‘Lunch Lady’ Vietnamese street food chef made famous by Anthony Bourdain dies in Canada
Nguyen Thi Thanh’s food stall in Ho Chi Minh City was made famous by Anthony Bourdain. She died in Toronto where she was to open a restaurant
Nguyen Thi Thanh, the Vietnamese woman whose food was praised by celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain – who nicknamed her “Lunch Lady” – has died at the age of 58 in Toronto, Canada.
Nguyen Thi Thanh had just arrived in Toronto, Canada, to help prepare for the opening of the Lunch Lady restaurant there on June 3 when she went into cardiac arrest and medical personnel were unable to revive her, according to the social media post.
The post said Thanh was with loved ones when she died.
“We were ready to welcome her. To honour her. To celebrate this moment together. And now, we are mourning an immeasurable loss,” it read.
“Cô Thanh wasn’t just the heart and soul of The Lunch Lady. She was a mother figure, a mentor, a quiet master of her craft. Her food told stories. Her presence made people feel seen. Her legacy lives in every bowl, every herb, every careful moment in the kitchen.”