Laurie Woolever, who served as Anthony Bourdain’s assistant for practically a decade till his tragic passing in 2018, is providing an intimate have a look at their relationship in her upcoming memoir, “Care and Feeding,” set to launch on March 11.
Woolever wasn’t simply managing the schedule of the world’s most well-known touring chef; she co-wrote his books, acted as his publicist, and, as Anthony Bourdain himself joked, was his “Luca Brasi” from “The Godfather.”
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Anthony Bourdain’s Longtime Assistant Laurie Woolever Opens Up In New Memoir
Their shut working relationship naturally developed right into a deep friendship that also lingers in her desires.
“For years, I’ve had these desires the place he comes again, and it seems that it was only a massive ruse the place he determined to vanish for some time,” she shared, per PEOPLE. “And I’m within the place of serving to him get reacclimated into life.”
Woolever admits she retains a “operating checklist” of issues she needs she might inform him.
“Wouldn’t or not it’s nice if that dream was actual? And I received to be the one to say, ‘Dude, there was a pandemic in 2020.’ And ‘You wouldn’t imagine what’s occurring with international politics proper now. There’s this present ‘Succession’ that I feel you’ll love , and The Bear!’”
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Anthony Bourdain’s Closing Days
All through her time working with Bourdain, Woolever maintained an “lively journal follow,” which grew to become a basis for her memoir. She additionally had years of emails and textual content messages with him, all the way in which up till their closing change in June 2018.
On the time, Bourdain was in Alsace, France, filming an episode of “Elements Unknown.” That very same week, paparazzi photographs surfaced displaying his girlfriend, actress and director Asia Argento, allegedly concerned with one other man.
“We talked about that after which additionally about very regular issues like, ‘Let’s schedule this physician’s appointment,’” Woolever remembers. “It’s onerous to reconcile that he believed he could be again in New York, after which he wasn’t.”
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Laurie Woolever Shares Behind-The-Scenes Media Maneuvers With Asia Argento Romance
Bourdain and Argento went public with their relationship in May 2017, however behind the scenes, Woolever was already managing the media fallout. She remembers how, shortly after an Italian tabloid revealed photographs of the couple collectively in Rome, Bourdain known as her with directions to deal with an inquiry from The New York Put up.
“Verbally verify with the reporter that it’s true, nothing extra, and don’t depart any fingerprints that this data got here from our camp,” he advised her. The profitable execution of this process, she admits, was the “spotlight of my week.”
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Laurie Woolever Reveals Failed Romantic Gesture And Closing Heartbreak
As their relationship intensified, Woolever noticed firsthand how devoted Bourdain was to Argento, usually sending her fastidiously curated items, together with a big field of vinyl information chosen from file shops round New York. However the gesture didn’t land as he had hoped.
When the bundle arrived in Italy, sudden import duties and customs paperwork turned it into an inconvenience reasonably than a romantic shock. Argento, irritated by the trouble, despatched it again.
By June 2018, their relationship was dealing with intense public scrutiny. Woolever recounts receiving a Google alert about paparazzi photographs of Argento kissing a French journalist. Quickly after, The Nationwide Enquirer reached out for remark.
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When she requested Bourdain how he needed to reply, he was clear, “Ignore it, and ignore any related queries from different pubs. However let me know when the Enquirer piece drops.”
Heartbreaking Final Messages Earlier than Tragedy
Regardless of the emotional pressure, Bourdain was nonetheless planning. He requested Woolever to schedule a lunch, a haircut, a health care provider’s appointment, and a personal jiu-jitsu session for when he returned to New York. That night time, she despatched him a easy textual content: “I hope you’re doing OK.”
His reply was, “I’ll dwell, and we’ll survive.”
Woolever assumed “we” referred to him and Argento, that regardless of the turmoil, they might push by.
Then, at 4:25 a.m. the subsequent morning, her cellphone buzzed. It was Kim, Bourdain’s agent.
“Tony has taken his life,” she advised Woolever.
His sudden loss of life got here at a second of private upheaval for Woolever as effectively, as simply three weeks earlier, she and her husband had determined to separate after he found she was having an affair. “A one-two punch,” she mentioned.
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By “Care and Feeding,” Woolever presents an unfiltered have a look at the person she merely known as Tony: his brilliance, his struggles, and the ultimate moments of a life that left an indelible mark on the world.
