Thank you, Mr. Bourdain

If you are the sort to be reading this blog you have heard long ago of the passing of Anthony Bourdain. And it will come as no surprise that he was one of my models for food and for writing. I have followed his career for almost 20 years and have loved watching his evolution from writing about restaurant kitchens to travel and ultimately about self-exploration and social justice. He taught us all a lot. I’ve been amazed by the multitude of directions and sources from which I am seeing memorials on Facebook. Writers of travel, food, culture, politics, pop culture and civil rights have been celebrating him. I don’t need to replay his career or what we should get from him, but I can’t help but share for a moment what I got from him.

Your body is not a temple. It’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride.

Travel. Always. Particularly to Vietnam.

Speak up for others. Introduce others to each other. Bring difference together.

Use your opportunities and your privilege. Us affluent white guys have a voice, sure, but cede the space when you have it to those too often ignored and give them space to speak their truth.

Speak truth to power. Punch up. Speak loud. Be not ashamed or apologetic. Call out hypocrisy and immorality. Stand by those who do the same.

Eat everything at least once.

Eating is ultimately about sharing space, sharing stories, sharing lives.

The best meal is defined by the company, not the food.

Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, ages, locations. Appreciate beauty in all its manifestations for its own sake. Seek beauty.

Protect those who need protection.

Disturb the comfortable. Comfort the disturbed.

Thank you, Mr. Bourdain, for making the world a better place.