World Cannot Forget the Legacy of Anthony Bourdain
The death of Anthony Bourdain stunned his fans, friends, and foodies around the world. His passing had immense impact on his avid followers who admired him as a great chef, writer, commentator and an amazing storyteller. Millions of friends, foodies and fans paid tribute to Anthony Bourdain.
Looking back, Mr. Bourdain brought viewers around the world the different food culture and unique stories of origins of food. He tasted different cuisine with passion and with earnest curiosity.
It’s sad that viewers and fans will never see him live on television again. But his shows and legacy about love of food and culture leave an indelible mark.
One of Mr. Bourdain’s prominent TV programs was when he dined with former president Barack Obama in Vietnam in 2016, at a noodle restaurant called Bun cha Huong Lien. The show was epic where a world leader and a chef sat down and talked about food over a delicious noodle soup and a cold beer.
Obama was saddened by the death of the food show host. The former US president took to twitter to pay touching tribute to Bourdain.
“Low plastic stool, cheap but delicious noodles, cold Hanoi beer,'” Obama tweeted on Friday in the wake of news of Bourdain’s death, apparently by suicide. “That’s how I’ll remember Tony. He taught us about food – but more importantly, about its ability to bring us together. To make us a little less afraid of the unknown. We’ll miss him.”
The chef and author was found unresponsive in his hotel room by friend and fellow chef Eric Ripert. Authorities initially said the cause of death was apparent suicide.
Dear Friends Pay Tribute To Bourdain
Chefs and food writers remembered Mr. Bourdain fondly for his friendship and his legacy of examining the links between culture and food.
Anthony was a dear friend,” Eric Ripert, the French celebrity chef and restaurateur, said in a statement provided to The New York Times, which he later tweeted a version of. “He was an exceptional human being, so inspiring and generous. One of the great storytellers of our time who connected with so many. I wish him peace. My love and prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones.”
Tim Carr, the chef-owner of Carr’s restaurant, Lancaster city also paid tribute to Bourdain.
“Bourdain was certainly meant for the media. He was a terrific writer and commentator, traveling the world as he did. I have several of his books. When “Kitchen Confidential” came out, it was right up my alley as young chef then.”
Asia Agento, Bourdain’s girlfriend was also devastated about the death of the kitchen genius. Argento, 42, released a statement on social media. “Anthony gave all of himself in everything that he did,” she wrote on Twitter. “His brilliant, fearless spirit touched and inspired so many, and his generosity knew no bounds. He was my love, my rock, my protector. I am beyond devastated. My thoughts are with his family. I would ask that you respect their privacy and mine.”
My Personal View
I am a foodie too and I love food shows. When we had our first cable TV, Anthony Bourdain’s food show fascinated me and his program ‘No Reservations’ was one of my favorite.
On his “Parts Unknown” program that led him to the Philippines, I watched that episode and he talked fondly about Filipinos and of course about Filipino cuisine. The long-running television project was filmed in the country’s capital in Manila. The first introductory lines he said, “Filipinos are, for reasons I have yet to figure out, probably the most giving of all people on the planet,” depicts the generous and hospitable traits of the Filipino people.
There were so many interesting things about the program which tell the world the happy spirit of the Filipinos amid poverty. The love for family is other thing for which Filipinos will sacrifice to work overseas to provide a decent life to their loved ones. Anthony Bourdain had made the program more interesting and touching. Indeed, the celebrity chef was a great storyteller and tolerant of different cultures and food, even the obscure ones. He will surely be missed.
