Voices of Change in Food Journalism: 5 Women Leading the Charge

What’s on the Menu? Voices of Change in Food Journalism

Food writing is more than recipes—it shapes culture, policy, and the guest experience at every table. In this Eating at a Meeting LIVE episode, I’m sharing clips from two powerhouse conversations recorded at the inaugural Les Dames d’Escoffier M.F.K. Fisher Women in Food & Storytelling Symposium, where Eating at a Meeting served as Media Sponsor.

First up: Toni Tipton-Martin and Ruth Reichl pull back the curtain on the evolution of food journalism—from the era when recipes were relegated to “women’s pages” to groundbreaking storytelling that made space for new voices. Hear how mentorship, risk-taking, and saying yes to what scares you can transform not only careers, but entire industries.

Then Kat Craddock, Editor-in-Chief and CEO of SAVEUR magazine, moderates a powerful discussion with Marion Nestle and Grace Young. Together they reveal how food writing preserves culture, sparks advocacy, and even protects vulnerable communities—from exposing industry influence on public health to fighting for the survival of America’s Chinatowns.

These women remind us that journalism isn’t just about documenting what’s on the plate—it’s about shaping how we understand food’s role in society. For event professionals, planners, and anyone feeding communities, their insights underscore why every menu choice and every story told at the dining table matters.

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