Isaac Hayes, you are missed. While your departure from South Park was rather controversial, and your death so sudden and tragic, we will always miss you from new South Park episodes. Chef, you were the man. Here are ten reasons why.

10. You were often the only sane adult around. While Stan’s mom, Sharon, might lock up a cop and pilfer his pants to protect her son, and Cartman’s mom might use a kitty for a dildo, you were the one who wanted to save the kids from the zombies, informed them about the “visitors,” and served as their most trusted source of advice.

9. “Hello there, children.” And every time the boys were around—even if it was just one of them!—it was always, “children.”

8. Your hot bachelor pad. Seriously, naked women and tiger-patterned furniture? It’s like you never left the ‘70s.

7. Your “Thriller”-esque performance. While the rest of the zombies in South Park wanted to eat brains, you simply wanted to do what you always do—make love. And you did it with Michael Jackson’s trademark “Thriller” jacket on, too. Sweet.

6. Your chocolate salty balls. Nobody can top such lyrics as “Say everybody, have you seen my balls? They’re big and salty and brown. If you ever need a quick pick-me-up, just stick my balls in your mouth.” Part recipe, part pick-up line, it was South Park’s own Like Water for Chocolate manifesto. How much fun was that to sing over and over again?

5. How you whored yourself around town to raise money to pay your legal fees. Anyone else might have thought to get a loan, to borrow, to even sell an organ, but not you, silken-voiced Chef; no, you immediately thought to sell your own body to make your money. And you did it knowing you might even be able to raise a huge chunk of change, when every other guy in town surely wouldn’t have made enough for the boys’ lunch money. You also helped Elton Johan and Meat Loaf not suck. Thanks, Chef!

4. Your parents are freaking awesome. Even though they didn’t want to give that old Loch Ness Monster disguised so cleverly as a girl scout “three-fifty,” they are freaking adorable, and the fact that they live in Scotland and can perform exorcisms is just awesome.  

3. You were almost always in the know. It was you who believed in Mr. Hanky, the alien visitors, and most of the other crazy characters in the show. It was only the succubus that you unfortunately did not believe in; thankfully the boys bailed you out of that one.

2. Your death was epic. Sure, it was a spoof about the very reason you left the show—your participation in Scientology—but no character, not even Kenny, received such an amazing send-off—or Star Wars resurrection.

1. You taught the boys about two of the best things life has to offer: love and food. Whether you confused them with talks about the clitoris or enticed them with Salisbury steak, you always had their best interest at heart.