Ruth Reichl joined Gourmet as Editor in Chief in April 1999. Under her stewardship, the magazine has been nominated for 13 National Magazine Awards and has won two (General Excellence in 2004, Photography in 2005), in addition to winning 13 James Beard Awards for Food Journalism.  She was named "Magazine Editor of the Year" by Adweek Magazine in 2007 and led the magazine to record circulation levels in 2006. Ms. Reichl came to the magazine from The New York Times, where she  had been  restaurant critic since 1993. From 1984-1993, she was the restaurant critic for the Los Angeles Times, where she was also named food editor.

The author of the critically acclaimed, best-selling memoirs Tender at the Bone, Comfort Me With Apples and Garlic and Sapphires, Ms. Reichl is also the editor of The Modern Library Food Series, which currently includes 10 books. The Gourmet Cookbook, released in September 2004 under her leadership, appeared on the New York Times best-seller list and was one of the most successful book launches of the year. Ms. Reichl is the executive producer of "Gourmet’s Diary of a Foodie", public television’s new 20–episode series that premiered October 2006 and will begin its second season in January 2008.  She is also executive producer of the upcoming  "Garlic and Sapphires," a Fox 2000 major motion picture based on her memoirs.

Ms. Reichl has been honored with five James Beard Awards (one for "Gourmet’s Diary of a Foodie" in 2007; two for restaurant criticism in 1996 and 1998; one for journalism in 1994; and Who’s Who of Food and Beverage in America in 1984).  She holds a B.A. and an M.A. in the History of Art from the University of Michigan and lives in New York City with her husband, Michael Singer, a television news producer, and their son.