RIP Anthony Bourdain, You Will be Missed...

The culinary world lost its naughty boy last Friday leaving millions of people devastated. He took his own life as the news reports indicate. It is weird to see that even such people who have achieved  most of their ambitions and lived the fullest life many can only envy about. But that's life and that's human mind. At least we can say that he died with memories rather than dreams. Only that is aspiring enough...

I had been an avid fan of him after reading his book "Kitchen Confidential" in 2000. Since then I have been following all his works, mainly his books and TV appearances.

His first book published in 2000

Tony was born in 1956 in New York to a father who was a classical music executive for Columbia Records and a mother who was an editor for New York Times. His paternal ancestors are from Arcachon, France.

It is said that his love for food was first noticed during a family trip to his grandfather's hometown in France while tasting oysters for the first time.

He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America (one of the top chef schools in the world) in 1978. For 20 years he worked in various restaurants including the Supper Club and Sullivan's. In 1998, he was recruited as the executive chef of Brasserie Les Halles in Manhattan where he worked for many years.

His writing career began with an article called "Don't Eat Before Reading This" in New Yorker.

Read the Article here

A year later he published his first book "Kitchen Confidential: Adventures In the Culinary Underbelly". When I read the book I was shocked along with many culinary hobbyists because the book revealed the real life behind the dining rooms of the restaurants. The book made him a real celebrity.

2 years later he started his TV career with a show called the "A Cook's Tour" on the Food Network channel. But in my opinion his prime show was the "No Reservations" on the Travel Channel. The series lasted almost 7 years until 2012. I strongly recommend this program where he and his team traveled almost anywhere in the world highlighting not only the local food but a very good depiction of the authentic cultures.

In November 2011 he started another series called "The Layover" in the same channel visiting various cities for 24 or 48 hours.
He quit the Travel Channel in 2012 over disputes about his show. He went on to host the "Parts Unknown" for CNN. The show was still being broadcasted until his death.

He even had dinner in Hanoi with President Obama in one of his shows. And here is Obama's tweet.

You can also watch a part from an episode where he visits Istanbul, my hometown.

Excerpts from the Istanbul episode

Well there is not much to say after all. He was a real guy, a perfect storyteller and an inspiring character. His when-in-Rome avidity enabled many people who are interested enjoying different cultures and different tastes experience the farthest corners and remote wonders of our world.
Just for that he was a pioneer in the culinary culture. He helped the world realize the social, political and cultural value of food and he always did that showing the proper respect to the places he visited and people he encountered with.

We can at least wave him goodbye with The Ramones, his favorite band.