Serious Eater

(Hardback)

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Beloved food writer and founder of Serious Eats Ed Levine tells the story of his misadventures building--and almost losing--the business that became one of the most acclaimed and valuable food websites in the world. In 2006, Ed Levine didn't know a bite from a byte, but he spent $100 to buy the domain name for seriouseats.com. By the end of 2017, Serious Eats had more than ten million unique visitors a month--and Ed had become a millionaire. How did it happen Levine was an expert on pizza, fries, burgers and all things delicious, and these passions served him well as a freelance food journalist seeking out the best food in New York City and beyond for the New York Times, Gourmet magazine, and public radio. But in the mid-2000s, he saw what was coming- the digitalization of media, offering an opportunity for an iconoclastic voice eager to be heard. Armed with investments from his family and friends and a stubborn refusal to lose, Levine dove head-first into the lawless world of digital publishing. And while he made a huge splash in the food world, instantly attracting a voracious audience of food obsessives and elite chefs like Thomas Keller and Tom Colicchio, the site struggled to survive financially. Over the next ten years, Levine fought to keep his dream alive, even resorting to personally guaranteeing loans to make payroll. This is the story of the terrifying, thrilling, and mouthwatering journey of what it really takes to "follow your passion."

Reviews

Ive followed Levines food-writing career since it started, and if you gave me a bumper sticker that read Ed Levine Is God, Id slap it on my refrigerator. (Nora Ephron thought he was godlike too; she made him an extra in her food-world film Julie & Julia.)"Dwight Garner, New York Times

"Foodies and tech junkies will tear through this fast-paced tale from a food-loving entrepreneur who changed the course of food media."Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Ed Levines Serious Eater is a hilarious and moving story of unconventional entrepreneurialism, passion, and guts. Its also an important documentation of the very early days of foodie-ism as we know it, written by someone who rewrote the playbook on food journalism, and in doing so, generously inspired and encouraged scores of gastronauts, cooks, restaurateurs, and journalists alike. Danny Meyer, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, founder of Shake Shack, and author of Setting the Table

Read[s] more like a carefully crafted novel than a real persons life. from the foreword by J. Kenji Lpez-Alt

Serious Eater is 50 percent startup story; 50 percent Ed Levines meticulous food diary and 100 percent wild, wacky, and entertaining. Eds humor, charm, and genuine love and care for great food comes through on every page. The book makes you hungry for Ed to succeed . . . and for lunch. Christina Tosi, founder of Milk Bar

"Full of lively and believable dialogue and events...A reminder for all that good guys can finish first."Booklist

Serious Eater is seriously good! A brilliantly written account of the journey of a food media startup in New York City, its a delicious, sometimes stomach-churning, roller coaster ride, and each page leaves you hungry for the next. Eds brutal and vulnerable honesty makes you root for him from start to finish, and youll be so glad he invited you to a seat at his table. Ree Drummond, New York Times bestselling author of The Pioneer Woman Cooks

When it comes to eating, few are as serious about the sport as Ed Levine. Serious Eater is the untold story of how Ed built his groundbreaking website and why he has devotedhis life to all things delicious. After decades of spreading the good food gospel, we get a glimpse of the missionary behind the mission. Dan Barber, chef of Blue Hill and Blue Hill at Stone Barns

How did we all become obsessed with food The answer might be: Ed Levine. A tremendous writer, eater, and human, Ed has written the hilarious, harrowing, passionate, definitive true story of the birth of Serious Eats, the worlds first major food site. This is good stuff. You will eat the pages. Phil Rosenthal, creator of Everybody Loves Raymond and Somebody Feed Phil

Serious Eater is big-hearted, warm, fascinating, and brave. It also made me really hungry. I loved reading about how Ed Levine overcame the seemingly impossible challenges of growing Serious Eats, fueled by his never-ending optimism. And I think you will, too." Brian Koppelman, cocreator and showrunner of Billions

The deliciously true journey (with recipes) of one mans adventures in the food business. We all need to eat, but Ed needs (all of us) to eat well. Seth Godin, author of This Is Marketing

Author Bio

Ed Levine is the founder (his employees affectionately call him the overlord) of Serious Eats, as well as creator and host of the Serious Eats podcast, Special Sauce. In 2016, Ed was inducted into the James Beard Foundation's Who's Who of Food & Beverage in America.