James Oseland
Encyclopedia
James Oseland is an American food writer and magazine editor who lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
. He became the editor-in-chief of Saveur
in 2006, after serving as the magazine's executive editor. Before Saveur, Oseland wrote for Food & Wine, Gourmet
, and Time Out New York. Previously, he was an editor at Vogue
, Organic Style, L.A. Weekly, TV Guide
, Vibe, Sassy, American American Theatre, The Village Voice
and Mademoiselle
.
Oseland has written a book, Cradle of Flavor: Home Cooking from the Spice Islands of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, that was influenced by his experiences in Southeast Asia.
and MFA
in photography and film studies from the San Francisco Art Institute
. He considered work in Hollywood before deciding "the idea of growing old in the business just didn't sit all that well".
in 1982, he has returned to the region many times to collect recipes from local restaurants and home cooks.
He was one of the judges on the 2009 premiere season of Bravo TV’s Top Chef Masters. Jay Rayner, Gael Greene, and Gail Simmons were the other judges; Kelly Choi was the host. The show is a spin-off of Bravo TV's Top Chef.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordering Greenpoint to the north, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south, Bushwick to the east and the East River to the west. The neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 1. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 90th ...
. He became the editor-in-chief of Saveur
Saveur
Saveur is a gourmet, food, wine, and travel magazine that specializes in essays about various world cuisines. The publication was co-founded by Dorothy Kalins, Michael Grossman, Christopher Hirsheimer, and Colman Andrews, who was also the editor-in-chief from 1996 to 2001...
in 2006, after serving as the magazine's executive editor. Before Saveur, Oseland wrote for Food & Wine, Gourmet
Gourmet (magazine)
Gourmet magazine was a monthly publication of Condé Nast and the first U.S. magazine devoted to food and wine. Founded by Earle R. MacAusland and first published in 1941, Gourmet also covered "good living" on a wider scale....
, and Time Out New York. Previously, he was an editor at Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, Organic Style, L.A. Weekly, TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
, Vibe, Sassy, American American Theatre, The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
and Mademoiselle
Mademoiselle (magazine)
Mademoiselle was an influential women's magazine first published in 1935 by Street and Smith and later acquired by Condé Nast Publications....
.
Oseland has written a book, Cradle of Flavor: Home Cooking from the Spice Islands of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, that was influenced by his experiences in Southeast Asia.
History
After dropping out of high school, Oseland earned a BFABachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
and MFA
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
in photography and film studies from the San Francisco Art Institute
San Francisco Art Institute
San Francisco Art Institute is a school of higher education in contemporary art with the main campus in the Russian Hill district of San Francisco, California. Its graduate center is in the Dogpatch neighborhood. The private, non-profit institution is accredited by WASC and is a member of the...
. He considered work in Hollywood before deciding "the idea of growing old in the business just didn't sit all that well".
Trips to Southeast Asia
Oseland has traveled extensively in Southeast Asia. Since his first visit to JakartaJakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
in 1982, he has returned to the region many times to collect recipes from local restaurants and home cooks.
Cradle of Flavor
Oseland's best-known book is Cradle of Flavor: Home Cooking from the Spice Islands of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. It was published by W.W. Norton in 2006. Cradle of Flavor won the 2007 James Beard Cookbook Award in the Asian cookbook category and an award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals. It was named one of the best books of that year by Time Asia, the New York Times, Good Morning America, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and others.Television and radio
Oseland has appeared on the television programs Iron Chef America and the Today Show. He is a regular guest on KCRW's Good Food and American Public Radio's The Splendid Table.He was one of the judges on the 2009 premiere season of Bravo TV’s Top Chef Masters. Jay Rayner, Gael Greene, and Gail Simmons were the other judges; Kelly Choi was the host. The show is a spin-off of Bravo TV's Top Chef.