The San Francisco Chronicle has announced the appointment of Matt Buchanan as its new Food & Wine editor, a significant move poised to invigorate the publication’s comprehensive coverage of the Bay Area’s dynamic culinary landscape. Buchanan is set to officially assume his role on September 22, taking the helm of an award-winning team renowned for its insightful reporting on local restaurants, wine trends, food criticism, and essential service journalism. This appointment signals a continued commitment by the Chronicle to robust journalistic excellence in one of the nation’s most vibrant food regions.
A New Chapter for West Coast Food Journalism
Buchanan arrives at the San Francisco Chronicle with an impressive editorial pedigree, most recently having spent the past year at The Philadelphia Inquirer, where he was credited with a significant overhaul of its food section. His work there demonstrated a keen ability to revitalize and elevate culinary reporting, a skill highly anticipated in his new role on the West Coast. Before his tenure in Philadelphia, Buchanan held multiple key positions at Eater National, serving as executive editor, enterprise editor, and features editor. During his time at Eater, he spearheaded several impactful investigations, notably breaking the news of Mario Batali’s sexual misconduct, a testament to his commitment to rigorous, accountability-focused journalism. The work he edited garnered considerable acclaim, receiving 15 nominations from the James Beard Foundation, with two ultimately winning the prestigious Innovation Storytelling Award.
His diverse background extends beyond food journalism. Earlier in his career, Buchanan edited The Awl, a respected independent website, and covered the tech industry as an editor for prominent outlets such as The New Yorker, BuzzFeed, and Gizmodo. This broad experience in both general interest and specialized news coverage equips him with a unique perspective to lead the Chronicle’s Food & Wine section, which is a cornerstone of the publication’s offerings.
Buchanan’s Vision for Bay Area Cuisine
Expressing his enthusiasm for the move, Buchanan shared his long-standing connection to the region. “I’ve been in love with the Bay Area since covering tech as a blogger during the early days of the iPhone,” he stated, adding his excitement to “guide coverage of the region’s incredibly diverse restaurant scene, from the bougiest imaginable places in Napa to the most wildly inventive spots in Oakland, and everything and everywhere in between.” This sentiment underscores his intention to explore the full spectrum of the Bay Area’s gastronomic identity, from high-end wine country experiences to innovative, local establishments.
The San Francisco Chronicle, founded in 1865 and acquired by Hearst in 2000, stands as Northern California’s largest newspaper and the second largest on the entire Coast. Its Food & Wine team has a long-standing reputation for authoritative coverage, including its much-anticipated annual Top 100 restaurants list. Buchanan will be instrumental in leading these tentpole projects, ensuring they continue to reflect the excellence and diversity of the Bay Area’s culinary scene.
Leadership Transition and Future Outlook
The transition sees outgoing Food & Wine Editor Janelle Bitker stepping into a new role as Deputy Director of Content Strategy and Utility Journalism, where she will continue to oversee Buchanan. Bitker offered high praise for her successor, calling him “one of the rare food editors in the country to have truly done it all.” She further lauded his reputation as not only a “brilliant storyteller but a generous mentor for writers,” highlighting the anticipated positive impact on the team and its output. Buchanan, originally from the Columbus/Fort Benning area in Georgia, studied East Asian Studies and Gender Studies at New York University, and this marks his first time residing in California.
Buchanan’s arrival is expected to build upon the Chronicle’s strong foundation, bringing a fresh perspective and his proven track record of insightful, engaging, and often investigative editorial leadership. His appointment reinforces the San Francisco Chronicle’s position as a leading voice in food and wine news on the West Coast, promising readers continued in-depth and compelling coverage of the region’s rich and evolving culinary culture.
