My name is Joshua David Stein. I’m a writer, an editor, a musician, and, I guess, a consultant. I write children’s books and cookbooks, some of which have done very well. Some not. It’s okay. I guess I don’t overly identify with my work.

For Esquire magazine, I help put together the Best New Restaurant list — as well as Best Bars, Best Martinis and Best New Hotels.

What else? I write a lot about food and travel for publications like New York, The Financial Times and the WSJ. I write about all sorts of other stuff for publications like Playboy and Town & Country and a whole bunch of other places. I have won a James Beard Award and my writing has appeared in The Best American Food Writing. In addition, my latest children’s book, Make New Friends, was named one of the best illustrated books in 2025 by The New York Times. I am proud of that but also, you know, it hasn’t made me substantially happier in my day-to-day life.

I am what they call a jobbing writer. I write because I enjoy it and I’m good at it and it’s an interesting way to understand the world. And also because I have to make money.