NYC restaurateur Melba Wilson is heartbroken over the sudden dying of superstar chef Anne Burrell … telling TMZ it’s left her and the whole culinary world gutted.

Melba, a fellow Meals Community persona, tells us she simply spoke to Anne final week — chatting about karaoke, backgammon, and life — and nothing appeared out of the atypical as she appeared wholesome and vibrant.

When requested if Anne had ever talked about being unwell, Melba shut it down — saying there was by no means a phrase about any well being points.

Catch the clip — Melba delves into simply how shut they have been … including that Anne would mild up any room she walked into, and no shock … she started preventing again tears by the tip of our interview.

Melba additionally digs into the legacy Anne leaves behind — and it is all about the way in which she broke obstacles within the meals and beverage enterprise stuffed with males.