Anne Burrell’s friend recalls joyful final dinner days before her sudden death

Anne Burrell’s longtime friend and fellow chef, Elizabeth Falkner, revealed exclusive new details about the Food Network star’s final days before her unexpected death on June 17 at age 55.

Burrell was found unconscious and unresponsive at her Brooklyn home around 7:50 a.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. The New York Fire Department confirmed the cause of the call as cardiac arrest. An official cause of death is still pending an autopsy.

In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Chef Elizabeth Falkner, 59, described the tragic news as “so sudden and shocking.” She had last seen Burrell just eight days earlier at a dinner she hosted at Soho House in New York City, where Burrell appeared to be in “pretty decent shape.”

“She brought her husband, and we had such a good time,” Falkner shared. “She seemed to be in such a good place, enjoying life outside of television and the culinary world.”

Burrell texted Falkner the next day, thanking her for the lovely evening and asking for photos to post. The chefs had recently reconnected and made a pact to stay in touch more often.

Falkner remembered her friend as both “hardcore” in the kitchen and “very sweet,” with a sparkle that lit up a room. “She was the real deal,” she said, praising Burrell’s cooking skills and TV presence.

Burrell is survived by her husband Stuart Claxton, stepson Javier, and her siblings. An autopsy report is expected soon.