CELEBRITY CHEF DIES
ANTHONY BOURDAIN COMMITTED SUICIDE IN FRANCE
World’s best known chef a champion of regional cuisines, including Canadian —
As the world’s best known celebrity chef, Anthony Bourdain’s travels took him to the farthest reaches of the planet, and in so doing he became a champion of regional cuisines — including an intriguing list of Canadian favourites.
Bourdain, 61, was found dead Friday in his hotel room in France. He was in Strasbourg filming an upcoming segment of his award-winning “Parts Unknown” series for CNN. The network confirmed the cause of death was suicide.
A prosecutor in France says Bourdain apparently hanged himself in a luxury hotel in the small town of Kayserberg.
French media quoted Colmar prosecutor Christian de Rocquigny du Fayel as saying that “at this stage” nothing suggests another person was involved in the death Friday of the American celebrity chef and food writer.
However, investigators were verifying the circumstances of Bourdain’s death at the Le Chambard hotel.
CNN said in a statement he was found unresponsive Friday morning by friend and chef Eric Ripert.
Last fall, Bourdain travelled to Newfoundland, where he ate fish and chips in Petty Harbour, jigged for cod off the tiny fishing village of Quidi Vidi near St. John’s, and later hunted for moose in the province’s remote and rugged interior.
In 2016, he said three Montreal chefs he’d featured on “Parts Unknown” should be declared national heroes.
“I’m a huge fan and loyalist and evangelical on the subject of Martin Picard and Fred and Dave at Joe Beef,” the Emmy-winning television personality told The Canadian Press. “I mean, I think they’re not just good for Montreal. They’re good for Canada. They’re good for the world.
“I’d put all three of those guys on the Canadian currency. If I were in charge of such things they would be national heroes. They’d be iconic figures. The Canadian version of Mount Rushmore would have those three guys up there and maybe Jen (Agg) from Black Hoof (in Toronto) also.”
In a series of tweets Friday, Agg recalled Bourdain’s humour and generosity.
“I’m in shock, devastated and at a total loss for words (the right and wrong ones),” Agg tweeted. “I’m so sad for his family. I’m so sad for his friends. I’m so sad for his colleagues. I’m so sad for me.”
Bourdain’s love of Quebec and Montreal’s cuisine and some of its best known culinary figures was well established and he recorded three of his shows — “No Reservations” (April 2006), “The Layover” (December 2011), and “Parts Unknown” (May 2013) in the province.
Bourdain had credited Fred Morin and David McMillan of Joe Beef as the chefs who encouraged him to investigate Newfoundland cuisine.
In the Newfoundland episode broadcast last month, Jeremy Charles, head chef behind Raymond’s in downtown St. John’s, served Bourdain menu items and showed off the province’s splendours.
Local foodies went wild when they heard that Bourdain — described by The Smithsonian as “the original rock star” of the culinary world — was touring the province.
“You know the ... commercials about the most interesting man in the world? Bourdain is him in real life,” said one fan on Twitter.