Anthony Bourdain is an American author and chef. He is well known for his 2000 book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, and is the host of Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure program Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. In Kitchen Confidential, Bourdain describes how his love of food was kindled in France—when he tried his first oyster on an oyster fisherman's boat as a youth while on a family vacation. Later, while attending Vassar College, he worked in the seafood restaurants of Provincetown, Massachusetts, which sparked his decision to pursue cooking as a career. Bourdain graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1978, and went on to run various restaurant kitchens in New York City—including the Supper Club, One Fifth Avenue, and Sullivan's—culminating in the position of executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles beginning in 1998. Brasserie Les Halles is based in Manhattan, with additional locations in Miami and, at the time of Bourdain's tenure, Washington, D.C. and Tokyo, Japan.

Born June 25, 1956 his primary personality traits are represented by the Chinese Zodiac elemental animal sign, the Fire Monkey. The Fire Monkey has added energy which will propel them to incredible feats. When not coming up with the ultimate mind game, he will use this vitality to reach new heights in career, competition, and enjoyment. His Fire element makes him among the most confrontational of the Monkeys, and he finds the extra energy useful to satisfy his desire to control his surroundings, a desire often fueled by jealousy.