G. Selmer Fougner
Encyclopedia
G. Selmer Fougner was a wine and restaurant critic best known for his column "Along the Wine Trail."
. He joined the New York Sun
in 1912, becoming its chief European correspondent and covering the First World War
until 1917. In the following years he worked for the United States Treasury, worked briefly for the Sun again, became a freelance writer, and then rejoined the Sun in 1931, remaining until his death from a heart attack in 1941, aged fifty-six.
Fougner has been described as presenting "the classic image of a connoisseur of the good life. Portly, balding, and always impeccably dressed, he was known as 'The Baron' in the larger world of food and wine that was his daily beat."
Life
Fougner moved from Chicago to New York in 1906 and worked as a reporter for the New York HeraldNew York Herald
The New York Herald was a large distribution newspaper based in New York City that existed between May 6, 1835, and 1924.-History:The first issue of the paper was published by James Gordon Bennett, Sr., on May 6, 1835. By 1845 it was the most popular and profitable daily newspaper in the UnitedStates...
. He joined the New York Sun
New York Sun
The New York Sun was a weekday daily newspaper published in New York City from 2002 to 2008. When it debuted on April 16, 2002, adopting the name, motto, and masthead of an otherwise unrelated earlier New York paper, The Sun , it became the first general-interest broadsheet newspaper to be started...
in 1912, becoming its chief European correspondent and covering the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
until 1917. In the following years he worked for the United States Treasury, worked briefly for the Sun again, became a freelance writer, and then rejoined the Sun in 1931, remaining until his death from a heart attack in 1941, aged fifty-six.
Food and Wine
In 1933, Fougner began publication of a daily column in the Sun called "Along the Wine Trail." He was the first regular wine critic for a New York newspaper, but in addition to discussing wine, the column included restaurant criticism and recipes. In 1939, Fougner published a restaurant guide to New York, Dining Out in New York, and in 1941 Gourmet Dinners. In addition to including recipes from well-known restaurants of the time, Gourmet Dinners detailed Fougner's involvement with numerous dining societies such as Les Amis d'Escoffier and recounted banquets he had organized for their members.Fougner has been described as presenting "the classic image of a connoisseur of the good life. Portly, balding, and always impeccably dressed, he was known as 'The Baron' in the larger world of food and wine that was his daily beat."