James Oseland is a celebrity food critic. He was born in California and has spent over twenty years in Southeast Asia. The area has become his second home over the past 20 years. He has held estates in California and New York, but currently resides in New York City. He has also had extended stays in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.^[1] He became the editor-in-chief of Saveur in 2006. A controversial change made by creator and time editor Coleman Andrews. Oseland was said to not have enough personality or prescence to carry on the same job Andrews once did. ^[2] Before Saveur, Oseland wrote for Food and Wine Magazine, Gourmet, and Time Out New York. In addition, he was an editor at Vogue, Organic Style, L.A. Weekly, T.V. Guide, Vibe, Sassy, American Theater, The Village Voice and Mademoiselle.^[2] Oseland is openly homosexual and is not married. James Oseland wrote a book that was influenced by his experiences in Southeast Asia called “Cradle of Flavor: Home Cooking from the Spice Islands of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.^[2] In addition to being editor to Saveur, Oseland teaches cooking classes at New York’s Institute for Culinary Education. Oseland earned a BFA and MFA in photography and film studies after his first trip. He graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute.

Trips to Southeast Asia

After Oseland's first visit to Asia, he went back over 25 times. Most of the time he visited different places in attempts to find different spices, herbs, or flavor combinations. Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia were the main visiting places of Oseland.

Why Asia

Tanya Alwi, a classmate of Oseland at an art school in San Francisco invited him to visit her. He got dengue fever a few days into his 3 month vacation, but bounced back from the disease similar to malaria. ^[2] Oseland then fell in love with the traditions and uncommon foods. He was amazed with the discovery of Asia’s three dimensional concept of eating. Texture, vibrancy, and balance are in the new concept Oseland tried to grasp. After the trip, Oseland finished his film degree and started working in films. He made his film debut in the movie "Guncrazy" starring Drew Barrymore. He quickly realized that food was his passion. He then began to travel frequently to Southeast Asia. Around 25 trips were made with the first starting in 1982.

How Recipes Discovered

Oseland collected recipes from local restaurants around Southeast Asia for over twenty years. ^[2] He has been said to have been great friends with local food venders that would give him tips and direct him into the direction of hidden delicacies. Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysian techniques, ingredients, and traditions have all been absorbed during that time.

Start at Seveur

Oseland started writing for Saveur by sending a letter to Saveur and telling them how great Baltimore crab cakes tasted. Baltimore crab cakes are a specialty of Oseland because his parents are both from Baltimore and still have many relatives that live there. ^[2] After Oseland sent the letter to Saveur, he received one to write his first article for them two days later.

Cradle of Flavor

James Oseland's most famous book is Cradle of Flavor: Home Cooking from the Spice Islands of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. It was published by W.W.Norton in 2006. ^[2] The book focuses on some of Southeast Asia's complex cuisine. In fact, almost half of the book is explaining various ingredients commonly used in that region of the world. Eating traditions and regional cooking techniques are also presented at the start of the book. A portion of the book is on how to shop in foreign restaurants. Towards the back of the book, Malaysian Penang-Stir Fried Kuey Teow Noodles and the Carrot Pickle with Tuneric recipes are explained. These are two of the more difficult recipes shown. This book won the 2007 James Beard Award for the Asian Cooking Category and an award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals. Also, Time Magazine said “Cradle of Flavor” was one of the ten best books of 2007.^[2]

Television

James Oseland made his first television appearance as a judge on Iron Chef America. He then was invited to the Today Show where he talked about his book called Cradle of Flavor: Home Cooking from the Spice Islands of Indoniesia, malaysia, and Singapore.^[2] In addition, Oseland was one of four head judges for Top Chef Masters. Jay Raymer, Gail Greene, and host Kelly Ann Choi were the other judges. The show is a spin off of Top Chef. On the show, Oseland critiqued a select group of the world's best chefs. Oseland is best remembered for being harsh on contestant Micheal Chiarello. Oseland has also made regular appearances on many different radio shows. The Splendid Table is the most common radio show Oseland has appeared on.

New York Institute for Culinary Education

The New York Institute of Culinary Education is where Oseland teaches cooking classes. Classes range from $75 per class to $100+. It is located at 50 West 23rd Street in New York, New York.

Community Service

In January 2005, Oseland participated in the ICE, Institute for Culinary Education, by demonstrating how to cook a Southeast Asian dish. The organizations goal was $20,000. In the end, ICE raised over $31,000 towards the tsunami relief effort. ^[3] The organization helped supply food in over 40 countries. Cookbook authors Julie Sahni and Corinne Trang also were present in the demonstration of ethnic foods.

References

Biography. 2009. James Oseland. 12 September 2009. http://jamesoseland.com/about/biography

Bios: James Oseland. 2009. BravoTV.com. 13 September 2009. http://www.bravotv.com/node/35800

Cradle of Flavors. 2004. De Re Co Quinaria. 12 September 2009. http://www.derecoquinaria.com/fichagrande.asp?name=Cradle%20of%20flavor&author=James%20Oseland&ID=8003

The Institute of Culinary Education Raises Over $31,000 for Action Against Hunger's Tsunami Relief Effort. 27 January 2004. The Institute of Culinary Education. 12 September 2009. http://www.iceculinary.com/news/press/press_43.html

James Oseland. 2009. Pop Tower. 13 September 2009. http://www.poptower.com/james-oseland.htm

James Oseland: Q&A with the Saveur Editor-in-Chief. 22 July 2007. Bonnier. 12 September 2009. http://www.bonnier.com/en/content/james-oseland-qa-saveur-editor-chief

Jay Rayner, Gael Greene, and James Oseland to Judge Top Chef Masters. 13 February 2009. The Food Section. 13 September 2009. http://www.thefoodsection.com/foodsection/2009/02/jay-rayner-gael.html

^ <Bios: James Oseland. 2009. BravoTV.com. 13 September 2009.http://www.bravotv.com/node/35800long>
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ James Oseland: Q&A with the Saveur Editor-in-Chief. 22 July 2007. Bonnier. 12 September 2009.http://www.bonnier.com/en/content/james-oseland-qa-saveur-editor-chief Cite error: The named reference "nyt" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ The Institute of Culinary Education Raises Over $31,000 for Action Against Hunger's Tsunami Relief Effort. 27 January 2004. The Institute of Culinary Education. 12 September 2009.http://www.iceculinary.com/news/press/press_43.html

[1] <Bios: James Oseland. 2009. BravoTV.com. 13 September 2009.http://www.bravotv.com/node/35800long>

[nyt-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ James Oseland: Q&A with the Saveur Editor-in-Chief. 22 July 2007. Bonnier. 12 September 2009.http://www.bonnier.com/en/content/james-oseland-qa-saveur-editor-chief Cite error: The named reference "nyt" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

[3] The Institute of Culinary Education Raises Over $31,000 for Action Against Hunger's Tsunami Relief Effort. 27 January 2004. The Institute of Culinary Education. 12 September 2009.http://www.iceculinary.com/news/press/press_43.html

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