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Anne Burrell’s friend talks ‘complex relationship’ with Food Network chef: ‘She was going through some stuff’

BBG News

Chef Duff Goldman, a good friend of Food Network celebrity Anne Burrell, paid tribute to her following the sad news of her passing at her New York residence.

On Tuesday, June 17, at around 7:50 am, the co-host of The Worst Cooks In America was discovered in a state of unconsciousness and unresponsiveness by authorities who were summoned to the scene.

According to reports from the Daily Mail, the New York Fire Department has confirmed they are attending an incident where someone appears to have suffered a heart attack. At this point, the exact cause of the person’s death is under investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Currently, Goldman – known for his Baltimore-based bakery, Charm City Cakes, which gained popularity through the Food Network – has penned a heartfelt tribute to his deceased friend.

In the last 24 hours, he’s penned and revised this Instagram caption numerous times, but he’s still struggling to find the right words, as he posted alongside a picture of them together.

In approximately 2006, Anne and I developed a friendship. At the time, she was dealing with some personal challenges, and I’d heard she was struggling. During a visit to New York City from Baltimore, I made her a cake that read “Don’t let the hardships get the best of you.” She never did give in, he said proudly.

He mentioned that our relationship was intricate, and I recall our final discussion before we went separate ways was quite a heated argument over the virtues of catfish. He humorously recounted how terms such as “trash fish,” “tastes like mud,” and “cake boy” were exchanged during this debate.

As a devoted admirer, it’s no secret that Anne and I engaged in lively, occasionally sharp exchanges. To this day, I remain puzzled about what caused our connection to fade, yet I’ve always harbored a hope that wherever she is, Anne is thriving and discovering joy.

At a New York City gala about a year or two back, Goldman reunited with Burrell in the company of his wife Johnna Colbry and their four-year-old daughter, Josephine.

Goldman led Josephine away to the lobby for a brief respite from listening to speeches at the table. As we strolled past some marble pillars, we spotted Anne.

He reminisced: ‘At that moment, it had been years since our last conversation. I’d rather not delve into the details, but let me tell you this: Our talk left my heart feeling uplifted and radiant, as if Anne had discovered a sense of contentment and affection in her life.’

Goldman stated: ‘Life can be harsh, requiring us to be resilient. Anne was incredibly resilient, yet beneath her strong exterior lay a heart full of empathy and grace that was truly captivating.’

He exclaimed with emotion: “It brings joy to my heart to imagine the happiness and peace Anne appears to have discovered lately. The sincere smile she gave my daughter and me in that lobby offers some comfort, making this tragic event slightly more endurable.

Dear Anne, regardless of your location, my wish for you is peaceful rivers that flow gently, as I anticipate our reunion will bring us to such places. I plan on bringing fishing rods, a container of chicken livers, and a six-pack, so I can show you the art of catching and preparing the most delightful catfish you’ve ever tasted. Take care, my culinary friend.

Goldman’s tribute is offered following a statement by another friend of Burrell, chef Elizabeth Falkner, who mentioned that she had dined with the deceased Food Network personality on June 9 in New York City and found her to be in ‘fairly good health’.

During a conversation with the Daily Mail, Falkner, aged 59, mentioned that Anne appears to be in good physical condition nowadays, which is somewhat unexpected to him.

She didn’t disclose any details about potential health problems she may have faced prior to her demise. However, she found her death to be quite unexpected and startling.

She expressed that the recent event holds deep significance for her, as it’s hard to comprehend that someone younger than herself has just passed away. It strikes a chord with everyone involved.

‘The culinary family is like family, so this hurts a lot of us. We just all feel it.’

The surprise stems from running into her just a few days ago, at an intimate dinner she had organized and cooked for herself at Soho House on June 9th.

Over the course of many years, I’ve encountered her not only on TV contests and programs, but also at various gatherings and functions, and our interactions have always been cordial.

Over the past month, we’ve been exchanging texts. I invited her to join me for a dinner at Soho House, expressing my eagerness to catch up with her. Remarkably, she came with her spouse, and we all enjoyed each other’s company tremendously, as she subsequently recounted their reconnection.

‘It was just so sweet. So this is just really so sudden and shocking.’

On June 10 the next day, Burrell reached out to her via text message, informing her that he and his wife, Stuart Claxton, had enjoyed themselves immensely.

I appreciate your kind invitation immensely! Our time together was simply delightful, and the food was absolutely scrumptious. Could you possibly share some photos with me? I’d love to reminisce and perhaps even share the experience on my social media.

‘And I said, “It was so great to see you, Anne.”‘

The pals even made a pact to ‘talk more often.’

Falkner mentioned, “We decided it would be good to communicate more frequently, whether by phone or text.” She expressed her gratitude for spending a memorable evening with the esteemed chef and other guests recently.

‘I’m just bummed. I feel like [our friendship] just got cut really short fast,’ she added.

The Worst Cooks in America alum spoke highly about being a mother.

At the dinner party held at Soho House, it was mentioned by Falkner that when she arrived, the star expressed her delight in fulfilling her role as a stepmother, particularly towards her stepson, Javier, who is 20 years old.

“Her husband is incredibly kind, and she appeared to be thriving. That’s the most accurate way I can put it. Balancing being a chef and a television personality is like having two full-time jobs, and finding joy in life outside of that can be tough. I believe she was certainly enjoying her life beyond the realm of networks and such.

Back in April, I had the exclusive scoop from Burrell when she chatted with Daily Mail – and boy, was I thrilled! You see, this dynamic duo tied the knot in the year of 2021. Their love story started on a dating app way back in 2018, and ever since then, they’ve been living their very own fairy tale!

She mentioned at the City Harvest gala, “Four years from now will have passed in October.” She added, “It feels as if just four minutes have gone by. I’m not sure if it’s the honeymoon phase or simply the comfort of married life, but I’ve been really enjoying these days.

Falkner reminisced about encountering Burrell’s spouse prior to their wedding in 2021, which was a time when Falkner was featured on culinary programs such as Iron Chef and Top Chef.

Falkner shared that they unexpectedly encountered Anne Burrell in Rome, outside a restaurant. He exclaimed something like, “Wow, that’s Anne Burrell!” We greeted each other casually after that. It was during their pre-wedding vacation when this happened.

Falkner found Burrell’s demise deeply regrettable, sorrowful, unforeseen, and tragic. He strongly feels that the restaurant community has suffered a significant loss as everyone associated was like an extended family to him.

Falkner herself confessed that being a chef is an extremely stressful occupation, yet Burrell managed to excel at it over the course of her professional life.

Falkner admitted that being a chef is a highly demanding job, but Burrell proved adept at handling the pressure throughout her career.

The point made by the James Beard Foundation’s board member about Anne Burrell is that she was not just a television chef, but an exceptionally talented and skilled cook. Her culinary abilities were truly outstanding, and she significantly educated many people in cooking.

I find it astounding that she managed to participate in Worst Cooks in America, given how demanding I imagine the show must be when it comes to patience. Yet, she was genuine and talented. She possessed remarkable culinary skills, which were always entertaining to watch. I even expressed my admiration for her performances on House of Knives.

She remarked, ‘She falls into the category of individuals who are both somewhat awe-inspiring and undeniably tough as chefs often need to be. In fact, such an attitude is almost essential in the profession. It’s crucial for teaching others how to handle ingredients without frequent mistakes. Yet, she was incredibly kind… She possessed a unique charm.’

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2025-06-20 04:49

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