Anthony Bourdain

The late Anthony Bourdain was an American celebrated chef, television personality, author, and travel documentarian who inspired millions worldwide with his love of food and culture. His book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly gave him widespread recognition in 2000, and his Emmy-winning CNN series Parts Unknown further gained him worldwide fame.

Bourdain was born in New York City in 1956. His parents worked in the business world, and the family lived a quite comfortable life. However, the young Bourdain developed an early taste for adventure, often sleeping in the stairwell of his family’s apartment building rather than in his own bed. He developed an interest in cooking at a young age, and by his twenties had already established himself as a chef in New York’s restaurant scene.

In 2000, Bourdain published Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, an episodic book detailing the ins and outs of the restaurant industry. The book soon gained traction, making Bourdain a celebrity chef known throughout the world. It was the success of this book that would bring his television career to life.

In 2002, Bourdain began his television career with A Cook’s Tour, where he traveled around the world exploring various dishes and cultures. This was followed by Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, the Travel Channel series that ran from 2005 to 2012. In 2013, he moved to CNN for the first season of Parts Unknown, a critically acclaimed series that ran until his passing in 2018. This combination of cooking, traveling, and culture-oriented content formed into an eclectic, unique showcase that fans loved.

On top of his television career, Bourdain authored many books on food and travel. His writing style was as eclectic as his television career, mixing insightful reflections on culture and cuisine with dark humor and scathing critiques of the top-tier food world. His books such as Appetites: A Cookbook, Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook, and World Travel: An Irreverent Guide are all celebrated works that strive to bridge the gap between the culinary elite and the rest of us.

The life of Anthony Bourdain was put to a tragic close in 2018. Leaving behind a legacy that is sure to remain for decades to come, his work continues to inspire people all around the world to explore culture, embrace cuisines, and discover the beauty that is hidden in our world. Through his television shows, books, writings, and more, he captured the beauty and oddities of global culture, and he is truly one of the most influential figures in modern food and travel media. He will live on in the memories and hearts of all those who were inspired by his fearless adventures, culinary knowledge and passion for life.