5 Anthony Bourdain quotes that show why he was beloved around the world

[babylonsister]

https://www.vox.com/2018/6/8/17442194/anthony-bourdain-ally-marginalized-voices

5 Anthony Bourdain quotes that show why he was beloved around the world
He tried to highlight marginalized voices, and called out powerful leaders for their hypocrisy.
By Alexia [e-mail] Updated Jun 8, 2018, 4:42pm EDT

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Bourdain on refusing to visit North Korea

One of the only countries Bourdain failed to visit was North Korea. During an impromptu interview with TMZ, he voiced why.

“There’s nothing they’re going to let you see in North Korea. It’s an unpleasant government. Most of the population are starving. Don’t you think that would be in kind of bad taste?” he said.

And when asked about the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, Bourdain had this to say: “He’s a chubby little evil fuck. Nobody else eats.”

Later, the reporter asked what he would serve at a summit between Donald Trump and Kim. “Hemlock,” Bourdain said.

Bourdain on filming in Namibia

While Bourdain was being interviewed by Dave Davies on NPR about his experiences filming abroad, Davies recalled a particularly memorable moment — when Bourdain was handed an “unwashed warthog rectum” by the chief of the tribe that he was eating with. Davies asked him what he was thinking at the time.

Here’s how Bourdain responded:

What am I going to do, refuse him, embarrass him in front of his people, look ungrateful? That changes the whole tenor of the relationship. I mean, when somebody’s offering you food, they’re telling you a story. They’re telling you what they like, who they are. Presumably, it’s a proud reflection of their culture, their history, often a very tough history. You turn your nose up at that important moment, the whole relationship changes, and it will never be the same.

Bourdain on how immigrant workers are undervalued

Over the course of his career, Bourdain frequently pointed out how restaurant industry employees from Mexico and Central America are undervalued and treated poorly, and has also said that it’s racist for people to expect to pay very little for Mexican cuisine. Here’s one example from his blog, which he posted in 2014:

Despite our ridiculously hypocritical attitudes towards immigration, we demand that Mexicans cook a large percentage of the food we eat, grow the ingredients we need to make that food, clean our houses, mow our lawns, wash our dishes, look after our children. As any chef will tell you, our entire service economy — the restaurant business as we know it — in most American cities, would collapse overnight without Mexican workers. Some, of course, like to claim that Mexicans are ‘stealing American jobs.’ But in two decades as a chef and employer, I never had ONE American kid walk in my door and apply for a dishwashing job, a porter’s position — or even a job as prep cook. Mexicans do much of the work in this country that Americans, probably, simply won’t do.

[empedocles]

1. Thank you

[FakeNoose]

2. An awesome man who will be missed!

I highly recommend Bourdain's book "Kitchen Confidential" that probably everyone in NYC has already read. Even if you're not from the Big Apple it's an entertaining and informative look at the restaurant industry and what it's like to be a professional chef. He actually wrote it while still in his early 30's, long before his TV career took off.

RIP Anthony Bourdain

[IrishEyes]

8. I just started reading it this morning before I heard the news of his death.

It is well written and interesting. It has been sitting on my bookshelf for awhile but I have always been reading other things.

[FakeNoose]

12. Wow that's awazing

I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did. Mr. Bourdain has led a very interesting life and tells many great stories in his books , and of course on the TV shows too.

It's hard to believe he's gone. Way too soon!

[Trek4Truth]

3. Bourdain was no Bullshit...and that's my kinda people. nt

[stuffmatters]

4. Beautiful. Bourdain's used food to to teach us to respect other people,.cultures histories politics

Nobody did it better. His death is so, so painful

[malaise]

5. +1,000

A truly decent human being

[mitch96]

6. "what he would serve at a summit between Donald Trump and Kim."

“Hemlock,” Bourdain said.

Classic Anthony Bourdain... succinct and to the point..
m

[IronLionZion]

7. This American kid worked as a dishwasher

but his point on immigrants in the restaurant industry is certainly valid. An American kid whose ancestors immigrated from Europe would obviously not apply for dishwashing jobs. "Doing jobs that Americans won't do" is certainly prevalent in that food is cheap and easy to get in our country because of the immigrants working in every step of the process to bring it to us. Food is very expensive in many liberal Northern European countries that have living wages for their workers and benefits like universal healthcare and education.

Anthony Bourdain understood. He really got to know people all over the world and shared their stories with us in a very authentic way.

[Blue_true]

9. I worked as a line cook / dishwasher to pay for most of college.

But then college was cheap. I never saw anything but Black dishwashers, most of the college kids like me would not touch the work, it was hot, sweaty, you got one shitty 30 minute break and then had to bust your ass finishing kitchen cleaning after the Chef left for the night. Oh, btw, the pay was shit, but I was a college student living in a flophouse rooming house.

[IronLionZion]

15. The 30 minute meal break was the worst

if I didn't pack a lunch there was no time to go out and buy something. The benefits of restaurant work is free food if the cooks/owner are generous and friendly coworkers if you're lucky. I hated it otherwise.

And it certainly makes you want to get up the next morning and study hard in school.

[SammyWinstonJack]

10. My son has worked in the restaurant industry since he was 19, 21 yrs now.

He started as a dish washer. He is a prep cook, a position he loves. He has offers to advance, he doesn't want the headaches of management. But to get his 40 hrs, he works 7 days week and has for the last 4 yrs. He's been at the same restaurant for a 11 yrs and makes 15/hr. and gets one week vacation per yr. Eatin good in the neighborhood.

[IronLionZion]

14. Some restaurants pay benefits and living wages to their employees

It helps them recruit the best workers in the industry and it's a more positive experience for everyone

[Heartstrings]

11. My favorite quote from Mr. Bourdain may he rip....

[smirkymonkey]

13. Such a loss.

[Dem_4_Life]

16. I have been so deeply sad all day about his loss.

He will be missed such a great person.