What Anthony Bourdain Was Really Like, According To The People That Knew Him

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What Anthony Bourdain Was Really Like, According To The People That Knew Him By Brian Boone Nov. 27, 2025 7:40 am EST

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Anthony Bourdain was among the towering figures in a generation of food celebrities who elevated their passion and field to heights rarely even previously considered. After working in kitchens as a line cook and chef for decades, Bourdain started writing about food — what people eat, what it's like to work in big-city restaurants — and it made him into a star. Then he took his talents to television, hosting a series of globetrotting, food-based travelogues, like "A Cook's Tour," "No Reservations," "The Layover," and "Parts Unknown." That made Anthony Bourdain a superstar among the pub