the late chef and humanitarian.
December 15, 2018
Bourdain brings his fabulous story telling talents and his kitchen/culinary insight, and his colorful vocabulary into this charming short Christmas themed story. What a holiday whirlwind with a celebrity chef, characters straight out of any restaurant one has worked in, along with a Christmas miracle for the St. Germaine. The perfect audio book, narrated by Bourdain himself, for a Christmas road trip. It feels like Bourdain is right there with you and talking to rather than reading!
December 16, 2018
I miss my friend Anthony Bourdain. He was too good for this world.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews