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Jonathan Gold
Jonathan Gold
Gold in 2015
Born (1960-07-28)July 28, 1960
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died July 21, 2018(2018-07-21) (aged 57)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education UCLA (BA)
Occupation Food critic, music critic
Spouse(s)
Laurie Ochoa
(m. 1990)
Children 2
Awards 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism

Jonathan Gold (born July 28, 1960 – died July 21, 2018) was a famous American food and music critic. For many years, he was the main food critic for the Los Angeles Times. He also wrote for LA Weekly and Gourmet magazine.

Gold was known for reviewing small, local restaurants, especially those serving traditional immigrant foods. He explored all kinds of food. In 2007, he made history by becoming the first food critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. This is a very important award for writers.

Jonathan Gold's Career

Early Days and Music Writing

In 1982, Jonathan Gold was studying art and music at UCLA. He started working at LA Weekly magazine as a proofreader. There, he met his future wife, Laurie Ochoa. They often worked together at different magazines later on.

By the mid-1980s, Gold became an editor in the Weekly's music section. He wrote about classical music and also hip-hop. He covered the early days of gangsta rap. He even interviewed famous artists like Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre.

Becoming a Food Critic

In 1986, Gold started his first food column called "Counter Intelligence." He reviewed hidden gem restaurants in different neighborhoods of Los Angeles. These were often small, local places. This column later moved to the Los Angeles Times.

From 1990 to 1996, Gold worked at the Los Angeles Times. He also wrote for other magazines like California and Los Angeles. In 1999, he moved to New York City to become a restaurant critic for Gourmet magazine. His writing there was recognized twice for a major award.

Return to Los Angeles and Major Awards

In 2001, Gold moved back to Los Angeles. He brought back his "Counter Intelligence" column for the Weekly. He also kept writing for Gourmet. At the Weekly, he created a very popular list called Jonathan Gold's 99 Essential LA Restaurants. When he returned to the Times, this list grew to be Jonathan Gold's 101 Best Restaurants.

In 2007, Gold became the first food critic to win the Pulitzer Prize. The award praised his "zestful, wide ranging restaurant reviews." It noted how he showed the "delight of an erudite eater." In 2012, Gold returned to the Los Angeles Times as their main food critic.

In 2017, he started the paper's L.A. Food Bowl festival. This event celebrates food in Los Angeles. Throughout his career, Gold won nine James Beard Foundation Awards for his writing. These are very important awards in the food world.

Gold's Impact on Food Culture

Many people say Jonathan Gold changed how we think about food. Writer Megan Garvey said his reviews brought international attention to L.A. restaurants. Famous chef Anthony Bourdain said Gold was the first to focus on "really cool little places in strip malls." Before Gold, most critics only wrote about fancy restaurants.

In 2015, a documentary film about Jonathan Gold was made. It was called City of Gold. The film showed his unique way of exploring food.

Jonathan Gold's Personal Life

Jonathan Gold was born in Los Angeles. He was the oldest of three brothers. His father was a probation officer. His mother was a high school teacher and librarian. When he was a freshman at UCLA, he worked briefly at a kosher restaurant. This restaurant was owned by Steven Spielberg's mother.

He married Laurie Ochoa, who is also an editor at the Los Angeles Times. They had two children together. Jonathan Gold's younger brother, Mark Gold, worked for a non-profit group called Heal the Bay. He now works for the state of California.

His Passing

In July 2018, Jonathan Gold was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He passed away on July 21, 2018, in Los Angeles. He was 57 years old, just a week before his 58th birthday. He was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. His gravestone has a special message: "Tacos Forever."

On July 28, 2018, which would have been his 58th birthday, many buildings in Los Angeles were lit in gold. This was a tribute to his memory. In April 2019, he received his ninth James Beard Foundation Award after his death. The Foundation also renamed one of their awards after him. It is now called the Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award. This award honors new writers who share stories about their cities, just like Gold did for Los Angeles.

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