Anthony Bourdain is and was, without a doubt, one of the most beloved television chefs of contemporary television.
Putting aside Gordon Ramsay and his highly marketable personality, and playfully abandoning the tradition of characters like Julia Child or Dione Lucas, Bourdain built himself as a brazen man who was always willing to travel anywhere, to enter any kitchen, to find the Earth’s most hidden culinary gems.
CNN announced it, and from that moment, the world went into shock. The famous chef and food critic Anthony Bourdain died at the age of 61. The cook, who was a star on American television, hosted the program Parts Unknown, which was about food and travel and was also broadcast through CNN.
Catapulted to fame by his shows, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and Parts Unknown, the chef gained the world’s esteem for casting his gaze and lending his palate to places very few had dared to explore, and which felt so close, incredibly familiar to those of us living in those regions. Likewise, for is a person unafraid to show his demons and mistakes to the rest, allowing himself to be seen in his worst moments, but always with the goodwill of a bottle and an overflowing plate.
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But his legacy is eternal, and his simplicity, along with his desire to approach and understand the world, Bourdain left us some quotes that can well be translated into life lessons; especially today, June 25, as he would have turned 68 years old.
In this article, we leave you with the most special quotes Anthony shared throughout his life.
1.”The best food is usually, almost always, the simplest food.”
2. “Good food and good eating is all about risk.”
3. “Without new ideas success can become stale.”
4. “When asked why you left your last job, never say the reasons unless it was for money or ambition.”
5. Without experimentation, a willingness to ask questions and try new things, we shall surely become static, repetitive, moribund.’
6. “Your body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.”
7. “Do we really want to travel in hermetically sealed popemobiles through the rural provinces of France, Mexico, and the Far East, eating only in Hard Rock Cafes and McDonald’s? Or do we want to eat without fear, tearing into the local stew, the humble taqueria’s mystery meat, the sincerely offered gift of a lightly grilled fish head? I know what I want. I want it all. I want to try everything once. “
8. “You can learn a lot about someone when you share a meal with them.”
9. “Don’t lie. You made a mistake. Admit it and move on. Just don’t do it again. Ever.”
10. “Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world, you change things slightly, and you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life and travel leave marks on you.”
11. “I don’t have to agree with you to like you or respect you.”
The Death of Anthony Bourdain
Bourdain, born in New York, had a daughter, his partner was the Italian actress Asia Argento, and he was considered one of the most important chefs in the world, thanks to his cooking shows.
Through a statement, CNN announced: “With immense sadness, we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain. His love for adventure, new friends, good food and drink, and his extraordinary stories about the world made him a unique storyteller.” They also stated that the cause of his death was suicide.
The chef and also food journalist was in France working on an upcoming episode of his award-winning CNN series Parts Unknown when the tragedy occurred. His close friend Eric Ripert, the French chef, found Bourdain lifeless in his hotel room.
Bourdain managed to explore the human condition through his television shows and books and also helped audiences think differently about food, travel, and even about themselves. Anthony Bourdain also advocated for marginalized populations and campaigned for safer working conditions for restaurant staff.
