A Celebration of Gourmet Magazine January 19, 2010

Zocalo Public Square presents:
After 70 years of setting the standard for epicurean living, Gourmet magazine ceased publication in October at the order of its parent, Conde Nast. The magazine cultivated its exalted reputation by a devotion to lush photography, lengthy writing by famed authors, and finely crafted and often complex recipes. The commitment to such quality, and the name of the magazine itself, made it an aspirational and indulgent read for generations of gourmands who understood that food — eating it, cooking it, reading about it — was an art. Despite the subsequent rise of many other food magazines and blogs — often more focused on quick, simple, low-cost recipes than on literary food writing — Gourmet built a strong and diverse brand with books, websites, and television shows, and boasted nearly one million subscribers. Zócalo invites former Gourmet editors Ruth Reichl and Laurie Ochoa and former Gourmet writer Jonathan Gold to look back at the history of Gourmet, the culture it sparked, and the future of the Gourmet brand and American food writing.

***Hosted wine reception after program***

Zócalo Public Square is a non-profit organization that builds community by broadening access to civic discourse. Zócalo presents lectures, panels, screenings, and conferences, and publishes original reviews, interviews, and other online features to spur conversation on and action around the most important and compelling ideas of our time. All Zócalo events are presented in open, welcoming, non-partisan, and multi-ethnic spaces. Our online work strives to strike the same broad, generous and balanced tone as our live events.

Zócalo launched in 2003 in Los Angeles, the city we still call home. Since then, we have presented over 175 events featuring nearly 450 speakers. Zócalo has set up shop in two dozen Los Angeles venues, and has traveled to three other U.S. cities and two other continents.

Official Website: http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/upcoming.php?event_id=357