This restaurant owner just honoured Anthony Bourdain in the most heartwarming way

Earlier this week, the world mourned the death of legendary chef, author and documentarian Anthony Bourdain.

Tributes flooded in online as reports circulated that the 61-year-old took his own life.

Several social media users highlighted his ability to create nuanced, respectful cultural commentary, whereas others praised him for consistently using his platform to stand in solidarity with victims of the #MeToo movement.

A series of small restaurant owners also came forward to thank Bourdain for frequently spotlighting their work, but one New York restaurant owner decided to take things a step further by donating a full day of net sales to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, a US-based mental health non-profit committed to aiding victims of mental illness.

In a heartwarming Twitter thread, Xi'an Famous Foods CEO Jason Wang also thanked Bourdain for the role he and his show, 'No Reservations', played in the restaurant's success.

The two men have a long history: they first met back in 2008, when Bourdain came unannounced with a film crew to Xi'an Famous Foods.

Bourdain immediately fell in love with the restaurant's lamb burgers, and soon decided to feature them on his Travel Channel show 'No Reservations', according to the Wall Street Journal.

This media attention led to a surge in interest that Wang was able to capitalise on, quickly growing his business and opening new locations.

Bourdain spent the bulk of his career spotlighting similarly emerging restaurants, using his platform often to boost other chefs and celebrate independent establishments. His tragic death has once again drawn attention to harrowing statistics, including those that show suicide is the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the United Kingdom.

In fact, three quarters of British suicides are committed by men, who are statistically less likely to discuss their struggles and similarly less likely to seek professional help.

If you have been affected by this article, you can contact the following organisations for support:

mind.org.uk

beateatingdisorders.org.uk

nhs.uk/livewell/mentalhealth

mentalhealth.org.uk

switchboard.lgbt

samaritans.org

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