Jonathan Gold

Jonathan Gold was a writer. He loved food and music. He wrote for many papers. He also spoke on the radio.

He looked for small food shops. Many of these shops were in new lands. He found tasty meals in many spots.

He was a very good writer. He won a big prize called the Pulitzer Prize. He was the first food writer to win it.

He also wrote about music. He wrote about hip-hop and classical music. He even met famous singers.

People in his city still remember him. They lit up buildings in gold for him. He loved his home city very much.

Jonathan Gold was a famous writer. He loved food and music. He lived in Los Angeles. He wrote for many places. He worked for the Los Angeles Times. He also wrote for LA Weekly. He spoke on the radio, too.

Gold did not just write about fancy dining. He looked for small, hidden gems. He loved eating at immigrant restaurants. These were often in strip malls. He found joy in many different cultures. He wrote about many types of food.

He was a great music critic, too. He wrote about classical music. He also wrote about hip-hop. He even interviewed famous artists like Snoop Dogg.

Gold won many big awards. In 2007, he won the Pulitzer Prize. He was the first food critic to win it. He also won eight James Beard Awards. The James Beard Foundation later named an award after him.

Gold died in 2018 from pancreatic cancer. People in Los Angeles still honor him. They lit up buildings in gold to remember him. His grave has the words "Tacos Forever."

Jonathan Gold was a famous writer who loved food and music. He lived in Los Angeles and shared his passion with many people. He wrote for the Los Angeles Times for many years. He also wrote for LA Weekly and a magazine called Gourmet. Gold even spoke on KCRW's Good Food radio program. He used his writing to show people the best parts of his city.

Gold did not just visit fancy restaurants with white tablecloths. He looked for small and hidden places to eat. He often chose traditional immigrant restaurants in local neighborhoods. Many of these great spots were located in simple strip malls. He loved to find the joy in different types of cuisine. His reviews helped people discover amazing flavors they might have missed.

His career started while he was a student at UCLA. In 1982, he worked as a proofreader for LA Weekly. He also wrote about music during those early years. He covered classical music and hip-hop music. He even interviewed famous artists like Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. In 1986, he started his first food column called "Counter Intelligence."

Gold won many important awards for his great writing. In 2007, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. He was the very first food critic to win this prize. He also won eight James Beard Foundation Awards during his life. The James Beard Foundation later named a new award after him. This award is now called the Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award.

Gold passed away in July 2018 from pancreatic cancer. He was 57 years old at the time. People in Los Angeles honored his memory in many ways. They lit up buildings and landmarks in gold colors. His grave at Hollywood Forever Cemetery has the words "Tacos Forever." He truly changed how people think about the food in Southern California.

Jonathan Gold was a highly influential American food and music critic. He was famous for his ability to find hidden culinary treasures. Gold lived and worked primarily in Los Angeles, California. He wrote for several major publications during his long career. These included the Los Angeles Times and LA Weekly. He also contributed to Gourmet magazine. He even shared his knowledge on KCRW's Good Food radio program. Gold changed how people thought about the food culture in Southern California.

Gold's method for reviewing food was very different from other critics. Many critics focused on expensive restaurants with white tablecloths. Gold preferred to visit small, traditional immigrant restaurants. He often found these gems in unexpected places like strip malls. He sought out the unique flavors of different ethnic neighborhoods. His writing helped bring international attention to these local spots. This approach helped people discover the true diversity of Los Angeles.

His professional journey began while he was a student at UCLA. In 1982, he worked as a proofreader for LA Weekly. He initially focused his writing on music. He covered both classical music and hip-hop. During the early days of gangsta rap, he interviewed artists like Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. In 1986, he started his first food column. It was named "Counter Intelligence." This column focused on under-the-radar restaurants.

Gold's career involved moving between different cities and publications. He worked for the Los Angeles Times from 1990 to 1996. In 1999, he moved to New York City. There, he became a restaurant critic for Gourmet magazine. He was a two-time finalist for the National Magazine Award in Criticism. In 2001, he returned to Los Angeles to work for LA Weekly again. He published a famous annual list of essential restaurants. The list was called "Jonathan Gold's 99 Essential LA Restaurants." Later, it became "101 Best Restaurants."

His writing earned him many prestigious honors. In 2007, he made history by winning the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. He was the first food critic to ever receive this award. The Pulitzer citation praised his zestful and wide-ranging reviews. Gold also won eight James Beard Foundation Awards. He returned to the Los Angeles Times in 2012 as the chief food critic. In 2017, he founded the L.A. Food Bowl festival.

Gold's impact on the city remains very strong. A documentary film called "City of Gold" was released in 2015. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Even after his death, his influence continues through new awards. The James Beard Foundation renamed an award to honor him. It is now the Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award. This award recognizes new writers who tell stories about their own regions. It celebrates the way Gold shone a light on Los Angeles.

Jonathan Gold passed away on July 21, 2018. He was 57 years old. He died at St. Vincent Medical Center after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His death was a significant loss to the culinary world. Many people in Los Angeles honored his memory. Several buildings and landmarks were lit in gold colors. He is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. His epitaph reads "Tacos Forever." This simple phrase reflects his love for the city's food.