James Ward, the colorful food reporter for ABC News here in Chicago passed away yesterday.
I had the pleasure of working with James on a travel magazine and some other projects years ago, and once even wound up eating dinner with him in footage of a St. Patty’s Day report (he recruited me off a barstool when he walked in a pub and recognized me).
His Bread & Circuses reports were fun fare, but I don’t think the format and the audience really let him express the range of local dining possibilities nor the true brashness of his opinions. I relished the short times I got to talk food with him, when I could get some of his more serious knowledge of food and dining around.
He was always articulately professional, while at the same time always a truly unique character, and a whole lot of fun.