Celebrity chef and Food Network star Anne Burrell was found “unconscious and unresponsive” in her Brooklyn home on the morning of Tuesday, June 17. According to the New York City Police Department she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her family issued a statement confirming her passing. “Anne was a beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend, her smile lit up every room she entered,” the statement read.
“Anne’s light radiated far beyond those she knew, touching millions across the world,” the family added. “Though she is no longer with us, her warmth, spirit, and boundless love remain eternal.”
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is yet to determine the cause of death.
People reports that the celebrity chef spent her Monday evening performing an improv show at The Second City New York. “Everyone said she was so great last night and so happy,” a source told the outlet. Another person confirmed Burrell’s upbeat mood and added that she “was in great spirits” during and after the show. “Typical fun, outgoing Anne, having a blast,” the insider shared with the outlet.
Her sudden passing the day after came as a huge shock to everyone who had attended her show the day prior and witnessed she seemed perfectly fine.
Five days before her passing, Burrell shared a post on Instagram, “I ran into @greenladyofbrooklyn in my neighborhood today!! I’m not going to lie- I have been keeping an eye out for her. I may or may not have followed her down the street for a minute. She is just lovely!!! #ilovewhatido #luckygirl 💚💚💚.”
Being part of the culinary industry for years, she helped hundreds of chefs in the making become better cooks and discover their culinary voice.
In an April interview with TastingTable, she spoke of the connection between cooks and food. “I truly in my heart feel that your food knows how you’re feeling when you cook it and it reacts accordingly,” she said.
Anne Burrell was a firm believer in mise en place.
She encouraged cooks to prep ingredients ahead and clean as you go in order to keep the kitchen running smoothly.
She made a name for herself hosting Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, All-Star Best Thing I Ever Ate, Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell, and making memorable appearances on Iron Chef America.
Anne Burrell’s dedication went far from the kitchen. She served as an advisory board member for the Garden of Dreams Foundation, acted as a celebrity ambassador for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and actively supported City Harvest’s Food Council.
Burrell often said, “I feel so lucky to be able to share my true passion in life with others.”
She is survived by her husband Stuart Claxton, and his son, Javier, as well as her mother, Marlene, her sister, Jane, and her brother Ben.
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