Alan Richman
Encyclopedia
Alan Richman is an American journalist and food writer. He is perhaps best known as a food correspondent for GQ magazine, and has won 14 James Beard Foundation Award
for journalism .
. He was a cadet in the Army ROTC
, and further progressed to serve in the United States Army
, including a tour in Vietnam
for which he was awarded the Bronze Star
. He also toured in the Dominican Republic.
for the Philadelphia Daily News
. He began writing for GQ in 1986.
Richman has won 14 James Beard Foundation
Journalism Awards for excellence in culinary writing, including two in 2009 for Magazine Feature Writing Without Recipes and Writing on Spirits, Wine, or Beer. He won a National Magazine Award in 1995 for three articles that appeared in GQ.
In 2004, HarperCollins
published Fork It Over: The Intrepid Adventures of a Professional Eater, a collection of Richman's essays about food and dining.
Richman serves as the Dean of Food Journalism at The French Culinary Institute
in New York City. He currently teaches The Craft of Food Writing at The FCI's sister school, The International Culinary Center
.
In 2006, Richman caused a controversy after criticizing the cuisine of New Orleans and questioning the existence of the Creole
ethnicity.
In 2009, celebrity chefs David Chang
and Anthony Bourdain
criticized Richman for "his insistence that celebrity chefs actually cook in their own restaurants". Bourdain's latest book, Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook, contains a chapter entitled "Alan Richman Is a Douchebag" expounding on his view of Richman.
James Beard Foundation Award
The James Beard Foundation Awards were established in 1990 and are often called "The Oscars of Food." Held on the first weekend in May, the Awards honor the finest chefs, restaurants, wine professionals, journalists, cookbook authors, restaurant designers, and other food professionals in the...
for journalism .
Early life and education
Richman is a graduate of the General Honors Program at the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. He was a cadet in the Army ROTC
Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps is the United States Army component of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. It is the largest ROTC program, with 20,000 ROTC cadets in 272 ROTC programs at major universities throughout the United States.The modern Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps...
, and further progressed to serve in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, including a tour in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
for which he was awarded the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
. He also toured in the Dominican Republic.
Career
Richman began his career as a sportswriter in Philadelphia in the 1970s, covering the 76ersPhiladelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
for the Philadelphia Daily News
Philadelphia Daily News
The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The newspaper is owned by Philadelphia Media Holdings which also owns Philadelphia's other major newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Daily News began publishing on March 31, 1925, under...
. He began writing for GQ in 1986.
Richman has won 14 James Beard Foundation
James Beard Foundation
The James Beard Foundation is a New York-based national professional non-profit organization named in honor of James Beard that serves to promote the culinary arts by honoring chefs, wine professionals, journalists, and cookbook authors at annual award ceremonies and providing scholarships and...
Journalism Awards for excellence in culinary writing, including two in 2009 for Magazine Feature Writing Without Recipes and Writing on Spirits, Wine, or Beer. He won a National Magazine Award in 1995 for three articles that appeared in GQ.
In 2004, HarperCollins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
published Fork It Over: The Intrepid Adventures of a Professional Eater, a collection of Richman's essays about food and dining.
Richman serves as the Dean of Food Journalism at The French Culinary Institute
French Culinary Institute
The French Culinary Institute , also known as The International Culinary Center has locations in SoHo, New York City and in the San Francisco Bay Area of California....
in New York City. He currently teaches The Craft of Food Writing at The FCI's sister school, The International Culinary Center
International Culinary Center
The International Culinary Center, with locations in SoHo, New York City and in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, is home to The French Culinary Institute, The International Culinary Center School of Italian Studies, formerly The Italian Culinary Academy, FCI Catering and Events, and...
.
In 2006, Richman caused a controversy after criticizing the cuisine of New Orleans and questioning the existence of the Creole
Creole peoples
The term Creole and its cognates in other languages — such as crioulo, criollo, créole, kriolu, criol, kreyol, kreol, kriulo, kriol, krio, etc. — have been applied to people in different countries and epochs, with rather different meanings...
ethnicity.
In 2009, celebrity chefs David Chang
David Chang
David Chang is a noted Korean-American chef. He is chef/owner of the Momofuku restaurant group, which includes Momofuku Noodle Bar, Momofuku Ssäm Bar, Má Pêche, Milk Bar and Momofuku Ko in New York City, the latter for which he was awarded two Michelin stars in 2009, and Momofuku Seiōbo in...
and Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Michael "Tony" Bourdain is an American chef, author and television personality. He is well known for his 2000 book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, and is the host of Travel Channel's culinary and cultural adventure program Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.A...
criticized Richman for "his insistence that celebrity chefs actually cook in their own restaurants". Bourdain's latest book, Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook, contains a chapter entitled "Alan Richman Is a Douchebag" expounding on his view of Richman.