The man who helped highlight Los Angeles’ culinary world as an eclectic place for creative, casual cuisine wasn’t a chef or restaurateur but rather beloved Los Angeles Times food critic Jonathan Gold., who died on Saturday at age 57. Credited with shifting critical attention from formal, Michelin-starredrestaurants to hole-in-the-wall mom-and-pop dining destinations and amazing food trucks, Gold was the only food critic to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize, which he received while at L.A. Weekly in 2007. He was a Pulitzer finalist again in 2011. We’ve rounded up a collection of obituaries and tributes that best honor Gold’s writing, his quirks and his massive impact on the Southern California food scene.
Los Angeles Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold dies at 57 – Los Angeles Times
Jonathan Gold, Food Critic Who Celebrated L.A.’s Cornucopia, Dies at 57 — The New York Times
Jonathan Gold Was an L.A. Cultural Icon Who Will Never Be Forgotten — L.A. Weekly
The Most Adventurous Eater in America — The New Yorker
Food Writer Ruth Reichl on Jonathan Gold: He Gave Us the Keys to a Hidden City — Los Angeles Times
Jonathan Gold Did More Than Critique the Los Angeles Food Scene. He Defined It. — Washington Post
The Very Best of Jonathan Gold — Eater
Jonathan Gold, Ambassador of L.A. Cuisines, Has Died — L.A. Taco
We All Live in Jonathan Gold’s Southern California — Los Angeles Times
Gold’s Reviews were Playful, Passionate and a Fine Reflection of the City He Roamed. Here’s a Sampling — Los Angeles Times
‘Taco Should Be A Verb’ ~ Five Essential Jonathan Gold Quotes About Tacos — L.A. Taco
Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants – Los Angeles Times
Gold was the subject of a 2016 documentary, “City of Gold.” Here’s the trailer: