You might enjoy George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London. Among many other things, he describes his experiences working (in the 1930's) in the kitchens

You might enjoy George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London. Among many other things, he describes his experiences working (in the 1930's) in the kitchens of a big Paris hotel and a small Paris restaurant -- I was reminded of Bourdain when I read these.