Fans of the hit Bravo competition show Top Chef are mourning the loss of season 3 contestant Howard "Howie" Kleinberg. Known best for his passionate exchange with Anthony Bourdain during his time on the popular show, Howie soon became a fan favorite.
The passionate chef died at age 46, as per ET.
"I am just finding out how many lives he touched," she said in a statement. "He was married to his passion in life, which was his cooking."
“He was married to his passion in life, which was his cooking," his mother added. According to his obituary, Howie was "Inspired by his love of barbecue and summers spent in North Carolina, he opened his own restaurant, Bulldog BBQ. He later went on to pursue more fine dining options."
"Howie is survived by his mother, Susan Kleinberg Ratner and stepfather, Ken Ratner. His sister, Amy (William) Wildstein and their three children Whitney, Lindsey, and Phillip and his beloved dog Skye."
"The #TopChef family is saddened to learn about the unexpected passing of Howard Kleinberg from season three," the statement began. "Howie’s passion for cooking filled so many and our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends"
