The news of Anthony Bourdain’s passing still seems surreal for many. Personally, I still feel like it’s a terrible dream, and have yet to fully process the news. And while people from around the world are dealing with this dreadful loss of a culinary and travel legend gone too soon, chefs and New Yorkers in NYC are paying tribute to the late chef in touching ways. One such tribute is the memorial created in front of is LES Halles, where Bourdain himself once served as Executive Chef.
As Eater reports, New Yorkers flocked to the French restaurant all weekend to pay their respects. Although the restaurant no longer stands at 411 Park Ave South, the building has become a memorial with flowers, photographs, gifts, and notes covering the windows.
Anthony Bourdain was not only a badass in the food world, nor was he just a TV star; he was an incredibly influential figure all around.
As Dominique Ansel noted in a tweet, Bourdain pushed him to create new things after the invention of the cronut when during an interview Bourdain asked him how he’d feel about his tombstone reading “Creator of the Cronut.”
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The musician for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’s, Questlove, shared what he learned from Bourdain and even states that his recommendation of sushi master Jiro Ono and the documentary “singlehandedly changed the course of my professional and creative life.”
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And David Shi of Xi’an Famous Foods shared how Anthony Bourdain changed his and his family’s life completely after featuring their noodles on a visit for No Reservations.
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The list of people who shared beautiful words and memories of their friendships with Anthony Bourdain are endless. His loss is certainly felt in New York and around the world, and will continue to be felt by all for a long time to come. I think most New Yorkers are proud to say his roots began here, as an NYC chef.