Knife & Fork Inn Atlantic City.
TRENTON – Assembly members Paul Moriarty (D-4), Carol Murphy (D-7) and Angela McKnight (D-31) have sponsored a resolution introduced in June that calls on the Division of Travel and Tourism to establish the “Anthony Bourdain Food Trail,” highlighting 10 of Bourdain’s New Jersey favorite eateries, including three in Atlantic City.
Assembly Resolution 173 was approved 75-0 by the full Assembly Jan. 31. The measure specifies the tour would include eateries Bourdain featured in his CNN series “Parts Unknown.” In an episode of the series, Bourdain, a native of Leona in Bergen County, traveled the state with his brother Chris recalling memories from their youth, including Jersey Shore eats such as fried hotdogs, pizza and seafood.
The places featured in the episode are Knife and 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; Kubel’s in Barnegat Light; Hiram’s Roadstand in Fort Lee; and Frank’s Deli in Asbury Park.
Tony’s Baltimore Grill
The celebrity chef traveled the world exploring how food influences the human condition and unites mankind. He was a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and worked as a chef at several restaurants, including as executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles and the Rainbow Room in Manhattan. His best-seller, “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly” led to his career in television. He hosted several food series, including A Cooks Tour on the Food Network and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and The Layover on Travel Channel, and finally Anthonly Bourdain: Parts Unknown on CNN.
He was considered one of the most influential chefs in the world. He committed suicide by hanging on June 8, 2018 at the age of 61 while he was on location in the Alsace region of France.
“There’s no question that Anthony’s road to fame was not an easy one,” Moriarty said. “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. It was heartbreaking for his fans and for those who knew him in Leonia to find out of his passing.”
McKnight said the trail would bring awareness to the plight of those with depressions and other mental health issues and would be a “perfect way to remember his legacy.”
“Anthony’s triumphal story impacted so many people, and his love for New Jersey never wavered, so it is appropriate that we celebrate his legacy by creating this trail,” Murphy said.”
Bourdain was nominated for posthumous induction into the 11th class of the NJ Hall of Fame.
