It’s an understatement to say that Anthony Bourdain’s 2018 death by suicide rocked the culinary world, and while we’ll never know what he thought about the controversy surrounding his girlfriend Asia Argento, there’s no doubt that his unflinching devotion to shining light on overlooked parts of the world is sorely missed.
On July 16, Tampa Theatre lets audiences reconnect with Bourdain on screen, who was 61 when he died, and then talk to each other, on the opening night of “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain.”
The historic movie palace—located at 711 N Franklin St.—is screening the flick and then hosting a post-film panel discussion which includes Tampa Tribune alum Jeff Houck (currently with Columbia Restaurant Group), Tampa restaurateur and mental health advocate Greg Baker, and Dallas chef Michael Bell (Cowboys Club). Also on the panel is Tampa chef Ferrell Alvarez who laid off 41 employees last spring at the onset of the pandemic before eventually re-tooling his concepts—Rooster & the Till, Nebraska Mini-Mart and Gallito—to survive and eventually offer each laid off employee their job back.
"Anthony Bourdain was the first person to make me feel that it could be socially acceptable to not only be a chef but to also be true to who I am as a person, which is not your quintessential businessman," Alvarez told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay." He instilled a sense of confidence in me by just being himself. I met him when I was a young cook during his book tour for the release of 'A Cook's Tour.' He was so raw and real and to me at that time in my career, it was a pivotal point of inspiration that further fueled my desire to become a chef one day. ”
The film is directed by Oscar-winner Morgan Neville (Won’t You Be My Neighbour?") and utilizes both unseen and archive footage of Bourdain, new interviews with his closest friends and even the late chef’s own voice to tell the story.
“Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain,” opens at Tampa Theatre on July 16 and screenings every day except Thursday through Wednesday, July 28. Saturday matinees (4:30 p.m.) happen on July 17 and July 24. Tickets are $6.50-$11.50 depending on showtime and membership status.
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