Meet the Interim Food & Drink Editor

What a long, strange trip it's been, as the Grateful Dead once sang. While Molly Martin is out on medical leave, I've returned to Westword, where my journalism career started. I was the first music editor, and I used to hate the Dead. In fact, I once debated another Westword writer, the late Alan Dumas, who was a committed Deadhead; we sat at a table at the old Wazee Supper Club (today the location of A5 Steakhouse) and argued for an hour about the band.

Since then, my long, strange trip has taken me down many paths, but all related to writing, storytelling and media. After a decade, I left Westword to help launch the Boulder-based radio show eTown, then took a job as the entertainment editor for the Colorado Springs Gazette for four years. During that time, this thing called the Internet happened and I was one of the early adopters who loved the idea of writing something about the arts and music scene in El Paso County and having a scientist stationed in Antarctica email me about my articles. I knew the future of media would be online.

I took a gig as the content manager of a new media operation, AOL's Digital City Denver, a reflection of the city's many communities and topics represented by America Online members.  A series of online positions followed, highlighted by a stint as the editor of DenverPost.com, the Denver Post's website. I ran a half dozen other online sites for as many companies — like I said, I've been on a long, strange trip. Somewhere in there, I co-authored The Toy Book.
During this time, I became what I call a "born-again Asian" — but really a "born-again Japanese American." I was born in Tokyo and my family moved to the States when I was eight, so I was as American as anyone else, but I had strong cultural roots in my Japanese heritage. I wrote Being Japanese American, a memoir/history of the Japanese American community, and in 2022, Tabemasho! Let's Eat! The Tasty History of Japanese Food in America.

And that brings me to where I am today. I started posting #foodporn on my social media, gained a reputation as a foodie, and have tried to live up to that reputation. I eat all manner of Japanese food that's slimy or stinky. I love eating anything from anywhere. I've had bugs at the Taste of Colorado, and my bucket list includes Balut, the Filipino dish of an unborn chick embryo in an egg. My rule: If someone somewhere in the world eats something, I'm willing to try it.

I like junk food. I like fancy food. I love to cook. I'm obsessed with Japanese kitchen knives. I'm the King of the Grill. But mostly, I love food that reflects the culture that cooks it.

I look forward to maintaining this section in Molly's absence, and to hand it over in good health when she returns. Then I'll continue my own long, strange trip. In the meantime, send any suggestions to [email protected] and enjoy some food porn below: