Profile of the Day: Anthony Bourdain

Posted June 25, 2020 by Amanda | No Comment

Today we remember chef, author, and television personality Anthony Bourdain on what would have been his 64th birthday.

Image: Anthony Bourdain / Peabody Awards, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Bourdain was born on June 25, 1956 in New York City, New York to Pierre Bourdain, a music executive, and Gladys Sacksman, a copy editor. Bourdain began his culinary career as a teen working as a dishwasher. He attended Vassar College for two years before dropping out and ultimately graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. Bourdain moved to New York City, where he began running the kitchens at various restaurants in the city.

In addition to his culinary success, Bourdain was also an accomplished author. In 2000, he published his bestselling book, Kitchen Confidential: Adventures of the Culinary Underbelly. The highly popular book was an expansion of his 1999 New Yorker article, “Don’t Eat Before Reading This.”

He was introduced to an even wider audience as a television personality and host of several popular travel shows, including the Travel Channel series Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and CNN’s Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. His unique personality and perspective introduced viewers to new and exciting destinations, cultures, and cuisine.

Sadly, Bourdain died on June 8, 2018 after committing suicide. His adventures around the world continue to remain an inspiration for many.