I still miss Bourdain. I can't remember the last time I was so saddened to hear news of the passing of someone I never met personally.
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." - Dr. Seuss
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What a fitting tribute to continue the legacy of food, travel and writing. He was the real deal and was loved and admired and in my case envied, (because he had carved out such an admirable, unique niche!). I recall, on more than one occasion, wishing it was I who was sitting, sharing a meal with new found friends including their families, at long outdoor, summer tables under sun drenched pergolas and grape vines.
AB lived life like few of us will ever know. A true artist.
His travel, dinner club list must've been amazing.
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We claim him as one of ours at the Dwight Englewood School in Englewood NJ.
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Just ate at the CIA for the third time. The food is very good but I most enjoy being waited on by the students. Maybe not the most polished waiters but always enthusiastic about the food and ready to answer questions. A scholarship for one of them is a fitting tribute.
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When I saw in the headline "Anthony Bourdain's Alma Mater" I immediately thought Vassar. Perhaps that school could establish a writing scholarship in his name. After all, before he became a writer -- the way I and many others will always remember him -- he was a Vassar student. Surely that had an impact.
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@ Suzanne Fass Upper Upper Manhattan
Since Vassar became coeducational, yours is an excellent idea. One may wonder though, whether the late Anthony Bourdain in his Vassar days wore the same impressive tattoos on his forearms. Needless to add, "De mortius nil nisi bonum".
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Anthony Bourdain was a superb international ambassador. His rapport with the people he met everywhere was impressive, and really, was as important as any culinary wisdom conveyed. Also, the film technique he used with colorful closeups and tight editing was quite unique, dramatic, and fantastic. He pushed the right buttons on many levels - what a loss. The scholarship is an excellent tribute to him.
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I really liked the way he saw and treated food. I was a fan of his shows and books. What a great way to honor his life . Live on mr Bourdain!
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In a previous life I was a chef, and I always admired chefs who see beyond the ingredients and recipes. Bourdain was a chef, but I viewed him as a humanist in the most admirable sense, his brash, easy going, and foul-mouth style made him unique. In all his travels, he brought sociopolitical and human issues to the table with the food. I remember his shows about visiting Saudi Arabia (a truly unique rarity) or Israel (bringing Palestinian concerns to the table while visiting an Israeli settlement ), etc, He was uniquely talented and qualified to provide a commentary on our humanity over a meal! Cheers, Chef Bourdain!
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I guess it's great to remember and honor him... I was a fan of his writing and his show, but his personality most likely not, a little full of himself. That said, he took his life. Instead of slowing down and taking time off from his hectic life to re-boot or tackle the demons he was dealing with on a daily basis - he took his life. Left his daughter to live with that memory... along with many other loved ones that cared about him, including his mother.... Depression is a serious illness, no doubt - I can attest to that, I had a family member who suffered their entire life... but taking your own life, your loved ones never get over it... They blame themselves...
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@ Pam Pt. Pleasant NJ
I never followed the late Anthony Burdain and only marginally read of the tribulations of his lady friend.
But your comment is the best brief eulogy of a talented chef that I have ever read.
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It was not a good eulogy. She blamed him. We don’t know what he was going through.
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I still can't come to grips with this, so sad that he's gone. What a wonderful way to remember him. I had contemplated a life in that business but the hours were too much for me and I went in another direction. A fitting tribute for Mr. Bourdain whose whit and wisdom are sorely missed.
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@Margo Channing
I used to work at a Culinary Institute, on the administrative side. I got to know the Pastry Chefs very well. Every one of them were a delight. They said the hours their students put in were grueling and long and they were standing most of the time. It was a 24 month course - non stop - no "spring or winter breaks". They always said if their students could make it through the course, they had half a chance on the outside. It's a tough life.
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@Marge Keller I had the pleasure of eating lunch there many, many years ago and was awed by the place. I did for a time work in the food business and yes the hours are grueling and the standing on your feet part were the worst but I did enjoy the time I did work in the field. Made many friends and saw the dedication in them. The food as I remember at the CIA was amazingly good, well prepared and a delight. Got to tour the kitchens as well. I give credit to anyone who works in this field, it's a tough one.
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I think for the Culinary Institute of America to create a scholarship in Anthony Bourdain's memory is most fitting, gracious and positive. No doubt whoever the recipient will be, he or she will honor this incredible man with his or her culinary imagination, hard work and drive to do well.
Thank you for doing something wonderful in this man's name which will benefit others.
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