Remembering the man beyond the screen
Much buzz and ado about Anthony Bourdain's passing greeted all of us last Friday evening. With many friends, colleagues, and even strangers whose lives were touched by Bourdain reaching out to social media to express their deep regret for the loss of such a down-to-earth icon.
It would be a disservice to call Bourdain simply a culinary sensation or TV show host, for he was far more than that. He investigated the human condition through food, culture, travel, and the cogs behind these ideological structures. His award-winning show, Parts Unknown was a departure from No Reservations -- the latter of which he criticized for being far too commercial.
Born in New York to Pierre & Gladys Bourdain, Anthony stumbled upon his love for cuisine quite effortlessly. In his hit novel, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, he recalls when his family vacationed in France one summer, where he tried an oyster on a fisherman's boat. He relates that this small moment made him realise his love for food.
This led him to pursue a career in the culinary arts. Eventually, he found himself working in numerous kitchens around some of New York's finest restaurants. As he often mentioned in his show, It was at this time of his life that he battled with drug addiction. A memory he often cites when discussing the conditions behind restaurant kitchens. Due to his success in publishing, Bourdain was tapped by the Food Network for a cooking show: A Cook's Tour. This eventually led to No Reservations, The Layover, and eventually, Parts Unknown.
