A Chef's Christmas Audiobook By Anthony Bourdain cover art

A Chef's Christmas

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A Chef's Christmas

By: Anthony Bourdain
Narrated by: Anthony Bourdain
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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.

©2002 Anthony Bourdain
(P)2002 Random House, Inc. Anthologies Anthologies & Short Stories Winter Christmas Heartfelt

Featured Article: 30+ Anthony Bourdain Quotes That Capture His Zest for Food, Travel, and Life


Few chefs have impacted the world quite like the late Anthony Bourdain. Champion of all things food, an ally to many in disadvantaged communities, and an uncommonly honest, fiercely beloved personality, Bourdain left an indelible mark on the culinary landscape and the world before his tragic death in 2018. The late Anthony Bourdain was one of the greatest minds in the culinary world. Here are some quotes that best embody the legendary chef.

Featured Article 30+ Anthony Bourdain Quotes That Capture His Zest for Food Travel and Life
Authentic Culinary Portrayal • Heartwarming Holiday Tale • Warm Narration • Raw Emotional Depth • Witty Dark Humor
Highly rated for:
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I’m glad I listened, good to hear AB’s voice again. Miss watching him on TV.

Miss this guy!

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Great to hear Anthony Bourdain's voice and his story telling, again. Read his other books, but somehow never read this one. Miss him and his show. Great surprise.

Great to hear Anthony's voice.

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For sure one of the best Christmas stories that I read in the last 20 years!

Greatness

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I will always be grateful for the beautiful way that Anthony Bourdain has shown me the world.

Living Vicariously

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A thrilling short, it is very much Bourdain’s style of storytelling: dark yet pleasing with a happy ending.

Thrilling Short

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loved it, the flow was smooth. story was well formed and very informative.
thank you

great story

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downloaded just so could hear him again. Very his style of writing reminds me of his first book.

I miss him

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Fun look back to the chef and writer Tony Bourdain was before he lost all perspective.

A Kitchen Carol

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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

Christmas Joy with Out the Hallmark-iness

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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.

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