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 and the Los Angeles Times, where she was also named food editor. 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. Ruth began writing about food in 1972, when she published Mmmmm: A Feastiary. Since then, she has authored the 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. She is also the editor of the Modern Library Food series, which includes 10 volumes, and of Best American Food Writing 2018.
Ruth has 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, and Gourmet’s Adventures with Ruth. She has also served as a judge on Top Chef Masters and produced a documentary film, Food and Country, with the director Laura Gabbert. Her weekly food newsletter, La Briffe, is hosted on Substack.
Ruth has been honored with many accolades in her distinguished career including six James Beard Awards, 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 holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in the History of Art from the University of Michigan.