Roadrunner
May 16, 2026
“Eat at a local restaurant tonight. Get the cream sauce. Have a cold pint at 4 o’clock in a mostly empty bar. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Listen to someone you think may have nothing in common with you. Order the steak rare. Eat an oyster. Have a Negroni. Have two. Be open to a world where you may not understand or agree with the person next to you, but have a drink with them anyways. Eat slowly. Tip your server. Check in on your friends. Check in on yourself. Enjoy the ride.” – Bourdain.
While this quote was never directly said by Anthony, bits and pieces have been and I compiled them together.
I was first introduced to Anthony Bourdain when I was still in my senior year of high school, in my first floor dorm room on a Wednesday night in April, roommate half asleep and responsibilities fleeting, riding the wave of my university acceptances and final term of school. While battling jet lag in myself, the afternoon nap kept me awake as I struggled to find whatever is left of the meaning for me to be in that exact room and school. Stumbling across a youtube trailer for his documentary, Roadrunner: A film about Anthony Bourdain, I decided to watch it anyways, because it was too early to be studying for my AP Calculus BC exam.
The basis of the film follows Bourdain’s story from chef, to writer, and his becoming of a TV personality and internet sensation. There was no hiding, from the get go, that he would kill himself in June of 2018, in France. Basing off this premise, the film was made for a dead man, and a man’s soul that refuses to die.
On first watch, his truth telling personality and lack of a filter brought a unique authenticity to a world increasingly made plastic. It caught me instantly. Especially his piece on his first visit to Tokyo, since I had just come back from the same experience a couple weeks prior. There was a certain poetic feeling to his writing, as if it was never for TV or anybody in particular, but just beautifully created and masterly connected with words. It is partially the reason why I was inspired to start this website, and or blog, myself.
Many of what he said resonated with me, in particular aspects around connecting with others. I’ve since then adopted his style of thinking to try and break bread with anyone and anywhere. Many of his travels and experiences never amounted to any particular mission, even if it was primarily around food, it is often seen to actually be Anthony learning how to be a better person. A more understanding one. Someone who could learn to break down preconceived notions and expectations around others and cultures. Consistently learning, seeking to be the stupidest in the room, the one that still asks questions, and never letting ignorance get in the way of a good meal. He would often cite that you could never have the amazing meal without risking the terrible ones.
Perhaps his mission was never to just eat meals around the world and explore the streets of bustling new cities in Asia, but rather to represent something more for people. Someone that could help bring the world towards understanding and a more peaceful time, a one where conversations were accepted instead of neglected, a world where understanding one another meant learning that we have an initial lack of understanding. Getting off your ass and traveling, even if that is crossing the street. To his demise, it may well have been an impossible mission.
While his suicide was last linked to his partner at the time, it is likely he had suffered from depression throughout his life. He never did yell a loud cry of pleasehelp, maybe because it was of little fruit or no one heard him. Nonetheless, the growing influence of social media and connections within it likely had a play as well. I am not one to say what happened because I don’t know, but he had cited a similar dislike for the media before. This is also something I have found troubling, personally, as well.
While it is nice to be able to connect with others through instagram and see fun videos, i’ve found it increasingly toxically addicting and demeaning to many people. Validation and perceptions around the world, created on the screen of the phone instead of the experiences on the ground is something that I wish could be eliminated, but sadly can not. People’s life and influences controlled by an algorithm and being subject to the easy judgement of people through likes comments and shares. But that is a topic for another day.
While upsetting that I only really discovered Bourdain after his death, I try to still experience it like I would have if he was alive. Going through his previous shows, clips, have always been a nice retreat away from Real Analysis and Partial Differential Equations. I hope more people can learn about him and at least try to adopt some of his ideas, not all, but the good ones. I truly do believe in breaking bread with others whenever you can, talking with strangers, and getting your ass off the couch can bring a lot more understanding into the world, and maybe, connect us all a bit better than social media.
Rest in Peace, Tony.
