Remembering Anne Burrell: the brilliant chef who welcomed me into her home — and her heart

Yahoo

3 hours ago

Anne Burrell was a friend to all.
The celebrated chef's magnetic energy and palpable zest for life captivated millions of fans from every corner of the earth — on screen and off — before her heart-wrenching, untimely passing this week.
I, myself, a Page Six reporter for almost a decade, have learned to be somewhat skeptical when meeting my Hollywood heroes — but Anne won me over instantaneously.
I first had the honor of meeting the Food Network star last summer while filming a video tour of her impeccably curated maximalist loft in Brooklyn, NY. Her longtime publicist and good friend, Jaret Keller, had made the introduction (for which I will forever be grateful).
My small yet scrappy team of journalists comprised of our photo director, photographer and videographer were welcomed into Anne's cozy home, quite literally, with open arms.
Anne — wearing a colorful polka-dot dress perfectly mirroring her vibrant spirit — gave us each a warm hug upon our arrival before offering us beverages and snacks like the true entertainer she was. Then, without missing a beat, the 'Worst Cooks In America' host seamlessly shifted into on-camera mode for the interview. She was a total professional.
We spent the afternoon with Anne as she guided us through some of her most treasured spaces and prized possessions: a cherished photo of her and her husband, Stuart Claxton; her stunning terrace where she hosted dinner parties and savored quiet moments with her beloved cats, Nancy and Marcia; and her stepson's British Invasion-themed bedroom, which she fondly described as 'very, like, 'All You Need Is Love.''
'Everything here is a little crooked, and I think that suits me just well,' she said of her charmingly wonky abode, adding warmly, 'I think I'm a little crooked, so I feel right at home here.'
When the shoot wrapped, she mixed up her signature Aperol Spritzes and we toasted to a job well done and our newly formed friendships.
Usually, for reporters, interactions with public figures will stop there. But Anne followed up in my Instagram DMs to share how much she loved getting to know us all.
'Thank you SO much!!!! Really absolutely FANTASTIC!!! Please thank everyone on the team!!!' she wrote to me, adding, 'Everything about this experience was just dreamy!!!!!'
The restaurateur, who admitted in our TikTok Q&A that she's not a fan of kale, then sent a hilarious meme about a 'pro tip' for cooking the leafy greens: 'If you stir coconut oil into your kale, it makes it easier to scrape into the trash.'
That was Anne in a nutshell: quick-witted and kind, firing off jokes, making everyone feel special and always the life of the party.
I came to learn that first-hand nearly five months later when she attended Page Six Night at Ray's Hometown Bar in the Lower East Side as one of our celebrity guests.
Joined by Keller and Claxton, Anne beamed as she bounced around the soirée celebrating the Page Six x Ray's hat collaboration launch.
While Anne politely declined to wear the newspaper-hued snapbacks (so as not to ruin her famously spiky blond hairdo, she told me in a cheeky whisper) she flitted around the fête to partake in dancing, genuine conversation and a full-on photo shoot on the dive bar's shag carpet-covered stairwell.
Having recently gotten engaged, I remember telling her how much I admired her beautiful 7-tiered wedding cake made by 'Cake Boss' star Buddy Valastro. The compliment prompted her to hand me her phone and demand that I add my number so she could connect me with the baker.
That's the kind of caring confidant she was — going out of her way to make people happy with food, friendship and endless helpings of love.
The esteemed 'Secrets of a Restaurant Chef' alum's time on earth was tragically cut short when she died in her New York City home at the age of 55. First responders pronounced her dead at the scene June 17.
A 911 caller claimed that she went into cardiac arrest before passing away; however, her cause of death has not yet been revealed and an investigation is ongoing.
Her family told Page Six in a statement that Anne will be remembered as a 'beloved wife, sister, daughter, stepmother, and friend.'
'Her smile lit up every room she entered,' the family said.
As the culinary world says goodbye to a dear friend and Food Network icon, I take comfort in knowing that Anne's compassionate heart and remarkable legacy will never be forgotten.