Anthony Bourdain’s death by suicide on June 8 rocked the restaurant industry, but in the wake of the loss, Connecticut chefs are coming together.
Two Hartford-area restaurants plan tribute dinners to the 61-year-old chef, author and TV host next month, with ticket sales benefiting organizations dedicated to suicide prevention efforts and mental health awareness.
Farmington’s 4 Eat and Drink hosts a “Parts Unknown” tribute event on July 17 at 6:30 p.m., a seven-course dinner prepared by 4’s executive chef Carlos Perez, Sean Butler of Francesca’s Wine Bar & Bistro in Collinsville, Xavier Santiago of Trattoria Toscana in Manchester, Jamie Bordonaro of Pursuit of Passion and Jason Sobocinski of New Haven’s Caseus and Ordinary. The dinner also features Sobocinski’s Black Hog Brewing, of Oxford, and a dessert course with Mystic Cheese of Lebanon.
Courses “will represent the countries and places that meant the most to [Bourdain],” Perez said, with plates inspired by Japan, Congo, Denmark, Vietnam, Spain, France and Bourdain’s native New York. The restaurant will stream the accompanying episodes of Bourdain’s CNN show on large screens.
Tickets are $100, with a portion of proceeds going directly to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Perez said Bourdain’s 2000 book “Kitchen Confidential” helped inspire his own career as a chef. “I grew up reading that book over and over. …He was the first one to let people know what the industry is like, the pressure.”
On July 23, Bistro on Main in Manchester honors Bourdain with a dinner of French bistro classics, with proceeds going to the Jordan Porco Foundation. Ernie and Marisa Porco founded the Hartford-based organization in 2011 after they lost their son to suicide when he was a freshman in college, according to its website.
“The Jordan Porco Foundation does amazing work, preventing suicide and promoting mental health for young adults — it’s a cause that I believe Tony would want to support,” said Bistro on Main executive chef Ben Dubow in an email. “I hope this dinner gives proper tribute to an icon, while also furthering the really important conversations we need to be having as an industry and as a society around the issues of mental health, depression, addiction and suicide.”
Courses include a trio of oysters, foie gras, “surf and turf” with petite tenderloin and butter-poached lobster tail and Earl Grey lavender crème brûlée. Tickets are $90 per person, with gratuity included.
“Bourdain was such an influence on so many chefs and the industry; it just feels right to remember him and celebrate him,” Dubow wrote. “By celebrating him, we don’t gloss over his flaws nor the tragedy of his suicide. But we recognize that all of [us] are flawed and we can celebrate the good while also naming the bad.”
Buy tickets to 4 Eat and Drink’s dinner here and make online reservations for Bistro on Main’s dinner here.
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