are you saying this was the last straw for AB?

Just don’t get the place of humor in a topic about a suicide.

Oh my god. I'm so ****ed up.

Sorry Anthony Bourdain - didn't mean to ruin your thread.


rjp

I'm sitting in a Vietnamese restaurant, and eating a bowl of noodles and thinking about Tony. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that he's gone...

^^^ I feel bad for you guys that are taking this news hard. It just strikes me how different we all are, despite the common denominator we all share here....

I liked his show because it's the only one on TV that talks about culture, and the guy just seemed genuinely cool, not tarted up and fake like all the other hosts. His episodes are about people, not just food.

So who do we have left? Guy Fieri and his Camaro? He's kind of a bro-douche. I'm sure now CNN will see a visible dip in viewership without AB.

^^This. I think the reason so many are taking his death hard is that he made it feel like you knew him just by watching him. I'm sure it was a bit of himself and a bit of a character he created but it felt like you could talk to the guy for hours even if you didn't have a single thing in common with him. He was personable. And that's something that's hard enough to find in real life, let alone manage to find someone talented enough to convey through a tv. I mean could you imagine trying to have a conversation with Guy Fieri in a bar? Or Gordon Ramsey? It just ain't gonna happen. Because no one can relate to those guys. We can all relate to AB. Especially any of us that have ever worked in a restaurant.

Yeah, definitely not something anyone should ever joke about.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CVBATYWFKp8" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I agree. A great group of guys here and all different.

I don't necessarily feed bad but it does seem strange.

Sure Mr Bourdain was smart, funny, and very interesting. Many of us lived vicariously through his wild adventures.

Some of you had the luck to meet him for a few minutes... but by in large most of us only knew his 'in front of the camera' persona... much like Robin Williams... a guy the appeared to have the world on a string but obviously he had a dark side.

But in the end he was just another human being, very sad that he chose to take his own life. However how many of us know people at work that we see every day, maybe chat with them in the hall or the lunchroom... then they die and we don't think anything of it.

P.S. I hope no one thought me quoting the song was supposed to be funny... more just relevant to what he himself said in the interview.

That sounds yummy.

Got the Ethiopia episode fired up on the TV. I missed this one. Telling us about the history of Ethiopia and his guest is a guy born there, adopted by a Swedish family, married an Ethiopian model and became a big successful restaurant owner in NY.

Nothing else like this- it's like actually watchable National Geographic.

rjp

Exactly. I relate because AB did what I could only wish I could do- paid to travel, food, learn- the perfect job. I could only hope to live as well as that someday.

rjp

Yes, his job was a perfect job. But constant traveling, being away from home, not feeling like you have a place to anchor, & even maybe even feeling trapped in the situation can no doubt, wear on most people. My best friend was a cop in the late '60s. Went to school while working, had a wife & family and got his degree. After he graduated, he applied to the Secret Service and later ended up on Nixon & Ford's protective details. Of course he was excited about it. But after a few years of constant travel, he decided to give it up. He really didn't like always traveling and being away from home. Could be AB felt like he was on a treadmill he couldn't get off of.

CNN is apparently having a mini Parts Unknown marathon at this time.

Marcus Samuelson. Very interesting story about him and his mother fleeing Ethiopia. She ended up dying of TB and he was adopted young and grew up Swedish. He has a good cookbook that I have.

I guess I fall into "one of those more affected by his death."

Earlier in the week, Kate Spade died. Other than seeing her name in some outlet malls on overpriced handbags, I had no connection to her. I'd rather have a rusted out 911 part than some Kate Spade stuff. A coworker of mine (female) commented on how sad her death was.

She was bummed.
I was not.

Honestly, I had no connection to her, so I understand people having no connection to AB.

AB was accessible, and even as I will say I can down a bottle of wine as easily as I can down a 12 once soda- it hurt my head to think of how much he drank on these shows. It hurt me to even think of the hangovers- but....

for me, it was THIS episode. My wife loves NYC. I had fun visiting. This episode covers NYC, and specifically a bar with artwork from the writer (Bemelman) who wrote/ illustrated "Madeline."

At the time, we were reading this exact book to our daughter, and the pictures were a familiar night time ritual. You can almost hear Anthony bemoan and simultaneously treasure the "burden/gift" of reading to a daughter every night.

At the time, it made me swear I would take my wife there.
Tonight, in the context of his death, it makes me reaffirm I not only owe my wife a trip to NYC, I need to take care of myself for my daughter's sake.

I certainly cannot afford it now, timewise or moneywise, but I will make it happen. Somehow.

ps- this episode also gave me an idea for my wife's christmas present of a few years back (she's a foodie/ likes to cook) - I bought her the Bemelman's cooking book mentioned in this episode.

Edit- at 13 seconds in, there is a glimpse of a "good restaraunt"- Omo peche? Daniels? It's like an insider easter egg hint. Is anyone familiar with it? Would like to go there.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sXSEcOGPsU

Unpretentious. That's the word.

Thailand episode coming up.

rjp

A 75 mile walk carrying two infants while having TB? Jeezus Mom. Wow.

rjp

As someone who once cooked professionally in at least one restaurant Anthony Bourdain would have appreciated combined with my passion for travel and adventure, I loved Mr. Bourdain for everything he represented, most especially how curious and open-minded and expressive he was. It made him genuine. I think this fall I will go to Chez Robert et Louise, the restaurant in episode 1 of No Reservations, the time I saw Bourdaine, an instant love affair. The episode itself, defines life.

Jump to 31 minutes for Chez Robert et Louise

<iframe frameborder="0" width="480" height="270" src="//www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x28k243" allowfullscreen allow="autoplay"></iframe>



I mourn his death and the incredible light that shined so brightly in him, as do so many others. But I find it disturbing that 20 veterans commit suicide every day and no one knows or cares.