Marlena Spieler, an American food writer of more than 70 cookbooks, died July 6 at her home near London. She was 74.

As a food writer, she was the “Roving Feast” columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle, and also worked for radio and television shows. She received the James Beard Award, and also the International Cookbook Award in Périgueux, France, in 2000. Her Jewish Heritage Cooking book was honored in 2003 by a Special Jury Award at the World Gourmand Book Awards.