Olivier Nasti, the chef and owner of Le Chambard, the luxury hotel in Kaysersberg where Bourdain took his life, paid tribute to his colleague.
"It is with great respect for the leader, the author, the TV entertainer, the visionary Anthony Bourdain that I express all my condolences to his family and to the anonymous people around the world who he made dream so much," Nasti said.
"It is the whole family of French gastronomy that joins me, to renew our deep friendship to our bereaved American brothers," he added.
Kayserberg Mayor Pascal Lohr told AP his town is extending its grief "to the entire United States."
Italian tourist Fulvio Lotti, visiting the town, said, "I felt very surprised and sad of course because I like his show, I like his books ... and then to know that he suddenly died in a city where I came for a weekend from Florence, it's weird."
Lotti plans to dine at the Chambard's restaurant, and "I will have a thought about him."
Bourdain filmed a segment of his show this week at the Michelin-starred Auberge d l'Ill in nearby Illhaeusern, where staff are reeling from his death.
"You actually don't really believe it. You think it's probably a fake," the restaurant's sommelier, Herve Fleuriel, told AP, recalling "that great Chef who was here on Wednesday lunch."
It was one of his last meals. Fleuriel described to AP what Bourdain ate — goose liver, frog's legs, fish and pigeon — and a lively exchange Bourdain had with close friend chef Eric Ripert about the wine and food and how to pair them.
"They looked like they were pretty happy."
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- AP