(Ricky Gervais voice) Oh, bloody hell. Another one bites the dust. Alexei Zimin, the Russian chef, journalist, and restaurateur, has kicked the bucket at the tender age of 53. I mean, that’s not even old enough to get a decent look at the pension plan. (pauses for comedic effect) What’s the deal with all these celebrities dropping like flies?
(IMAGE OF ALEXEI ZIMIN)
Jimmy Carr voice: Ah, Zimin, a man of many talents, but apparently not the talent for staying alive. I mean, who needs that, right? He was the founder of Afisha Food magazine, hosted culinary programs on Russian telly, and even wrote a few books. The bloke was a culinary mogul! (sarcastically) Yeah, because that’s exactly what you want to be remembered for – a bunch of recipe books and a TV show where you yell at incompetent chefs.
Rowan Atkinson voice (in a bumbling, Mr. Bean-esque tone): Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. It seems Mr. Zimin was found dead in his apartment in Belgrade. (pauses) Belgrade? Ah, yes, that’s in… (looks around) …in… (taps forehead) …in… Serbia! That’s right. (nervously chuckles) Well, at least he was found in a country that’s not in the throes of, you know… (clears throat) unpleasantness. (winks)
Lee Evans voice (in a fast-talking, enthusiastic tone): Alright, alright, alright! So Zimin was a big deal in Russia, and he even got recognition from GQ magazine as Man of the Year in 2015. (chuckles) I mean, that’s a pretty big deal, innit? But, you know, with great power comes great… (pauses for comedic effect) well, not responsibility, exactly, but maybe a few enemies. (winks) According to reports, Zimin was quite vocal about his anti-war stance, which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly the most… (tactfully puts it) popular opinion in Russia at the moment.
(Ricky Gervais voice) Ah, but, you see, that’s the thing. We don’t really know what happened to Zimin, do we? The circumstances of his death are still a bit of a mystery. (pauses for comedic effect) Was it a tragic accident? A dastardly assassination? Or perhaps it was just a case of… (dramatically) culinary-induced coma? (chuckles) We’ll have to wait and see what the autopsy says, won’t we?
(Jimmy Carr voice) Anyway, it’s a shame, really. Zimin seemed like a bit of a character. I mean, who opens a Russian restaurant in London and calls it Zima? (chuckles) Sounds like a right laugh, that one. And, you know, at least he had a sense of humor about his anti-war stance. (smirks) “Do I regret this? No, I regret that we ended up taking part in the war.” (in a mock-Russian accent) Ah, zee Russians, always so… (dramatically) brooding.
(Rowan Atkinson voice, still in his bumbling Mr. Bean tone) Well, that’s all for now, folks. (nervously chuckles) It’s a bit of a sad ending to the story of Alexei Zimin, but, you know, at least we’ll always have his… (pauses, thinks) recipe books. (smirks) Ah, yes. (chuckles awkwardly)
Journalist, chef and restaurateur Alexei Zimin died in Belgrade at the age of 53. He was known as the creator of the Afisha Food magazine, the author of culinary programs on Russian television and books about cooking.
About Zimin’s death reported journalist Roman Loshmanov, information confirmed “Afisha” magazine. The circumstances of the incident are not reported.
According to unofficial data, the Russian was found dead on Tuesday evening in the apartment he had rented days earlier. The owner opened the door, concerned that Zimin was not answering calls, the publication says. Flash. “Telegraph” edition notesthat Alexei Zimin had a wound on his head.
Radio Liberty’s Balkan service writes with reference to the Serbian prosecutor’s office that an autopsy with toxicological examination has been scheduled to establish the cause of death.
Zimin was born in Dubna in 1971. He was deputy editor-in-chief of Afisha magazine, editor-in-chief of Afisha Food and Afisha World, Russian versions of GQ and Gourmet magazines, and wrote for the newspapers Kommersant and Vedomosti.
He hosted culinary programs on the Domashny, NTV and STS channels. Launched several famous restaurants in Moscow, including Raga and Dom 12. In 2015, GQ magazine in Russia recognized Zimin as man of the year.
Zimin sharply condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In May 2022 he wrote on his Instagram that because of his anti-war position, his program on NTV is being closed. “Do I regret this? No, I regret that we ended up taking part in the war,” Zimin wrote. He moved to London, where he opened a Russian restaurant, Zima, and published a magazine of the same name.
In Belgrade Zimin on November 7 spent presentation of his book “Anglomania” and an author’s dinner.
The news has corrected the place of Zimin’s death; it was initially reported that he died in London.
