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After Months-Long Hiatus, Cookbook Author Alison Roman Officially Departs From the New York Times

Plus, MacKenzie Scott’s generosity far outshines that of her ex Jeff Bezos, and more news to start your day

Alison Roman holding a drink on a show set. Photo by: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Alison Roman is no longer a NYT Cooking columnist

Alison Roman will not be returning to the New York Times, the recipe developer and former NYT Cooking columnist announced on Instagram on Wednesday.

“Feels like a good time to formally mention I won’t be returning to NYT Cooking. I’m proud of the work we made together but excited for this new chapter,” Roman wrote in a caption accompanying a photo of herself wearing a sweatshirt bearing a photo of caramelized shallot pasta, one of her popular recipes for the Times. She continued that her “new chapter” would include more recipes, videos, and writing for her newsletter, which she launched in June.

Roman had been on temporary leave from her NYT Cooking since May, following a very public dustup involving the Nothing Fancy author, Chrissy Teigen, and Marie Kondo (the latter by mention only). In an interview with the New Consumer, Roman had, among other things, effectively accused Teigen and Kondo of selling out by building personal brand empires. The interview drew backlash from those accusing Roman of hypocrisy and selectively targeting Asian women. Roman later apologized, and Teigen called for the Cooking columnist to be reinstated at the Times.

A Times spokesperson provided the following statement to Page Six regarding the permanent departure: “Alison decided to move on from The Times and we’re very thankful for her work with us.”

Disclosure: Chrissy Teigen is producing shows for Hulu in partnership with Vox Media Studios, part of Eater’s parent company, Vox Media. No Eater staff member is involved in the production of those shows, and this does not impact coverage on Eater.

And in other news…

  • Tyson Foods has fired the managers alleged to have participated in a betting pool on how many meat plant workers would contract COVID-19. [CNN]
  • The National Restaurant Association and food delivery apps released an outline of “principles” designed to delineate boundaries and ease tensions between restaurants and the apps. [Restaurant Business]
  • In 2013, reporter Kashmir Hill paid for a $1,000 restaurant bill using Bitcoin. That same amount of Bitcoin would now be worth $200,000. [NYT]
  • New York fast-food workers would get “just cause” protections from firing under a pair of bills passed by the city council. [NYDN]
  • Tropicana apologized for an orange juice social media campaign called #TakeAMimoment, which suggested to some that alcohol ingestion is a salve for the stresses of parenting. [Yahoo]
  • Jeff Bezos’s ex-wife MacKenzie Scott gave away $4 billion in the last four months. Among her donation beneficiaries were more than 40 food banks and 30 Meals on Wheels services. [The Guardian]
  • Chef and author Sandra Lee has moved out of the longtime home she shared with New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, following their breakup after 14 years together. [Today]
  • Chick-fil-A’s Polynesian sauce is apparently prone to bursting in its packaging, so don’t keep that stuff squirreled away in your bag or drawer forever. [The Takeout]
  • Dear Prudence: “my girlfriend is a celebrity chef” edition. [Slate]
  • Popeyes’s new beignets, reviewed. [WaPo]

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