My response to a dismissive comment regarding Anthony Bourdain being overrated and using his struggles with addiction and depression as reasons to disparage him. The NYT deleted the original comment and all the reply's. Even those of us that could be accused of “idolizing” Anthony Bourdain know of his trials and tribulations. And no one including Mr. Bourdain and his friends that are deservingly called “super chef” would refer to him that way. Anthony Bourdain was a storyteller who intertwined culture and food into a narrative that informed us about the two in ways that went beyond anything many of us have ever experienced. I’ve never been a fan of food shows that ignored the culture and history that birthed the food fetured or simplistic travel shows that focus on superficial things and ignore the complexity of the places being presented. Bourdain went deeper and beyond the western affectation that demanded a first world centric approach to food. Yeah he had serious addiction issues, many talented and passionate people do. And yes he struggled with depression and anxiety, many of us do as well. He was very human and flawed and I for one thank him for opening up places and people in ways that I could never have imagined, nor afforded to see and know. And I for one will not apologize to skeptics and naysayers for my admiration of this beautiful troubled man.

My response to a dismissive comment regarding Anthony Bourdain being overrated and using his struggles with addiction and depression as reasons to disparage him. The NYT deleted the original comment and all the reply's. Even those of us that could be accused of “idolizing” Anthony Bourdain know of his trials and tribulations. And no one including Mr. Bourdain and his friends that are deservingly called “super chef” would refer to him that way. Anthony Bourdain was a storyteller who intertwined culture and food into a narrative that informed us about the two in ways that went beyond anything many of us have ever experienced. I’ve never been a fan of food shows that ignored the culture and history that birthed the food fetured or simplistic travel shows that focus on superficial things and ignore the complexity of the places being presented. Bourdain went deeper and beyond the western affectation that demanded a first world centric approach to food. Yeah he had serious addiction issues, many talented and passionate people do. And yes he struggled with depression and anxiety, many of us do as well. He was very human and flawed and I for one thank him for opening up places and people in ways that I could never have imagined, nor afforded to see and know. And I for one will not apologize to skeptics and naysayers for my admiration of this beautiful troubled man.

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