This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Today would have been celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain’s 63rd birthday. Many of us in the Basque American community were deeply affected by his sudden death last year, because he has long been a friend of the Basques. On this day, I wanted to dedicate this blog post to celebrating Bourdain’s appreciation of the Basque Country and its unique food culture.
Anthony Bourdain’s Connection to the Basque Country
Bourdain brought the Basque Country to the attention of countless American viewers throughout his career, first with his book A Cook’s Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal and then nearly all of his TV shows.
Best known for his travel shows in search of the world’s unique cuisines, Bourdain featured the Basque Country in three out of his four shows.
During the first season of his first show A Cook’s Tour, Bourdain traveled to San Sebastian. Then in 2008, he repeated a visit in No Reservations’ Season 4. Finally, and perhaps the most well-remembered, he traveled again to the Basque Country in Parts Unknown Season 9.
Bourdain wrote in his Field Notes for this last episode: “My love for the Basque, for Basque culture, for my Basque friends, is absolute. I hope I will be forgiven for this. But if not, I can live with it.”
You can watch the trailer for the episode, in which he tells viewers, “Don’t come here” so that he could keep San Sebastian to himself:
Having struck up a friendship with the Basque Country’s own celebrity chefs Juan Mari and Elena Arzak in the early 2000’s, Bourdain developed a deep appreciation of Basque food and culture over the years. We can applaud his dedication to including Basque chefs in his television episodes and allowing them to speak for themselves.
Bourdain didn’t go to the Basque Country to outshine anyone, he went to highlight and give a voice to the Basques’ unique culture.
Today we honor his unprecedented commitment to celebrating the Basque Country on American television.
If you would like to commemorate Bourdain’s life, his longtime friends and fellow chefs Eric Ripert and José Andrés are asking us to post pictures and videos on social media today raising a glass to Bourdain with the hashtag #BourdainDay. Won’t you join me?
Basque Country TV episodes:
Bonus: Bourdain’s Poulet Basquaise Recipe
CONTINUE READING:
- 3 Basque Restaurants Featured on The Food Network
- Basque Movies to Watch on Netflix
- The Ultimate List of Basque Restaurants in the United States (2019)
Photo: Business Insider/Sarah Jacobs
Facebook Comments