Anthony Bourdain dead at 61. RIP

ilan

Moderator at Work
Sep 29, 2015
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Celestial Fields
New York (CNN) Anthony Bourdain, a gifted storyteller and writer who took CNN viewers around the world, has died. He was 61.

CNN confirmed Bourdain's death on Friday and said the cause of death was suicide.

"It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain," the network said in a statement Friday morning. "His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller. His talents never ceased to amaze us and we will miss him very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughter and family at this incredibly difficult time."

Bourdain was in France working on an upcoming episode of his award-winning CNN series "Parts Unknown." His close friend Eric Ripert, the French chef, found Bourdain unresponsive in his hotel room Friday morning.

"Tony was an exceptional talent," CNN President Jeff Zucker said in an email to employees. "Tony will be greatly missed not only for his work but also for the passion with which he did it."

Bourdain was a master of his crafts -- first in the kitchen and then in the media. Through his TV shows and books, he explored the human condition and helped audiences think differently about food, travel and themselves. He advocated for marginalized populations and campaigned for safer working conditions for restaurant staffs.

Along the way, he received practically every award the industry has to offer.

In 2013, Peabody Award judges honored Bourdain and "Parts Unknown" for "expanding our palates and horizons in equal measure."
 
Just shocking. Fame and fortune probably wasn't enough to slay his demons, unless there was something that he was hiding or was dying of. I liked his travels for food... some of my favorite youtube is watching these foodies go around the world eating.
 
What a great soul, he reminded me of Hemingway not because of the writing but the thirst for adventure, food, and his passionate story telling in his TV shows. I can honestly said he lived life to the fullest but addiction and mental health took him its toll!!!So sad!!
 
A couple of interesting quotes from Bourdain:

"What I do is not complicated,” Bourdain told the New York Times in 2005. “Any stranger who shows an honest curiosity about what the locals think is the best food is going to be welcomed. When you eat their food and you seem happy, people sitting around a table open up and interesting things happen.”

When he was asked about the chef phenomenon, he said,

“No one’s more confused by the celebrity chef thing than chefs. The idea that chefs are sex symbols would be hilarious to anyone who’s ever dated one or been married to one,” Bourdain wrote. “We smell of smoked salmon and garlic, we have beef fat under our fingernails, we stay out late, drink too much, are never home and when we are home are comotose [sic], distracted and unpleasant. Is that sexy?”
 
My traveling, sitting in the table with people of different cultures/ethnicities, tasting their food has made me agree with Anthony Bourdain.....You begin to understand how small the world is, how to respect, care and get along with other human beings!! How much time we spend bickering when we should be eating a delicious meal, some wine, traveling and good conversations with one another. I have read his book and can relate a lot!!RIP