RIP Anthony Bourdain

[existentialist]

Chef Anthony Bourdain has died by suicide

Chef Anthony Bourdain found dead at 61

We seem to be losing a lot of high profile people to suicide at the moment.

Reflecting in the back of a taxi with 3 of his junkie mates:

“Only one in four has a chance at making it.... And right there, I knew that if one of us was getting off dope, and staying off dope, it was going to be me. I was going to live. I was the guy.”

 

[Cloo]

Always entertaining, I loved Kitchen Confidential and his enthusiasm for food on telly was wonderful to behold. Clearly a challenging and difficult guy and appears to have taken his own life

CNN's Anthony Bourdain dead at 61 - CNN

 

[existentialist]

Oh, snap. I think we must have posted our threads at almost exactly the same time

RIP Anthony Bourdain

I'll report mine to the mods, then they can merge them.

 

[danny la rouge]

I just got an alert about this. I can't say I recognise the name or his picture, but he sounds troubled. That's sad for his family.

 

[Orang Utan]

Very sad and shocking news. Hope it wasn't a spur of the moment action, but it was in a hotel room, during filming of a TV show, so perhaps it was.
I only read his first book, and haven't seen his TV, but having worked in hotels and restaurants, Kitchen Confidential blew the lid off a lot of things that weren't public knowledge. He must have ruffled many feathers publishing that.

 

[existentialist]

I just got an alert about this. I can't say I recognise the name or his picture, but he sounds troubled. That's sad for his family.

I discovered him via his book, Kitchen Confidential. A very funny, but not at all pretty, guide to the world of professional cooking. He went on to make quite a few TV shows, and I thought he was fascinating, even though his views on vegetarians weren't entirely in keeping with mine!

I don't really do "heroes", and I didn't think AB was a particularly hero type, but I find myself feeling really quite a big sense of shock and loss at this news. I shall have to go and bingewatch some of his shows.

 

[dessiato]

I was quite a fan of his food and travel shows. At a time when I was losing my passion for food and cooking he reignited my interest.

RIP Anthony, I'll miss you.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

He was an asshole, but he made me laugh. Hated vegetarians with a passion. RIP.

<edited to add>
BTW, what is it with wealthy people offing themselves lately? Sometimes I think its better to be dumb and poor like me than smart and wealthy.

 

[existentialist]

Very sad and shocking news. Hope it wasn't a spur of the moment action, but it was in a hotel room, during filming of a TV show, so perhaps it was.
I only read his first book, and haven't seen his TV, but having worked in hotels and restaurants, Kitchen Confidential blew the lid off a lot of things that weren't public knowledge. He must have ruffled many feathers publishing that.

It certainly ruffled mine! In a good way.

 

[belboid]

Loved Kitchen Confidential and Medium Raw. He sounded like my kinda dude. A greaty shame.

 

[Jeff Robinson]

A vile person. In this video he repeatedly laughs about and makes light of animal suffering. He defends foie gras saying of force feeding: 'it's nothing that a self respecting porn star wouldn't do' and laughs hysterically after AA Gill says (of killing pigs) 'once you hear the first one scream, the second one gets easier'. I would never celebrate suicide and I feel for his family but I cannot mourn the passing, notwithstanding the fact that he could be funny and entertaining.

 

[danny la rouge]

Sounds like I haven't been missing anything.

 

[marshall]

Very sad news, seemed to have so much to live for, Kitchen Confidential was a great read, as was his crime fiction, A Bone in the Throat, reviewers described it at the time as like a cross between The Sopranos and The Naked Chef, well worth a read.

 

[chilango]

I enjoyed reading Kitchen Confidential. So thanks for that at least.

 

[existentialist]

Very sad news, seemed to have so much to live for, Kitchen Confidential was a great read, as was his crime fiction, A Bone in the Throat, reviewers described it at the time as like a cross between The Sopranos and The Naked Chef, well worth a read.

I never got around to reading that. I shall remedy that forthwith.

 

[1%er]

Anthony Bourdain had what must have been one of the best jobs in the world, he spent most of the last 15 years traveling around the world eating and drinking in some spectacular places, his series No Reservations and Parts Unknown are great TV. I loved his irreverent style and the people he used to meet up with on his travels were great characters.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a survey Thursday showing suicide rates increased by 25% across the United States over nearly two decades ending in 2016. Twenty-five states experienced a rise in suicides by more than 30%, the government report finds

 

[Jon-of-arc]

Really enjoyed Kitchen Confidential when it came out. I was quite young and impressionable, and I think it impacted on decisions to attempt a (highly unsuccessful) career in kitchen work, and a (significantly longer lasting, but no less disastrous) career in taking drugs.

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

A vile person.

In some ways, yes, in others

 

[bellaozzydog]

His books were a great read, patently a wild child in his time, passionate and entertaining to watch on the telly box

 

[Fedayn]

Not perfect by any means but loved his tv programmes and his love of cooking.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

... and a (significantly longer lasting, but no less disastrous) career in taking drugs.

Is there any other kind?

 

[TruXta]

Is there any other kind?

Yes. Lots of people do drugs and quit before wrecking themselves and/or others.

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

He also became a supporter of #Metoo when his girlfriend reported being raped by Harvey Weinstein:

Anthony Bourdain: #MeToo Made Me ‘Reexamine My Life’

 

[Ted Striker]

The voice that's soundtracked a million of my hangovers in budget hotel rooms round the world with only CNN and BBC in the English section. Him and Christiane Amanpour, and the 3 bleeps from the BBC.

 

[Cheesypoof]

Sad....but he had a great life. I too, was a fan of Kitchen Confidential. Did a post on Urban about it a few years ago

*What book are you reading? (part 2)

 

[Jeff Robinson]

He was a lot worse than I previously thought.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

He was a lot worse than I previously thought.

I'm not sure how different that makes him from others who eat meat. He enjoys the killing process, but he is at least honest in doing it himself, no?

 

[TruXta]

Aren't there already a million threads to discuss the merits of hunting, slaughter, animal husbandry etc?

 

[dolly's gal]

, and a (significantly longer lasting, but no less disastrous) career in taking drugs.

we can thank him for that can we?

 

[trabuquera]

Still not sure that being a proud - even obnoxious - meat-eater is quite enough to qualify you as a "vile" human overall. I'm sure he could be very hard to deal with IRL but he was overall an intelligent, insightful, interesting guy who saw and lived more than most.