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Chef, author, and TV host Anthony Bourdain has died at the age of 61. The “gifted storyteller” was found unresponsive in his hotel in room in France while filming an episode of Parts Unknown. It has been reported that the cause of death was suicide.
Tributes from the the world of food and media have started to pour in for one of the most influential international voices in the industry.
It began with Noma’s Rene Redzepi, who said he was “heart broken” and “in disbelief.”
Another incredible loss to suicide. Heart broken, sad, in disbelief. https://t.co/clsrqXn6E5
— Rene Redzepi (@ReneRedzepiNoma) June 8, 2018
The Chew’s Carla Hall called Bourdain a “beloved presence in the culinary community.”
I am gutted and saddened upon hearing the news of @Bourdain, a beloved presence in the culinary community. You will be missed. pic.twitter.com/GIAijn3jIL
— Carla Hall (@carlahall) June 8, 2018
Chef, writer, and TV host Andrew Zimmern is wearing Bourdain’s boots today. “My heart is heavy,” he said.
Im so angry this morning. Life is fucking hard and crazy and Tony I love you. Im wearing your boots that I never wore because they were yours, and going to work. Everyone should hug some extra people today. My heart is heavy. https://t.co/2lFmz1UvWK pic.twitter.com/62Qcjwo33f
— Andrew Zimmern (@andrewzimmern) June 8, 2018
David Chang posted just a black square to Instagram, and quoted Will Oldham.
The British author and TV presenter Nigella Lawson described it as “unbearable for his family and girlfriend.”
Heartbroken to hear about Tony Bourdain’s death. Unbearable for his family and girlfriend. Am going off twitter for a while
— Nigella Lawson (@Nigella_Lawson) June 8, 2018
London chef Yotam Ottolenghi recalled visiting Jerusalem with Bourdain in 2013.
American chef, restaurateur, and cookery writer Andy Ricker, known for his cooking of northern Thai cuisine, said “long may you run, wherever you’ve gone.”
Jose Andres, a fellow chef and activist, paid tribute to his friend: “You will always travel with me.”
My friend..I know you are on a Ferry going to somewhere amazing.....you still had so many places to show us, whispering to our souls the great possibilities beyond what we could see with our own eyes...you only saw beauty in all https://t.co/Ltw9HrCBb2 will always travel with me https://t.co/Yv4Ntud6X0
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) June 8, 2018
Former official chief photographer for the White House shot this famous photo of Barack Obama and Bourdain in Hanoi, Vietnam.
British chef Gordon Ramsay said he was “stunned and saddened,” adding that Bourdain “inspired so many people to explore cultures and cities through their food.”
Stunned and saddened by the loss of Anthony Bourdain. He brought the world into our homes and inspired so many people to explore cultures and cities through their food. Remember that help is a phone call away US:1-800-273-TALK UK: 116 123
— Gordon Ramsay (@GordonRamsay) June 8, 2018
Absolutely stunned. @Bourdain you motherfucker. You giant. You friend. You writer. You most loyal to all around you. God, I’m so sad. Oh, this world. We’ve lost a hero.
— Michael Ruhlman (@ruhlman) June 8, 2018
Mission Chinese’s Danny Bowien posted a photo of himself with Bourdain, without a caption.
Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski paid tribute to Bourdain, whom he called his “idol.”
Astronaut Scott Kelly recalled watching Parts Unknown while in space, writing: “It made me feel more connected to the planet, its people and cultures and made my time there more palatable.”
Just saw the sad news that Anthony Bourdain has died. I watched his show when I was in space. It made me feel more connected to the planet, its people and cultures and made my time there more palatable. He inspired me to see the world up close. #RIPAnthonyBourdain pic.twitter.com/Cb6IfmzylN
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) June 8, 2018
Shake Shack founder and Union Hospitality CEO Danny Meyer wrote about Bourdain’s ability to inspire others.
If a life can be measured by the number of other lives it inspired, enlightened, enraged, delighted, provoked, instructed, touched, and ultimately devastated...Anthony Bourdain’s sits atop the list. Beyond stunned. Hug someone you love today.
— Danny Meyer (@dhmeyer) June 8, 2018
Michael Twitty, chef and author of The Cooking Gene, praised Bourdain for his profoundly respectful approach to other cultures, races, and religions.
#AnthonyBourdain did not exploit race or religion or other human conflicts, rather he illuminated how food played a role in the deep passions behind those conflicts and challenged us to not see bad or good but human.
— Michael W. Twitty (@KosherSoul) June 8, 2018
San Francisco chef and restaurant owner Daniel Patterson recalled Bourdain’s “honest and open and human” way of writing and living.
It did, in fact, change everything. I’d never heard anyone write about our industry in such an honest and open and human way. And that was my intro to Tony. At the table, with friends, eating and drinking and laughing. It was a perfect moment.
— daniel patterson (@dcpatterson) June 8, 2018
Toronto restaurateur Jen Agg thanked Bourdain for being her champion “when almost no other high profile dudes would be.”
He was my champion, when almost no other high profile dudes would be. He, by example, forced them to pay attention, even if they really didn’t want to. I’ll always be grateful for that. It meant not just a lot, but everything.
— Jen Agg (@TheBlackHoof) June 8, 2018
British chef Jamie Oliver paid his respects with a photo on Twitter.
I have to say I’m in total shock to hear that the amazing @Bourdain has just died he really broke the mould, pushed the culinary conversation, Rest in peace chef thoughts and love to all his family and close friends xxxxxxxxxxx pic.twitter.com/HB7sV7CeRH
— Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver) June 8, 2018
Marcus Samuelsson posted a photo Bourdain with him and his wife, Maya Haile.
New York-based chef Wylie Dufresne said on Twitter, “I think we can’t possibly realize yet how much we’ll miss him.”
Like everyone else I’m still trying to process the news…It’s hard to imagine the food world—and the world, period—without him. He’s been leading the conversation so passionately, and for so long, I think we can’t possibly realize yet how much we’ll miss him. pic.twitter.com/YbVTqMa7eG
— Wylie Dufresne (@wyliedufresne) June 8, 2018
Thomas Keller of The French Laundry shared a photo and said, “The kitchen lights are dim today.”
The kitchen lights are dim today. Tony was a force at the pass & beyond. He was cool & irreverent. His life & work are a testament to the power of cooking to make the world a kinder, more connected place. My thoughts are with his daughter, family & the countless lives he touched. pic.twitter.com/QdR2DKf7mr
— Thomas Keller (@Chef_Keller) June 8, 2018
Chef-restaurateur Daniel Boulud shared a photo from filming Parts Unknown, when they dined together with chef Paul Bocuse, saying, “We will always have Lyon.”
Top Chef alum Kwame Onwuachi shared a photo and attributed his culinary career to Bourdain’s “narratives.”
Elsewhere, members of the food media across the world reacted with sadness, commenting on an extraordinary personality.
Oh Tony. Oh no. Sitting here weeping. There will never be another like you. Really tragic loss.
— ruthreichl (@ruthreichl) June 8, 2018
Tony always made fun of me because I had a hard time calling him Tony — he’s Anthony Bourdain, the whole name. His death is an inexpressible tragedy.
— your friend Helen (@hels) June 8, 2018
JESUS CHRIST. Bourdain. Unbelievably awful news.
— Marina O'Loughlin (@MarinaOLoughlin) June 8, 2018
Terrible news about Tony Bourdain. He was a brilliant man, who single handedly changed what food writing could be.
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) June 8, 2018
When I was barely starting as a good writer, my then-editor at @ocweekly gave me "Kitchen Confidential" by #AnthonyBourdain as a gift. That changed my perspective on food writing forever
— GustavoArellano (@GustavoArellano) June 8, 2018
Heartbreaking news. https://t.co/sDx3tMVgya
— Racist Sandwich (@raceandfood) June 8, 2018
I knew Anthony Bourdain. Not well, but in some weird, kind ways, and I am gutted. Please, please, please be kind to yourself and one another. Restaurant folks, @chefswithissues is here to support you if you need. https://t.co/D6YqQnCWK7
— Kat Kinsman (@kittenwithawhip) June 8, 2018
This post will be updated throughout the day as further tributes are paid. Brenna Houck contributed reporting.
If you or anyone you know is considering suicide or self-harm or is anxious, depressed, upset, or needs to talk, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741. For international resources, here is a good place to begin.
