By Tomás Rueda @tomasruedacocinero Photo archive of Tomás Rueda.
Editor's note: Tomas Rueda, a friend of the house, is a great chef from Bogota, and is a partner in some of the best restaurants in the Colombian capital. We've known him for quite some time, over 25 years, since his days as the bassist for Catedral, one of the most important rock bands of the era. He's a culinary artist, sensitive and committed to good social causes, especially those related to defending the agricultural sector, farmers, and their products. Just a few days ago, he paid tribute on his social media to the recently deceased [name missing]. American television presenter Anthony Bourdain, whom he met while filming one of his programs in this area. Their encounter left great memories, and after reading Rueda's post on his Instagram, we couldn't help but ask his permission to share it with you all.
Cheers, Tony, and thanks for being so cool! After a few days of reflecting on the impact of his death, I'm taking a moment to consider his great legacy. Beyond his media fame, there was so much more to him. He showed us that good food exists far beyond fine dining. You can eat well in many places, especially on the street. Good food isn't just in the hands of chefs; it's everywhere, especially if we relax and approach food with care.in a cheerful attitude. That taught us to relax and create a conscious relationship with food, with joy. He also showed us—let's say—a kind of new table protocol. Not etiquette, perhaps ethics, maybe, without him even realizing it. An attitude we should adopt toward the table, how we approach it. To share, to surround ourselves, to celebrate each other. And surely this last thing I'm going to say won't be clear, and therefore I don't know how well it will catch on; Bourdain made the table a sacred space. Anthony was and is a master of ceremonies—of the table, of food, of friendship, of the everyday. In his books and his varied opinions, he always emphasized the importance of the everyday cook. The one behind the scenes, hidden away, in the background. The one who grinds day and night. The one who doesn't appear on magazine covers, but who makes it possible for all of us to sit down and enjoy a meal with our friends at a table in any restaurant. Thanks for stopping by and have a great trip!
Second editor's note: We found a playlist on Spotify organized by Karina Portugal, A Bourdain fan, who has taken information from the chef's Instagram Stories to put together some of his favorite songs for our enjoyment: