Xi'an Famous Foods, a popular New York City restaurant chain that specializes in northwestern Chinese cuisine, announced that it's donating its net sales to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline today in honor of Anthony Bourdain.
They credit Bourdain with much of their success.
Jason Wang, the company's CEO, told the story of how his family's Queens food stall grew into a New York empire after Bourdain visited in 2007.
Years later, Wang said he tried to thank Bourdain for the business boost — but the chef wouldn't take the credit.
"I remember years later in 2015 after interviewing together for an article, I approached Tony and told him, while he may have no idea what he has done for our family and business by simply saying he enjoyed the food, I wanted him to know it helped bring our family out from living in one room in Flushing to living the American dream. We were able to grow our business and provide great food for our guests, and opportunities for our employees. I looked at him in the eyes and said, this is something we will always be thankful for, Tony. And he simply replied, "I'm just calling out good food like it is, that's all."
Wang sales that 100% of net sales today at all Xi'an Famous Foods locations will go to the lifeline.
You can read Wang's full tribune to Bourdain in this Twitter thread: