Grand Central Market Commemorates Jonathan Gold With New Plaza and Plaque

Since Jonathan Gold’s death in late-July, Angelenos are still finding ways to memorialize the late restaurant critic. The latest appreciation comes from LA City Councilman José Huizar, who introduced a motion last week for a Jonathan Gold memorial site at Grand Central Market. As of yesterday, the Broadway side of Grand Central Market is now known as Jonathan Gold Plaza, which includes a silhouette, and plaque for the famed food writer.

Los Angeles Times arts and culture columnist Carolina Miranda hosted Sunday’s event. Gold’s surviving family, friends, city officials, and hundreds of people gathered in Grand Park to honor Gold’s legacy with a plaque, and adorned light posts outside Grand Central Market. Tributes came from Gold’s brother, Mark Gold, “Good Food” host Evan Kleiman, and Guelagueztza owner Bricia Lopez, along with chefs Sang Yoon and Michael Cimarusti.

A Gold memorial in LA wouldn’t be complete without taco trucks, which lined the streets surrounding Grand Park, including Kogi BBQ, Carnitas El Momo, and Los Originales Tacos Arabes de Puebla. The event also featured unseen footage from the 2015 documentary “City of Gold,” by director Laura Gabbert.

The official plaque features a quote from Jonathan Gold’s writing, “The huge number of multiple cultures that live in this city...and the fault lines between them are where you find the most beautiful things.”

This isn’t the first and possibly not the last Gold tribute, a few murals have popped up, and on what would have been Gold’s 58th birthday on July 28, Los Angeles buildings and landmarks turned gold. Gold remains the only restaurant critic to win a Pulitzer Prize, and died of pancreatic cancer last month. He was 57 years old.

• Jonathan Gold, LA Times Restaurant Critic and Food Writer, Dead at 57 [ELA]
• 12 Great Pieces of Food Writing From Jonathan Gold [ELA]
• Here Are LA’s Most Famous Buildings Lit Up to Honor Jonathan Gold [ELA]