Anthony Bourdain Preferred A Savory Snack Over Dessert

Anyone who watched "No Reservations" or other Anthony Bourdain shows knows that the chef was a true class act — friendly, open-minded, and honest. Most of all, he was able to honor the simple things, from KFC mac and cheese to his favorite cocktail: the Negroni, that timeless bitter drink.

He wanted true person-to-person connections, nothing saccharine — and when it came to dessert, Bourdain took that literally. The chef and TV personality preferred to skip sweet treats after meals, he said in an interview when his final cookbook, appropriately called "Appetites," was released.

This was partly because, by his own admission, he was not a good pastry chef. But more importantly, it was because Bourdain would rather eat cheese after meals. In "Appetites," he calls cheese magic and describes the cheese course as irreplaceable. "Just leave me some good cheese," Bourdain said in an interview with Publisher's Weekly. "I want to linger over some good port wine and some really stinky, runny cheese."

Anthony Bourdain's preference for the final course of a meal to be cheese, rather than sweets, was an important part of his culinary philosophy. In "Appetites," the entire chapter on dessert fits into one page in which he tells the reader to skip dessert and enjoy the king of cheeses, Stilton.

He's not alone: In general, Europeans tend to prefer to eat cheese after dinner, and there are good reasons for it. One, it can boost your health. Although cheeses don't necessarily aid digestion, as some people claim, they can indeed help reduce inflammation. Two, when enjoying high-quality cheeses and after-dinner drinks like the ones Bourdain helped us appreciate, delicate and savory flavors can complement one another without blowing out your palate with sweetness. And three, letting cheese come up to room temperature on the counter while you eat can actually help the cheese taste better.

But most of all, Bourdain's idea of cheese for dessert ties in with his love of simple foods, it's rustic and easy — and beautiful for its ability to bring us around a table, together, with friends. Don't just take our word for it or even Lidia Bastianich's perspective on sharing meals: Research backs up the idea that eating together makes us not only physically nourished but more psychologically healthy, too. Bourdain knew this — and we'd all do well to understand it as well.