Nitehawk Cinema
Planning this article was not an easy feat as I had to do a couple of trips out to Brooklyn. Two weeks past I went to Nitehawk Cinema to meet with Chef Michael Franey, to go around the location and learn about the operation. While last week I came back to Williamsburg to experience the cinema and cuisine. Was so excited that the timing was perfect to catch Roadrunner, the latest documentary film about Anthony Bourdain. Chef Bourdain being 1 of my heroes who inspired me to try my best and learn as much as I can through travels as well.
I was reflecting on how Anthony Bourdain had a made an influence on me in coming to NY back in 2011 while I was still based in Paris. Giving it much thought, I realized that I did not know much about him aside from the obvious facts that he is a chef, he travels for a living on his tv show, he is friends with Chef Eric Ripert and that he wrote the classic book Kitchen Confidential. I remember reading Kitchen Confidential for the first time a long time ago and how it painted a landscape in my imagination on what a chef’s life could be.
The film was nice and had many interesting story lines revolving around Bourdain’s persona. It was nice to see the human element deep into play and focus on his character. There were so many new things I learned about the celebrity chef like he was divorced twice and has a beautiful daughter. I never imagined him to be the type to marry his high school sweetheart, but it was nice to see him as a romantic. The relationships that he built with his friends, staff and film crew were deep and he seemed like the type of person that would instantly make a connection with anyone and everyone.
It was sad to see how troubled his life was starting at an early age with heroin and other vices. This type of behavior that is normally associated with being a chef always leaves a sour taste in my mouth as I’ve seen so many fall down this hole. To see Bourdain so happy with his family and friends in various scenes across the movie and to hear his anecdotes really reminded me of how I envisioned him as a person before seeing a bit of his dark side. It was heartbreaking to see how his friends and family were hurting over his loss. Although I’m glad that I was able to see the film and understand him a bit better in the end I still recall the news of his suicide and how shocking it was to lose a legend.
R.I.P. Chef Anthony Bourdain… I hope you have found the peace that you were simply looking for
#KULINARYATRAVELS is off
to QUEENS NIGHT MARKET next…