Anthony Bourdain has passed away. He was of the most know chefs turned entertainer in our time. Just last May Anthony was in Santa Barbara regaling the guests at a fundraiser for the Arts and Lectures program of UC Santa Barbara. Bourdain's book Kitchen Confidential launched a career on the Food Network and CNN as a roving chef-explorer on Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. His chef post at Brasserie Les Halles was his last as a working chef. He was still considered the chef at large for Les Halles.
At the A&L event, he commented that the chefs preparing the dinner were the real chefs as he left the kitchen routine some 20 years ago. While I did not get to meet him, being at the event was terrific. He had flown in from Bali via Dubai and gave an explicative-filled recounting about his world-traveling lifestyle and evolution from chef to entertainment icon. I was there preparing my famed cultured abalone dish for the 300 plus guests.
Condolences to his family and friends.
