Former Dallas Morning News Dining Critic Dotty Griffith Dies at 71

Dotty Griffith, a longtime Texas food writer and former food critic at the Dallas Morning News, has died at the age of 71.

Griffith died on Monday, September 13 after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer, according to the Dallas Morning News. Griffith served as food critic for a decade, starting in 1996 and ending in 2006, but spent more than 30 years working for the paper. Before that, she covered Dallas as a general assignment reporter. Per CultureMap, Griffith also spent time as a professor at the University of North Texas and wrote and edited a dozen cookbooks, including books on Texas barbecue, holiday cooking, and chef Dean Fearing’s cookbook from his time at the legendary Mansion on Turtle Creek.

Following the news of her death, journalists and chefs across Texas took to social media to pay tribute to Griffith’s contributions to food journalism in the state. “Dotty did so much for the food community in Dallas. And she was very generous to me,” wrote Dallas Morning News food reporter Sarah Blaskovich. “I hope the food is great in heaven, Dotty.”

Griffith is survived by her children and grandchildren. Details on funeral services have not been made public.

• Trailblazing Texas food journalist Dotty Griffith dies at 71 [DMN]
• Renowned Dallas food writer and editor Dotty Griffith dies at 71 [CultureMap]