| Marlena Spieler | |
| Birth Date: | 16 April 1949 |
| Birth Place: | Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| Death Place: | England |
Marlena Spieler (April 16, 1949 – July 6, 2023) was an American food writer of more than 70 cookbooks. She contributed to Bon Appétit, Saveur, and the San Francisco Chronicle food column "The Roving Feast."[1] [2] [3]
Spieler was born in Sacramento, California. As a student, she started drawing recipes while she attended an art school. Her life interest was focused on cooking, tasting, and sharing stories about food.[4]
Spieler's publications were based on cooking, eating and sharing. As a food writer, she was the Roving Feast columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle. She also worked for radio and television shows. She wrote over 70 cookbooks. Spieler's book, "The Classic Barbecue and Grill Cookbook was a #1 best-seller in the United Kingdom. After writing "Yummy Potatoes," she was invited as an ambassador to the 2008 UN Year of Potato conference in Peru.
Marlena Spieler resided in the United Kingdom with her husband Alan until her death. She died at her home outside of London on July 6, 2023, at the age of 74.[5]
Spieler received the James Beard for two books and one newspaper column, the Guild of Food Writers Awards twice (UK best radio food broadcaster of the year), and the Association of Food Journalists (USA:Best Column in Newspaper of Over 400,000 circulation) twice, for radio presenting and publications. Her book "Feeding Friends" won the International Cookbook Award in Perigueux, France in 2000, and the "Jewish Heritage Cooking" book was honored in the Loire Valley in 2003, by a Special Jury Award at World Gourmand Book Awards.