Fans Pay Tribute to Anthony Bourdain Outside New York City Restaurant Where He Once Worked
Fans Anthony Bourdain gathered over the weekend outside the restaurant in New York City where he once worked as executive chef.
Outside Les Halles, a French brasserie on Park Avenue in Manhattan, mourners left flowers and poured messaged of hope and sadness into notes about how the chef changed their lives.
"To me he's a total inspiration," Bourdain fan Eric Reynolds told CBS New York. "Everything I love about food."
The larger than life chef and television star became a household name for his bestselling book "Kitchen Confidential" and the subsequent series in which he tackled the big issues through food.
Despite seeming to have it all, the 61-year-old took his own life Friday while shooting an episode of his CNN series "Parts Unknown."
"To have such a demon locked inside him that he couldn't talk about is devastating," fan Nikki Vargas said
Bourdain's body was found in his French hotel room by close friend and fellow chef éric Ripert.
"It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain," CNN said in a statement. "His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller. His talents never ceased to amaze us and we will miss him very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughter and family at this incredibly difficult time."
Bourdain's partner, Italian actress Asia Argento, also released a statement.
"Anthony gave all of himself in everything that he did," Argento said. "His brilliant, fearless spirit touched and inspired so many, and his generosity knew no bounds. He was my love, my rock, my protector. I am beyond devastated. My thoughts are with his family. I would ask that you respect their privacy and mine."
"Parts Unknown," which premiered in 2013, followed Bourdain as he traveled the world, uncovering lesser-known cuisines in unique corners of the world. In 2013, he was honored with a Peabody Award for "expanding our palates and horizons in equal measure."
During his acceptance speech, he said his team travels the world, asking simple questions.
"'What makes you happy? What do you eat? What do you like to cook?' And everywhere in the world we go and ask these simple questions, we tend to get some really astonishing answers," he said.
Bourdain also hosted the Travel Channel series "No Reservations," and penned numerous books.
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