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Early food blogger, Beard Award winner, and co-founder of the restaurant world message board eGullet Steven Shaw has died, according to a post on Quirky.com. Shaw was also the Director of New Media Studies at the International Culinary Center and worked at Quirky.com.
He was an inspiration to many food bloggers (as they testify on Twitter, below) and eGullet was the premiere digital community for food world discussion, frequented by chefs, restaurateurs, food writers, and more. Community members are sharing their memories of Shaw here.
EGullet was famously where Nathan Myhrvold began fleshing out the idea of his massive book project Modernist Cuisine. It was also the site of several "Alinea Project" discussions which tracked the 2004/2005 development of Grant Achatz's famed Chicago restaurant. In Shaw's own words, here's the story of eGullet:
In 2001, after already having been a food blogger since before that word was part of the language, I teamed up with a small group of other food bloggers and my friend the technologist Jason Perlow to form the eGullet community. In 2004, after significant introspection, we made the decision to incorporate as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. (It helps to be a lawyer when you decide to do something like that,) I'm immensely proud of what the eGullet community has accomplished. One of the most noteworthy recent happenings was the release of Nathan Myhrvold's "Modernist Cuisine" treatise, which was born on the eGullet discussion forums in 2003-4.
Among those paying homage to Shaw today are Amateur Gourmet blogger Adam Roberts, who writes on his blog, "In many ways, I owe my whole blogging career to him: his site, eGullet, is where I first cut my teeth as a food writer." Slice founder Adam Kuban tweeted that "Steven Shaw's early site, fat-guy dot com, had a wonderful pizza guide that showed me how the web cld disseminate pizza intel." USHG restaurateur Danny Meyer credits Shaw with bringing "together producers and consumers of food with intelligence and love." For more remembrances, see below:
Stunned and saddened by the untimely loss of Steven Shaw. He brought together producers and consumers of food with intelligence and love.
— Danny Meyer (@dhmeyer) April 9, 2014
We are saddened by the loss of Steven Shaw. He was our incredible Director of New Media Studies and a dear friend. http://t.co/8zh7GC5Yvb
— ICC (@ICCedu) April 9, 2014
Stunned to hear about Steven Shaw's death. He was an early inspiration to me re internet food writing and a true food-web OG.
— Adam Kuban (@akuban) April 9, 2014
Specifically, Steven Shaw's early site, fat-guy dot com, had a wonderful pizza guide that showed me how the web cld disseminate pizza intel
— Adam Kuban (@akuban) April 9, 2014
Very sad. #StevenShaw of #egullet.org and original foodie has died. once tied his bow tie for him before he gave speech to Chinese chefs.
— John Curtas (@eatinglasvegas) April 9, 2014
I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of Steven Shaw. He was a friend & mentor to people I love & made a monumental mark on food culture.
— Kat Kinsman (@kittenwithawhip) April 9, 2014
So sad to hear of the passing of food blogging pioneer, kindred spirit, and honorary Midtown Luncher @stevenshawnyc https://t.co/sTONOB1MB6
— Midtown Lunch (@midtownlunch) April 9, 2014
Sorry to hear about Steven Shaws passion, he was always kind to me. Will make a "Cheese Kulcha"in your name
— Floyd Cardoz (@floydcardoz) April 9, 2014
Goodbye, my friend. We built something great together. https://t.co/9mYp5NiPjG
— Jason Perlow (@jperlow) April 9, 2014
Steven Shaw's untimely passing is heartbreakingly sad. A brilliant writer on food & restaurants, an online pioneer and great mind & heart.
— Steve Cuozzo (@stevecuozzo) April 9, 2014
Saddened by the loss of Steven Shaw. He decided to write on food and was wise to spend a few weeks with me at GT We need more like SS. RIP
— Tom Colicchio (@tomcolicchio) April 9, 2014
Sorry to hear the founder of http://t.co/mjQrF6TCHo Steven Shaw has died. Before blogs, before Eater he agreed to Alinea Project aft. 1 call
— nick kokonas (@nickkokonas) April 9, 2014
· Steven Shaw [eGullet]
· All Steven Shaw Coverage on Eater [-E-]
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