John Willoughby joined Gourmet magazine as executive editor in February 2001. Prior to Gourmet, Mr. Willoughby was for seven years the senior editor of Cooks Illustrated, as well as a freelance writer and the co-author, with Chris Schlesinger, of a monthly feature in the New York Times food section. He and Chris also co-authored eight cookbooks, mainly about grilling, meat, and spicy food.
John Willoughby
Executive Editor

Photograph by Romulo Yanes
John Willoughby on gourmet.com
chefs + restaurants
Restaurants Now: Yerba Buena Perry
(New York) A much-loved Lower East Side cantina sprouts a new branch.
09.25.09
- Keywords
- restaurants now,
- new york city,
- latino,
- john willoughby
food + cooking
Vendor Power
Becoming a street-food vendor is a time-honored road to success—but sometimes you need a helping hand to figure out the ropes.
09.21.09
- Keywords
- street food,
- food policy,
- new york,
- culinary culture,
- john willoughby
travel + culture
Travel Smart: High Life, Low Budget, in New York
Gourmet’s executive editor discovers an Ace in the black hole of affordable (yet ritzy) Manhattan hotels.
08.28.09
- Keywords
- travel smart,
- hotels,
- new york,
- john willoughby
travel + culture
Book Review: Canal House Cooking
With summer in full swing, it’s the right time for an unpretentious cookbook that will make you feel like you’ve found a couple of new friends.
07.29.09
travel + culture
Travel Smart: London’s Hippest Hotel
Gourmet’s executive editor skips the scene in the lobby to find everything he could want at a great price.
07.24.09
- Keywords
- travel smart,
- london,
- hotels,
- europe,
- john willoughby
food + cooking
New Book on the Block
Even if you think you know it all, Notes on Cooking is likely to have some ideas that will make you a better cook.
06.09.09
- Keywords
- books,
- cookbooks,
- cooking tips,
- cooking + technique,
- john willoughby
chefs + restaurants
Restaurants Now: Marea
(NEW YORK CITY) - With a raised ceiling and a clean, uncluttered look (lots of white with a few red accents), Marea’s become a space you want to hang out in.
05.29.09
- Keywords
- restaurants now,
- new york city,
- seafood,
- italian,
- michael white
recipes
Spinach Salad with Grilled Eggplant and Feta
The marjoram adds a delicate note to this Middle Eastern-inspired salad. Be sure the eggplant is tender, slice it before taking off the grill.
June 2009
- Keywords
- grilling,
- pasta,
- vegetarian cook smart,
- chris schlesinger,
- john willoughby
recipes
Penne with Grilled Portabellas and Pecorino
Mushrooms in general are great for grilling, and portabellas are large enough to be easy to handle on the grill.
June 2009
- Keywords
- grilling,
- pasta,
- vegetarian,
- cook smart,
- chris schlesinger
recipes
Grilled Skirt Steak and Arugula Salad with Roquefort and Catalina Dressing
Incredibly rich and flavorful, skirt steak is ideal for this particular salad, but you can also use any other type of steak.
June 2009
- Keywords
- grilling,
- beef,
- dressing,
- cook smart,
- chris schlesinger