UPDATE: June 14, 2019 at 2:20 p.m.
Just one year following the tragic death of late great chef Anthony Bourdain, New Jersey has officially debuted its Anthony Bourdain Food Trail.
Festivities kicked off Thursday with a ceremony at Hiram's Roadstand in Fort Lee. Stops include Bourdain's most beloved dining destinations across his home state, like Tony's Baltimore Grill in Atlantic City, Frank's Deli & Restaurant in Ashbury, Donkey's Place in Camden, and more. All of these locations have all appeared on his CNN series.
Original post: June 21, 2018 at 3:13 p.m.
Since the death of beloved chef and storyteller Anthony Bourdain, millions have paid tribute. From make-shift memorials at his former restaurant to a massive slew of heartfelt messages on social media, the response is proof of the large a mark he made on the food world. Now, his home state of New Jersey wants to honor the chef in the best way they know how: with a food trail that hits all of his favorite spots.
The former chef, who died of apparent suicide earlier this month in France, had a special affinity for New Jersey after growing up in Leonia and summering on the Jersey shore.
“There’s no question that Anthony’s road to fame was not an easy one,” said New Jersey Assemblyman Paul Moriarty in a statement, The Inquirer reported. “Even after international fame, he never forgot his Jersey roots. Each episode, Bourdain brought his homegrown wit, charm, and sense of humanity to his viewers. He became a New Jersey food icon.”
And so, Moriarty, who's passionate about tributing the chef, proposed in legislation that the Division of Travel and Tourism establish an official 'Anthony Bourdain Food Trail'. On the trail would be ten restaurants the chef visits on a 2015 episode of CNN's Parts Unknown.
The Inquirer reports those spots are: Kubel’s in Barnegat Light, Hiram’s Roadstand in Fort Lee, Knife & Fork, Dock’s Oyster House, Tony’s Baltimore Grill, and James’ Salt Water Taffy in Atlantic City, Tony and Ruth Steaks and Donkey’s Place in Camden, Lucille’s Country Cooking in Barnegat, and Frank’s Deli in Asbury Park.
We've never wanted to head to the Garden State more.
Follow Delish on Instagram.