Background and Career: Born on June 25, 1956, in New York City, Anthony Bourdain grew up in New Jersey, developing his interests and talents in rock literature and music. His mother is a script editor and his father is a music executive producer. Bourdain received his education at Vassar College for two years and then graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1978.
Bourdain’s youth was dark, he claimed to have been addicted to drugs. But he can escape the shackles of the black world. After realizing it, he began his career in the kitchen of restaurants in New York such as the Supper Club, One-Fifth Avenue, and Sullivan. He worked as an executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles in 1998.
Culinary Writing
In 1997, The New Yorker published a Bourdain article entitled “Don’t Eat Before Reading This”, a view that reviews how to work in restaurants, especially kitchens.
With its credibility as a well-known chef, the article contains a very heavy weight and leads to other writing projects. In 2000, his best-selling book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, became popular.
Followed by A Cook’s Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines, which covered exotic food and exploitation of trips around the world, in 2001. This book was written in connection with his first TV series, A Cook’s Tour, which debuted a year later and aired until 2003.
The 2000s: Success on TV and More Book Sales
In 2002, Anthony Bourdain began his two-season tour for A Cook’s Tour, a series featuring Bourdain exploring the world, looking for culinary adventures. In 2004, Bourdain released the cookbook Anthony Bourdains Les Halles Cookbook: Strategies, Recipes, and Techniques of Classic Bistro Cooking, and in 2006, The Nasty Bits. Both books became the New York Times version of the bestseller.
In 2005, Bourdain aired his new Travel Channel series, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, which explores themes similar to A Cook’s Tour. The event lasted nine seasons, ended in 2012, and attracted a wide audience interest, winning two Emmy Primetime Awards for its cinematography.
Sadly in 2005, because of the fame of Kitchen Confidential, Fox aired a brief sitcom based on the book. The character “Jack Bourdain” is loosely based on Anthony and portrayed by the rising actor Bradley Cooper.
Personal life
Married for nearly two decades, in 2007 Bourdain married the Ottavian Busia jujitsu expert. The couple is blessed with a daughter. In September 2016, Bourdain and Busia announced their divorce on the grounds that their decision was reciprocal. Both are still friendly.
Death
He then was found dead in his hotel room in Strasbourg, France, on June 8, 2018. His death was suspected of committing suicide.
“With tremendous sadness, we were able to confirm the death of our friend and colleague Anthony Bourdain,” CNN said in a statement Friday morning.
“His love for great adventures, new friends, food and drink, and extraordinary stories of the world made him a unique storyteller. His talent would never ceases to amaze us and we will miss him very much. We share our condolences, our prayers for his daughter and family.”