“Celebrating Jonathan Gold, L.A. Times writer and first food critic to win Pulitzer Prize”

Written by Giavanna Foster

Today FOODNLA is celebrating Jonathan Gold’s contributions as a food critic and writer at the Los Angeles Times. His memorable presence changed L.A.’s food scene. Here’s the scoop:

Jonathan Gold made history as the first food critic to win a Pulitzer Prize award. As a writer at L.A. Weekly, Gold won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 2007 because he wrote with enthusiasm and knowledge that displayed his keen interest towards food. In 2011, Jonathan Gold received another nomination. Gold is a two-time nominee for this prize. Jonathan Gold was also featured on CBS. See the video above.

Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong and wife Michele, owners of the Los Angeles Times, wrote a sincere note about Jonathan Gold. “Jonathan was a national treasure. He was the only food writer to win a Pulitzer Prize for his lyrical accounts of the Los Angeles food scene…” The L.A. Times removed their paywall on articles covering Jonathan Gold’s legacy as well as published tributes. Click here to read more.

Jonathan Gold transitioned one week before his 58th birthday due to pancreatic cancer. He is known as the “belly of Los Angeles” because his memorable posts as a food journalist brought joy and united people in the community. Gold’s adventurous spirit lives on, as he discovered a wide variety of food cuisines in Los Angeles. He also hosted KCRW’s “Good Food on the Road” with Evan Kleinman.

Gold’s Twitter page has over 125,886 followers. Throughout his life, Jonathan Gold gained a long list of fans who cherish his work. Click here to read “Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants” on the L.A. Times site.