The First LA Times Standalone Food Section in Seven Years Resumes in Print Today

The Los Angeles Times food section is really, really back. Late last night and on into the early morning today, the city’s paper of record spun out from its printing bays a whole new standalone insert dedicated to all things food. That hasn’t happened since 2012.

The return of the weekly standalone print section is a big deal for not only the city and its many, many food lovers, but for print newspapers all over the country. As more and more media outlets continue to throw off staff members and/or consolidate power in the hands of hedge fund managers with an eye towards maximizing profits, the Los Angeles Times is actually growing its staff and its coverage (after a scary few years, certainly) of what is undoubtedly the best food city in America.

So what can one expect when they head to a newsstand (or coffee shop or grocery store) today? There are two print reviews from Bill Addison (on Hayato in Downtown) and Patricia Escárcega (on Inglewood’s Mutiara) respectively, as well as a colorful two-page-wide re-introduction to the section from Peter Meehan, complete with cartoon renderings of some famous LA food landmarks like the Bob’s Big Boy. Elsewhere is an introduction to the new home cooking culinary team, and a primer on the rise and stabilization of LA’s “fancy Chinese food” scene. Welcome back, LA Times print food section.

• New LA Times Food Critics Drop First Reviews Since Death of Jonathan Gold [ELA]