Join the National Writers Series for a special conversation at Traverse City Food &Wine with the legendary Ruth Reichl, recognized as one of the most discerning voices in the food world. Ruth is a bestselling author, revered restaurant critic, and culinary industry influencer. Her icon status stems from her groundbreaking roles in food journalism as the lead restaurant critic at the New York Times and editor-in-chief at Gourmet magazine.
Ruth Reichl will be joined in conversation with founding editor of Taste, Matthew Rodbard, to talk about her life of food writing and most recently her first fiction work, The Paris Novel. It’s a coming-of-age story about Stella, a young book copy editor who inherits money from her estranged mother with instructions to go to Paris. Set in the 1980s, the novel follows Stella as she discovers herself through food, fashion, and art, exploring her mother’s past and finding a new passion for life, with vivid descriptions of French cuisine and culture. The book blends a personal journey of self-discovery with a historical mystery involving a Manet painting and the House of Dior.
Ruth Reichl is a six-time James Beard Award winner. Capped by her 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award, her work transcends all platforms with top honors for bestselling books, magazine feature writing, restaurant critique, and multimedia food commentary. Born and raised in New York City, she moved to Berkeley, California, in the early 1970s, launching her career as chef and co-owner of The Swallow Restaurant. She later held court as one of the top restaurant critics in America, influencing commentary during the early days of the foodie explosion.
Guest host Matt Rodbard is a writer, editor, and author of food and culture books with more than two decades of experience working in television, magazines, book publishing, and online media. He’s the author of several cookbooks and the Founding Editor of online food and culture magazine Taste.
Seating begins at 3pm with programming starting at 4pm. Seating is general admission. Cash bar featuring local wines and craft beverages will be available.
At the end of the conversation guests are invited to participate in a Q&A with Reichl & Rodbard.
Tickets: (Do not include a copy of the book.)
General Admission:
Admits one patron to the event with general admission seating. Signed books may be purchased separately at the event.
VIP:
Includes priority seating in the front two rows, access to a pre-show reception with Ruth Reichl, light hors d’oeuvres, and complimentary drinks during the reception. Signed books will be available for purchase at the event. Pre-show Reception is 2:30pm – 3:30pm at the Open Space venue VIP area.