Watch: How Anthony Bourdain Showed The World That Vegetarian Food In India Is The Best

How do you even begin talking about a personality who managed to touch so many lives, walk so many unexplored roads, and gave us so many remarkable stories to remember him by?

Anthony Bourdain, chef, writer, storyteller, traveller, television personality, and an explorer of the unknown left us too soon, at 61.

Anthony Bourdain, the chef and gifted storyteller who took TV viewers around the world to explore culture, cuisine and the human condition for nearly two decades, has died. He was 61. https://t.co/eqFL2anGf4 pic.twitter.com/vUvIZ0QIVg

— CNN (@CNN) June 8, 2018

His passing yesterday was a devastating blow to family, friends, and fans; the man surely had many more cuisines to explore, stories to tell, and adventures to lead us on….

Stunned and saddened by the loss of Anthony Bourdain. He brought the world into our homes and inspired so many people to explore cultures and cities through their food. Remember that help is a phone call away US:1-800-273-TALK UK: 116 123

— Gordon Ramsay (@GordonRamsay) June 8, 2018

“Low plastic stool, cheap but delicious noodles, cold Hanoi beer.” This is how I’ll remember Tony. He taught us about food — but more importantly, about its ability to bring us together. To make us a little less afraid of the unknown. We’ll miss him. pic.twitter.com/orEXIaEMZM

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 8, 2018

Tony, as he was fondly called, lived and breathed food. But it was his innate understanding of those intricate aspects of food, his particular brand of sarcasm and humour, that voice, and the gusto with which he explored different cultures through food, that made him the much loved legend he will always be.

A beautiful example of this was seen on Twitter today, when Twitter user @sashakalra shared a clip of Bourdain’s visit to Punjab for an episode of his show, Parts Unknown.

Shot in 2014, Bourdain’s travels took him to the famous Kesar Da Dhaba in Amritsar, Punjab. And watching him gorge on the delectable vegetarian Punjabi food, saag, parathas et al., with so much love and adoration, was a revelation for a lot of hardcore meat-eaters!

My favourite Anthony Bourdain moment was when he went to Punjab and realized that vegetarian food in India is unlike vegetarian food anywhere else. pic.twitter.com/kmOVX89ftL

— sasha (@sashakalra) June 8, 2018

“If this was what vegetarianism meant in most of the places that practice it in the West, I’d be at  least half as much less of a dick about this subject.”

What came next was a heartwarming display of love and admiration for Anthony Bourdain, not just from Indian fans who loved how beautifully he captured the essence of Indian food, but also from people across the globe, for giving them a new perspective to look at a culture!

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was why Anthony Bourdain loved what he did, and was loved for it in return!

https://twitter.com/whatthemehek/status/1005123345614946304

Settling the vegetarian v/s non-vegetarian debate like only Bourdain could!

https://twitter.com/ChrisBerube/status/1005196103640403969

Yes, that!

And he even said Punjab right 😭😭 https://t.co/yFhtNJZU3a

— 🧜🏽‍♀️ (@salma_khan) June 9, 2018

Thank you, Tony!

https://twitter.com/soniachopra/status/1005215408985649152

A notable moment out of many….

https://twitter.com/asapsherg/status/1005302472049614850

And Tony would surely understand that!

My mouth is watering, but my heart is heavy. https://t.co/kTxDg6ulQw

— Hiba Ahmad (@Hiba_Ahmad96) June 8, 2018

Indeed.

Had to be one of my faves, he’s eating the absolute delicious dishes of my homeland and also my all time fave saag. Such a sad day he was a force when his ♥️ for food around the globe. https://t.co/CdHij7hDio

— 𝓐𝓷𝓰𝓲𝓮 𝓡𝓮𝓱𝓪𝓵 (@akrred) June 8, 2018

Rest in peace, foodie!

"look hippie, if you made bread this good, I might eat at your restaurant." what a brilliant, unique voice. RIP. https://t.co/IkDM4ehh2i

— Muhammad Butt (@muhammadbutt) June 8, 2018

I’m pretty sure, Bourdain’s already exploring what foodie treats heaven has to offer!

he also ate with the gusto my vegetarian indian mom always hoped i would! hope there's lots of good indian food up there and that they don't spice it for a white man :') https://t.co/P63CouCr1d

— wait, like shania? (@tsrini_) June 8, 2018

He inspired so many people to explore Indian food and culture!

https://twitter.com/StefaniaManescu/status/1005114261314719744

Heaven couldn’t wait for Tony :'(

He didn’t treat food like he discovered it. He was mindful of the work of the people who made the food as a labor of love, and was a grateful guest. A true ally, & advocate. Heaven couldn’t wait for Tony. https://t.co/u51rGPrtXE

— whorechacha (@kanyeasada89) June 8, 2018

Couldn’t have put it better….

Thing about #Bourdain was he didn't look down on foreign places he visited & their ‘quaintness/backwardness/insert-usual-derogatory adjective.' He dived in, hungry to experience. His wasn’t the Orientalist gaze. He saw humanity (& food) everywhere, and connected with it. RIP

— Rania Abouzeid (@Raniaab) June 8, 2018

And finally, the most beautiful takeaway from Anthony Bourdain’s life… and his passing….

Having the best local Indian food tonight, and reaching out to some friends who I know are struggling.
There's not much I can do, but I can do that. https://t.co/BT5MxDFeB1

— Electra Mourning is Social Distancing (@ElectraMourning) June 9, 2018

Rest in peace, Tony. You’ve left an unforgettable taste of your food, and your stories in our hearts.