Anthony Bourdain Liked Bringing 'Good Friend' Chef Eric Ripert Somewhere 'Every Year'

Renowned chef Anthony Bourdain died Friday at the age of 61, CNN confirmed. Bourdain was reportedly found in a French hotel room by Eric Ripert, a fellow chef and Bourdain's friend. Bourdain was staying in a French hotel room while working on an upcoming episode of Parts Unknown, CNN confirmed.

On Friday, Ripert told The New York Times: "Anthony was a dear friend. He was an exceptional human being, so inspiring and generous. One of the great storytellers of our time who connected with so many. I wish him peace. My love and prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones."

Born in Antibes, France, Ripert went on to work as a chef in Michelin-starred restaurants and won multiple awards, including the James Beard Foundation's "Top Chef in New York City" and "Outstanding Chef in the United States." Ripert is the chef at the Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant Le Bernardin on West 51st Street in New York City.

Bourdain and Ripert often appeared on television together in Bourdain's travels. "I like to bring the distinguished three-star Michelin chef and good friend Eric Ripert someplace every year and torture him," Bourdain said in 2017, according to Eater.

In 2017, Bourdain and Ripert went to China for an episode of Parts Unknown. Writing for CNN, Bourdain reported that while in Chengdu, Ripert ate spicy Sichuan food, and it was "rather more than his delicate French palate was used to." He added: "Coddled by years of foie gras, runny cheeses, flaky pastries and the subtle notes of many fine wines, the searing burn of the Sichuan dried chilies and the numbing, delightfully disorienting effects of the Sichuan peppercorns were a challenge."

This story and its headline have been updated with additional reporting.

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Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert attend 'WASTED! The Story of Food Waste' Premiere during 2017 Tribeca Film Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on April 22, 2017 in New York City. Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

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