L John Harris

A native of Los Angeles, L. John Harris studied literature and art at UC Berkeley from 1965-1969. Through the 1970’s, while working in some of Berkeley’s iconic food businesses--the Cheese Board, Chez Panisse and The Swallow--he wrote The Book of Garlic, followed by The Official Garlic Lovers Handbook. His graphic memoire Foodoodles came out in 2010. A modern Renaissance man, Harris is also a documentary filmmaker (Divine Food: 100 Years in the Kosher Delicatessen Trade and Los Romeros: The Royal Family of the Guitar), vintage home restorer and classical guitar aficionado. His Harris Guitar Foundation works with the San Francisco Conservatory of Music to introduce students to the history of their instrument through his classical and flamenco guitar collection. Harris is currently working on a history of Berkeley's legendary Gourmet Ghetto.