Bourdain

Anthony Michael Bourdain (June 25, 1956 – June 8, 2018) was an American chef, author, and television host known for his reflections on food as culture. He was born in New York City and raised in Leonia, New Jersey. He studied at the Culinary Institute of America and worked as a line cook in New York City, eventually becoming an executive chef at Le Halles in Manhattan. His 2000 memoir Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly exposed the realities of professional kitchens and established him as a public figure beyond the restaurant world.

His writing expanded into travel and food journalism; he published A Cook's Tour and contributed to The New Yorker, with his work blending culinary pursuits with social and political observations. He gained wider fame through television, where he combined food with travel and cultural commentary.

From 2005 to 2012 he hosted No Reservations on the Travel Channel; from 2013 until his death, he hosted Parts Unknown on CNN. Through these programs he visited dozens of countries, highlighting regional cuisines, street food, and local communities, while often addressing issues like globalization, identity, and history.

His work received critical acclaim and several awards, reflecting his influence on food media and travel journalism. On June 8, 2018, he died by suicide in Strasbourg, France, at age 61. His death prompted discussions about mental health, the pressures of media production, and the responsibilities of public figures. His legacy lies in expanding the reach of food culture into global storytelling and travel journalism.