Food writer Joshua Ozersky was found dead on Monday at a Chicago hotel, the Chicago Tribune reports. He was 47.
Ozersky, who was in Chicago to cover the James Beard Awards, was pronounced dead on the scene at 11:40 a.m. at the Conrad Chicago Hotel, according to the Tribune, citing the Cook County medical examiner. The cause of death has not been released.
Ozersky was the founding editor of New York‘s Grub Street blog, for which he won a James Beard Award in 2008.
After leaving Grub Street in 2008, he went on to work as a Citysearch editor and a Time columnist. He was an editor-at-large for Esquire, and his writing has also appeared in the Wall Street Journal and Food & Wine.
Ozersky has appeared on numerous food programs, including Iron Chef America and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, and he founded Meatopia, a traveling food festival. He authored the books The Hamburger: A History (2008) and Meat Me In Manhattan: A Carnivore’s Guide to New York City (2003).
He was born in Miami, earning his undergraduate degree at Rutgers University before attending New York University’s School of Journalism and then getting his Ph.D. at the University of Notre Dame.
“It’s difficult to express how much we’ll miss his fervor, uniquely carnivorous tastes and unyielding candor,” Esquire tweeted Monday. “May he rest in peace.”
Esquire‘s tweets can be seen below.
We’ve just learned that one of our own, legendary food writer Josh Ozersky, died today at 47. [1/2]
— Esquire Magazine (@esquire) May 5, 2015
It’s difficult to express how much we’ll miss his fervor, uniquely carnivorous tastes, and unyielding candor. May he rest in peace. [2/2]
— Esquire Magazine (@esquire) May 5, 2015
“Life is too short for platonic love affairs and savory desserts.” —Josh Ozersky: http://t.co/FuiFXHN2Fv
— Esquire Magazine (@esquire) May 5, 2015
