I was expecting a lot from this show-bought the all episode DVD and found a very tame show that seemed to be very at odds with Jack Bourdain's sardonic, eccentric way over the top exploits. The best that can be said is that it's mildly amusing but never really taps into Bourdain's seemingly raucous energy-professional and otherwise.A big part of the problem is the casting. Bradley Cooper is a fine actor and good in the central role. But his go to men-Owain Yeoman, Nicholas Brendan and John Cho, are not up to scratch-trying too hard and just not that funny. Only Jim Francis Daley, Bonnie Somerville and Sam Pancake (as a gay waiter) provide any spark-unfortunately they are not used nearly enough. Idea was good, not the execution.

Is Fox run by monkeys with no sense of humor? Because that would explain why they canceled such a brilliantly funny series. I never got to see this on TV, instead I shelled out $60 for the DVD, money well spent as it turns out. The series follows the adventures of Jack Bourdain as he tries to make a name for himself again at Nolita. The series is filled with great episodes including "Rabbit Test" where instead of getting pre-killed rabbits Nolita receives a load of live ones, and someone has to kill 'em, "The Robbery" Showing Nolita trying to recover after a armed robbery decimates their business and "Let's Do Brunch" where the staff are forced to do brunch, a meal that's frequented by infants and old people. The whole cast is fantastically funny, but my personal favorite is Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris from Buffy) as Seth the baker, but the entire cast deliver stand out performances that should still be going to this day. When you get a chance, write an angry letter to fox and tell them to give this show another go.

I like the actor they chose to play Bourdain, really I do, but Anthony Bourdain he is not. And that is what is wrong with this series. I read the book and was really excited to rent the series, but I should have known better. Someone in TV land decided that Anthony Bourdain is too abrasive, in your face and rude, so the show "softens" Tony and loses all the spirit. Yes, the real Anthony Bourdain is in your face and abrasive and is very much about How Things Really Are. That is the spirit in which Kitchen Confidential (the book) was written. So honest, in fact, that when she gets OLDER, I am going to make my 12-year-old aspiring Chef read it before she decides in fact to spend oodles of money on Culinary school. It is that very in your face honestt that is missing. Tony is nothing more than an alcoholic, excuse me, reformed-alcoholic boy scout. Yawn. Meanwhile the _real_ Anthony Bourdain has a hit show on the Travel Network doing what he does best, telling it like it is.

A couple of months back i left work to pursue a different career. I wasn't working for a couple of weeks because i didn't know what to do. I then adapted to my new life on the couch and the TV was my new best friend, because i had no job. I then came across a very interesting show (Kitchen Confidential) i thought it was just another cooking show. (I'm sooooooo over them) But this show was different, Kitchen Confidential inspired me to get back into cooking and now i'm working in one of Melbourne's finest restaurant. I have specifically asked for Fridays off so i am able to enjoy the life story of Jack Bourdain and his team at Nolita. I just want to thank the show, because if it wasn't for it i still would of been glued on the couch lying in front of the TV, instead i'm back out there enjoying the life of a chef. maybe one day i might even be a good as Jack, not only in cooking but with the ladies!!