Getty Image
After expanding the culinary horizons of people around the world, CNN reports chef Anthony Bourdain has died of suicide at the age of 61. The network issued a statement Friday morning confirming his death, saying:
“It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain. 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 burst onto the scene close to 20 years ago with Kitchen Confidential, which gave readers an inside look at the often seedy and drug-filled world of dining and explained why you should never order fish on a Sunday. The success of the book led to him hosting No Reservations on The Travel Channel, where he established himself as one of the best hosts on television thanks to his unique take on food and culture around the world.
Like many people in the culinary industry, Bourdain had struggled with substance abuse issues, but he got his act together in his later years, trading in drugs for Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Bourdain was filming Parts Unknown in France— where Bourdain fell in love with food after tasting a fresh oyster for the first time— with friend and famous chef Eric Ripert, who discovered his body in a hotel room.
As someone who fell in love with food thanks in no small part to Bourdain’s boisterous personality, this is a true loss for the culinary world.