You may have heard the news already, but now that the daily has finished pawing through my past, I can finally confirm it: I’m leaving the Washington City Paper to join the Food staff at the Washington Post.

I will be joining the Post on Monday, Dec. 6.

What will this mean for me and for the Washington City Paper? Well, for me it means I can no longer use the word “fuck” in print.

Fuck!

But it also means that I get to work with Joe Yonan, Bonnie Benwick, and the rest of the Post‘s Food section staff, which just happens to hold the James Beard Award for the best food section in the country. Am I thrilled join these pros?

Fuck yeah!

It also means I’m leaving behind a job that has thrilled me, challenged me, and exhausted me — sometimes all on the same day. I have loved this job. It has been the best one I’ve ever had up until now. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Erik Wemple for first hiring me back in 2006 and to Andrew Beaujon for keeping me on track for years.

My current editor, Michael Schaffer, has been a dream to work for, and I know, given his love of both food and good journalism, he will find the right person to fill this chair. But until that time, the column will be written by a number of freelancers, including some who may be vying for the gig. Let the boss know what you think of them. The blog will be edited temporarily by Michael Grass, who will no doubt appreciate any tips you want to send his way at mgrass@washingtoncitypaper.com.

The Post has more on what my role will be in the near future. All I can say is…

Fuck yeah!