Margo True

The Climb

At Gourmet, Margo True worked as senior editor and writer, a post that depended on close editing, clean judgment, and the ability to hold a publication’s food coverage to a high standard. The same discipline carried into her role as executive editor at Saveur, where the work required shaping coverage inside a magazine known for curiosity, rigor, and a clear point of view. At Sunset magazine, she became food editor, bringing that same editorial control to a title built around food, place, and the practical pleasures of the table. The through-line in Margo True’s career is judgment: knowing what belongs in the book, what tightens the story, and what can be left out without losing force. In 2014–2014, she also appeared as a tv judge at Home Chef Showdown, shifting from page to live evaluation without changing the core of her method. On camera, as in the magazine office, the work still came down to speed, clarity, and the ability to state a preference without bluster.

Today

At Sunset magazine, Margo True continues to apply long practice to a publication whose identity is tied to food, lifestyle, and the West. That kind of editorial work is cumulative: years spent weighing copy, guiding coverage, and keeping the tone legible without flattening it. Her role there reflects a steady commitment to food journalism that is edited, considered, and useful to the reader.

In Their Words “I had to be discriminating, but nice.” The line is plain-spoken, and it tells you how the work gets done. Discrimination in editing means choosing carefully; niceness means making those choices without unnecessary force. For a food editor moving between influential publications, that balance is part of the craft.

Recognition

Margo's honors include James Beard Award and IACP award. Those recognitions place her work within the broader field of food media, where editorial standards are measured over time. They point to a career built on consistency, restraint, and a reliable eye for quality.