A restaurant owner in New York City has posted a touching tribute to Anthony Bourdain, and promised to donate the entire restaurant chain’s profits from Friday June 8 (US time) to suicide prevention.
Jason Wang, the son of the founder of NYC restaurant Xi’an Famous Foods, took to Twitter to express his sadness at Bourdain’s death, as well as his gratitude.
Wang said that after Bourdain visited the restaurant in an episode of his TV show No Reservations, Xi’an Famous Foods became successful enough for his family to leave their one-room lodgings in Flushing and move into a family apartment. They eventually opened restaurants in 12 locations, and Wang’s father would often trial new dishes when Bourdain came for return visits.
In the Twitter thread, Wang describes meeting Bourdain eight years after the episode was filmed, and thanking him in person.
I wanted him to know it helped bring our family out from living in one room in Flushing to living the American Dream.
When recounting the conversation, he told Buzzfeed today:
He basically said that he was just doing what he was doing, that we were the ones making the food and he just liked it,
Today’s a day of extreme sadness for us here at Xi’an Famous Foods. I’ve lost a dear friend today, and we mourn with the rest of the world. I remember the time in 2007 when Tony first visited our basement food stall in Flushing for Travel Channel’s No Reservations while I was… pic.twitter.com/z7FBcWnMID
— Xi’an Famous Foods (@xianfoods) June 8, 2018
…told him, while he may have no idea what he has done for our family and business by simply saying he enjoyed the food, I wanted him to know it helped bring our family out from living in one room in Flushing to living the American dream. We were able to grow our business…
— Xi’an Famous Foods (@xianfoods) June 8, 2018
…and all of those dear people who left us all too early, and in taking whatever action we can to prevent suicide in the US, Xi’an Famous Foods will be donating 100% of our net sales on today, Friday, June 8, 2018, from all of our stores, to @800273TALK
— Xi’an Famous Foods (@xianfoods) June 8, 2018
https://t.co/y8kyNEh2Ic . Please cherish all of our lives and help those who may be struggling. Rest in peace, Tony, and the most sincere condolences to Tony’s beloved family. ~Jason Wang, CEO
— Xi’an Famous Foods (@xianfoods) June 8, 2018
Xi’an Famous Foods will be donating all of its profits from all its locations to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a sum that Wang said was likely to be in the area of US$50,ooo – $60,000.
He explained:
It’s important to show him respect and acknowledgment with more than just words. It’s been a tragic week.
Our hearts go out to everyone who’s reeling from the death of Anthony Bourdain, a man whose approach to food and humanity touched so many lives.
If you would like to talk to someone about mental health, please call the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (ages 5 to 25) or BeyondBlue on 1300 22 4636. If you are in crisis, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.