Bourdain used food as a quasi-journalistic tool to tell human stories

Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain dies in French hotel room while filming coming segment for his series 'Parts Unknown'

Anthony Bourdain, the chef and author who parlayed his love of food, taste for adventure and gifts as a raconteur into television stardom, was found dead Friday in a hotel room in France of an apparent suicide, CNN said. He was 61.

CNN said in a statement he was found unresponsive Friday morning by Eric Ripert, a friend and chef. Mr. Bourdain was in Strasbourg filming a coming segment for his series “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown,” CNN said.

“His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller,” CNN