Kitchen Confidential: The Sitcom

In the past few years, shows like Top Chef and Hell’s Kitchen have aimed to show us the cutthroat “real” side of the high-end restaurant world, along the way treating fans to such phrases as “flavor profile” and “molecular gastronomy” and introducing a greater audience to culinary character Anthony Bourdain, a recurring judge on Top Chef, and the host of his own Travel Network Show, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. He also wrote a popular tell-all book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, at the turn of the century. The book is filled with tales of his own life on the edge and some of the grittier, grosser behind-the-scenes details of what happens to your food before it ultimately winds up on your plate.

But while No Reservations is a popular book, the same cannot be said for the short-lived sitcom it loosely inspired. The show aired a total of four times in 2005. And it’s a shame, because it’s funny, clever, and original–all the ingredients you need to get canceled after four airings. Bradley Cooper (trust me, you’ll know his face) stars as the fictional Jack Bourdain, a washed up yet talented chef who takes over the equally fictional Nolita restaurant. Surrounded by a quirky kitchen staff and paced to the beat of a Sex And The City-esque voiceover (the show shares executive producer Darren Starr), Kitchen Confidential is a real treat. And while only four episodes aired, the DVD set includes all 13 shows, all with commentary.

Make this one a package deal: Add a jar of gourmet tomato sauce or a fun kitchen gadget to make this gift a full meal.

Kitchen Confidential: The Complete Series. $15.99 on Amazon.com (free shipping eligible)