Meridith Ford Goldman is a food writer and stylist, pastry chef, teacher and consultant who worked as the dining critic and food writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in Atlanta, Georgia for six years. Previously, she was the dining critic for the Providence Journal in Providence, Rhode Island, for five years. Meridith attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, as a theater major, and worked professionally in the theater until 1986, when she began her training as a chef. In her hometown, Atlanta, she worked as a professional cook and chef before leaving to further her culinary education at Johnson & Wales University, where in 1990 she received an associate in occupational science degree in baking and pastry arts, and in 1991 a bachelor's degree in food marketing.

She was a contributing editor to Chef magazine for four years and wrote regularly for The National Culinary Review for six years. She had a column highlighting the best pastry chefs in the country in Pastry Art & Design for three years. In addition to her work at the AJC, where she wrote weekly restaurant reviews as well as created and designed cover stories for the newspaper’s food pages,she has written articles and developed recipes for Pastry Art & Design, Kitchen Gardener, Fine Cooking, Modern Baking, Chocolatier and Fancy Food magazines. A seasoned food stylist, Meridith has styled food shots for Chef, The National Culinary Review, Pastry Art & Design, Modern Baking, The Rhode Islander Magazine and the food pages of the Providence Journal and the AJC. She has taught and spoken at many events, and has appeared extensively as a guest on radio and television. 

In 2006, her food criticism was nominated for a coveted James Beard Award, the highest honor given to food writers, food personalities and chefs. In 2008, her writing was on the short list for nominations by the Atlanta Press Club’s columnist of the year. She is actively involved in supporting sustainable food pathways and is a member of the James Beard Foundation, The International Association of Culinary Professionals, Georgia Organics and Slow Food USA. Her new blog, Life is Lemonade (www.lifeislemonade.com) highlights cooking and lifestyles. Meridith lives in Decatur, Georgia, with her husband, Michael, and her daughter, Harper.