Andrea Lawson Gray

Andréa Lawson Gray is a James Beard award-winning cookbook writer, culinary anthropologist and food stylist whose books and collaborations sit at the intersection of culture, research, and the home kitchen. Her work focuses on amplifying Latino and Afro-Latino foodways through both historical research and contemporary storytelling.

She co-authored Convivir: Modern Mexican Cooking in California’s Wine Country (with Rogelio Garcia, Abrams, Sept. 2024), winner of a James Beard Award and an IACP Award: one recognizing her writing in the Restaurant & Chef category, and another for her work as a stylist in Food Photography & Styling; as well as Caribbean Cocktails: Potions & Bites from the Afro-Latino Diaspora (author, Nelson German, Ten Speed Press in June 2026).

Her first book, Celebraciones Mexicanas: History, Traditions and Recipes (with Adriana Almazin Lahl, Rowman & Littlefield, 2013), blends historical scholarship with regional recipes and is held in 350+ libraries (including Harvard and Cambridge) and widely cited in academic food-culture research. With multiple award-winning projects behind her, Andrea brings a unique mix of editorial expertise, industry knowledge, and styling experience to each collaboration—helping chefs and restaurateurs translate their vision into compelling proposals and successful books.

Lawson Gray brings to her work a background in both the rest

aurant industry and branding and marketing, allowing her to shape food narratives that are historically grounded while also speaking directly to contemporary audiences. She divides her time between San Francisco and New York City, where she continues to research, write, and collaborate on projects at the intersection of food, culture, and storytelling.