New Jersey Lawmaker Wants To Establish "Anthony Bourdain Food Trail"

New Jersey was proud to call Anthony Bourdain one of its own. The beloved chef, author, and TV host grew up in Leonia, New Jersey, and early on in his career, worked as a dishwasher in a clam shack down the Shore. This week, New Jersey assemblyman Paul Moriarity proposed the creation of a 10-restaurant "Anthony Bourdain Food Trail" to honor the chef, who died earlier this month.

Moriarity's proposal calls on the state's Travel And Tourism Division to establish a "trail" connecting the 10 Jersey restaurants Bourdain visited on a 2015 episode of his CNN show Parts Unknown, Philly.com reports. The eateries are all Garden State landmarks, with most scattered throughout South Jersey: Kubel's in Barnegat Light; Hiram's Roadstand in Fort Lee; Knife & Fork, Dock's Oyster House, Tony's Baltimore Grill, and James' Salt Water Taffy in Atlantic City; Tony and Ruth Steaks and Donkey's Place in Camden; Lucille's Country Cooking in Barnegat; and Frank's Deli in Asbury Park.

"Even after international fame, [Bourdain] never forgot his Jersey roots. Each episode, Bourdain brought his homegrown wit, charm, and sense of humanity to his viewers," Moriarity said in a statement. "He became a New Jersey food icon."

Of all the celebrities to come out of New Jersey, Bourdain was one that we—native Jersey girl speaking—could be proud of. Honoring his legacy with a tour of his favorite eateries seems like a no-brainer.