Ruth Reichl was Editor in Chief of Gourmet Magazine from 1999 to 2009. Previously she was the restaurant critic of both The New York Times (1993-1999) and the Los Angeles Times (1984-1993), where she was also named food editor. Before that she was the restaurant critic of New West and California Magazine (1977-1984). As co-owner of The Swallow Restaurant from 1974 to 1977, she played a part in the culinary revolution that took place in Berkeley, California.

Ms. Reichl began writing about food in 1972, when she published Mmmmm: A Feastiary. Since then, she has authored the critically acclaimed, best-selling memoirs Tender at the Bone, Comfort Me with Apples, Garlic and Sapphires, For You Mom, Finally and Save Me the Plums, which have been translated into 24 languages. In 2014 she published a novel, Delicious!, and in 2016, a cookbook, My Kitchen Year. Her most recent book is the bestselling The Paris Novel, published in April (and soon to be a movie).  She edited many books while at Gourmet Magazine, including the The Gourmet Cookbook, Gourmet Today, Endless Feasts, History in a Glass, and Remembrance of Things Paris. She is also the editor of The Modern Library Food Series, which includes 10 volumes, and of Best American Food Writing 2018. 

Ms. Reichl hosted Eating Out Loud, three Food Network specials, covering New York, San Francisco, and Miami. She was the executive producer of two public television shows; Gourmet’s Diary of a Foodie, a 30-episode series (2006) and Gourmet’s Adventures with Ruth (2009.) She also served as a judge for three seasons of Top Chef Masters.

Ms. Reichl is also the producer of a documentary film, Food and Country, with the director Laura Gabbert (City of Gold) which premiered at The Sundance Film Festival and will be released in September. Her weekly food newsletter, La Briffe, is hosted on Substack, as is the podcast she produces with Nancy Silverton and Laurie Ochoa, Three Ingredients.

Ms. Reichl has been honored with many accolades in her distinguished career:  Adweek’s Editor of the Year, the Missouri School of Journalism’s Honor Medal for Distinguished Service and the Matrix Award from New York Women in Communications. She has 7 James Beard Awards,, including the 1924 Lifetime Achievement Award. She holds a B.A. and an M.A. in the History of Art from the University of Michigan and lives in Upstate New York with her husband, Michael Singer, a retired television news producer.

PARTICIPATING EVENTS:

Book Signing and Conversation: Phil Rosenthal with Nancy Silverton and Ruth Reichl

Booking Signing and Conversation: A Conversation with Alice Waters