Soleil Ho named the San Francisco Chronicle’s new restaurant critic

The Bay Bridge and Cupid's Span at the Embarcadero waterfront on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018, in San Francisco, Calif. The Bay Bridge and Cupid's Span at the Embarcadero waterfront on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018, in San Francisco, Calif. Photo: Santiago Mejia, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Santiago Mejia, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Soleil Ho named the San Francisco Chronicle’s new restaurant critic 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

The San Francisco Chronicle has named Soleil Ho, a nationally recognized food journalist and trained chef, to be the company’s next restaurant critic.

“We are thrilled to welcome Soleil to the team. She was a clear choice: she has a fresh and modern approach to food journalism,” said Audrey Cooper, editor in chief of The Chronicle.

Ho is known for her insightful, thought-provoking commentary and deep culinary knowledge. Her influential writing has appeared in national publications such as The New Yorker, GQ and Eater, and she has gained a following with her podcast, Racist Sandwich, that explores the lines between race, class and gender. Ho launched the podcast in May 2016 with co-host Zahir Janmohamed.

The hiring comes after longtime Chronicle critic Michael Bauer retired from The Chronicle after 32 years. When Ho starts in January, she will lead The Chronicle into the next era of criticism, a conversation that will confront questions of ethics and social justice. She will ensure that The Chronicle is the go-to place for Bay Area dining recommendations and reviews that enlighten, entertain and most of all, determine whether local restaurants are worth a diner’s time and money.

“I’m so honored to be the Bay Area’s full-time food critic and to be tasked with doing this diverse, complicated region’s foodways justice through my writing,” said Ho, who currently lives in Minneapolis. “This is a total dream for me.”

Before becoming one of the most recognizable and progressive voices in food media, Ho cooked in kitchens across the country. Her culinary career spanned roughly eight and a half years, including stints in the kitchens of Grand Cafe in South Minneapolis and Bayona in New Orleans. She also served as a consulting chef for Bonito Kitchen, a restaurant her mother launched in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Beyond Ho’s talents as a cook, her incisive skill as a food writer and thought leader are among the country’s best. Heavy Table, a popular Minneapolis food blog that recently shut down after nine years, was the first publication to publish Ho’s early work. She is also the co-author of a food-based graphic novel titled “Meal” and has served as an author or contributor on several other works.

“I know she will challenge our readers and our local industry, which in turn will help keep the Bay Area at the forefront of food culture and experiences,” Cooper added.

Do you have questions for our new critic? Email them to food@sfchronicle.com.

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips