It’s time to explore your city, talk to strangers and try something new — because it’s Anthony Bourdain Day.
June 25 marks what would’ve been Bourdain’s 69th birthday. Started by his close friends Eric Ripert and José Andrés the year after his death by suicide in 2018, this unofficial holiday is a chance to honor the chef the way he lived: with curiosity, appetite and an honest eye for the world around him.
Celebrating can be as simple as walking around a neighborhood you haven’t been in before, grabbing a negroni with a friend or saying yes to that weird-but-promising new restaurant. As Bourdain himself said, “There’s no better feeling than coming home after a long journey, and there’s no better feeling than leaving home to start another one.”
(He also said, “Next to making a proper omelette or wiping your own ass, rolling a joint is an essential life skill for any self-respecting member of society.” So, you know — take that as you will.)
Where to watch
If you’re not quite ready for your own Bourdanian adventure, you can still live vicariously through his escapades on screen. And hey — I can even forgive HBO Max for all the name flip-flopping if they’ll let me watch “Parts Unknown” without ads.
“Parts Unknown”
The show most associated with Bourdain — and with good reason. Across 12 seasons, Bourdain explored the world with his signature wit and deep empathy, treating food not as content but as connection.
I grew up watching this show. It aired during my adolescent and teenage years — a formative time for anyone, but especially for a girl who spent her weekends flipping through her mom’s stack of “Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food” magazines.
Bourdain wasn’t eating “everyday food” in the traditional sense — he was expanding the definition entirely. He reminded us that food is how we understand culture, history, and each other.
Recommended episodes:
- “Iran” (S4:E6)
- “Congo” (S1:E8)
- “Tokyo” (S2:E7)
- “Rome” (S8:E9)
Available on: Max, Prime Video, Discovery+
“No Reservations”
Less overtly political, but still all about culture and cuisine, this earlier series (originally on the Travel Channel) showcases Bourdain’s hunger for adventure — and for second helpings.
Recommended episodes:
- “Vietnam” (S5:E10)
- “Iceland” (S1:E2)
- “France” (S1:E1)
- “Beirut” (S2:E14)
Available on: Max, Disney+
“The Layover”
A little more fast-paced, a little more commercial. Bourdain takes on global hotspots with just 24 to 48 hours in each city. Even fans admit this one’s a bit “fluffy,” and Bourdain himself didn’t love making it — but it still has plenty of gems.
Available on: Discovery+
“A Cook’s Tour”
This is where it all started. In search of the “perfect meal,” Bourdain travels the world in his earliest series. The tone is lighter, the ambition big.
Available on: Prime Video
What to read
Before the shows, there were the words. Bourdain’s writing helped reinvent food journalism — unfiltered, funny, and full of heart.
“Kitchen Confidential”
His breakout memoir and a must-read for anyone who’s ever worked in a kitchen — or just wanted to. It’s part exposé, part love letter and all swagger.
“Medium Raw”
A look at life post-fame. Bourdain writes honestly about his mental health, his regrets, and how food connects people across every boundary.
“The Nasty Bits”
A collection of essays and stories from his travels, organized by taste — sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami. Yes, it’s a little chaotic. So was he.
“Appetites”
Technically a cookbook. Emotionally a time capsule. This one’s filled with recipes inspired by fatherhood, especially his relationship with his daughter.
Also worth reading:
- “World Travel: An Irreverent Guide” (with longtime collaborator Laurie Woolever)
- “Typhoid Mary” (a historical deep dive into early New York City kitchens)
Biographies & Memoirs:
- “Bourdain: The Definitive Oral Biography” by Laurie Woolever
- “In the Weeds” by Tom Vitale
And yes — check your local library. Bourdain would approve.
How to celebrate
If you want to honor Bourdain, don’t just watch or read. Live a little like he did.
Go somewhere unfamiliar. Talk to someone new. Eat something outside your comfort zone. Take yourself on a weird little solo date. Host a party where everyone brings a dish inspired by their favorite episode.
Toast him with a negroni. Or a scotch. Or just whatever peaks your fancy.
At the heart of it, Bourdain believed that food is a gateway to everything else — empathy, adventure, humanity.
You don’t have to book a flight to Tokyo or Vienna or Morocco. Start in your own neighborhood. Order the thing you’ve always skipped. Sit at the bar. Ask questions. Look around.
And if you’re lucky, you’ll come home a little different than when you left.
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