{Flavia's Favorites} Food Magazines
Wow. The first month of the year is over after today. Crazy. Just when I thought I had plenty of time to write my first "Flavia's Favorites" post, I look at the calendar and lo and behold, there is one day left in the month. I'm usually OCD about planning ahead, but I lollygagged and now here I am writing this post the night before. But at least it's still published in January!
The one thing I did plan in advance was deciding on the topic for my first "Flavia's Favorites" feature, which is my favorite food magazines. I started subscribing to various publications shortly after Peter and I were married almost twelve years ago, when my love of cooking and baking exploded and I couldn't read enough about food. I have learned most of what I know about cooking, techniques and ingredients from food magazines, and I'm excited to tell you about the ones that I read regulary. Each of these magazines has several things in common which I think makes them some of the best publications on the market: they are all well designed and laid out, the photography is spectacular and every article is thoughtfully researched and written. It's pure pleasure to read these every month!
Although I'm not a fan of Bon Appetit's new "look" (I thought their former look was classier), I'm not letting aesthetics stop me from subscribing. The recipes they feature are all approachable for the home cook, with a combination of easy to slightly more advanced, and every issue always has an excellent variety of recipes to explore. Three of my favorite features of the magazine are Molly Wizenberg's monthly column Cooking Life; the interviews with celebrities on the very last page, where you get to find out their favorite foods, drinks, restaurants and ingredients; and the Tips section, where you can learn how to cut up a chicken, trim kale, pit an olive, etc. all with step-by-step photos and instructions. You can also follow Bon Appetit on Twitter and Facebook, and be sure to check out their fabulous website.
I've been subscribing to Everyday Food since it was first published and I love getting this digest-size periodical in my mailbox every month. The photographs are crisp, bright and clean; styled with very few props, but have lively colors from the serving plates, napkins or boards on which the food is placed so that the food is always front and center. If you are still learning to cook, this is a wonderful magazine to subscribe to. Every recipe is approachable for even the most novice of home cooks. Regular features include How To, where a cooking technique and relevant recipes are explained with step-by-step photographs and instructions; Have You Tried? spotlights a product or ingredient with a detailed explanation of what the ingredient is, where it can be purchased and how it can be used, followed by a handful of recipes; In Season features an ingredient from the produce department of your grocery store that is at its peak in the month you receive your issue, and offers tips on how to buy, store and use the ingredient. Everyday Food has an equally beautiful website and you can keep track of the latest recipes by following their Twitter stream and Facebook announcments.
I don't know what took me so long to subscribe to Fine Cooking, especially since I had been buying it from the newsstands for quite some time. This is another magazine that is perfect for a beginning home cook. The photographs in every issue make your mouth water and the content of every issue is written by a wide variety of knowledgable contributors. Some of my favorite features include Books that Cook, where new and notable cookbooks are spotlighted; Go Shopping, showcases the latest products for the kitchen and table; and Test Kitchen gives you useful tip and techniques complete with step-by-step photographs and written instructions. It also spotlights a variety of ingredients and explains their use in recipes. You can further explore Fine Cooking's website and follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
Saveur is what I would describe as a more cerebral read, perfect for any foodie geeks you may know. While it offers a variety of recipes, much of the magazine is dedicated to in-depth articles about food, ingredients, techniques, products, etc. that are encyclopedic in their detail. I can't seem to get enough detail when it comes to food and cooking, which is why I love this magazine so much. This is the magazine that takes me the longest to read, because I take my time reading (sometimes re-reading) each article. Saveur's website is a treasure trove of their outstanding articles, recipes and travel guides, and it also offers a comprehensive section on wine and spirits. I printed out several of their articles on Rome before our trip to Italy last September because they searched out the best of the best restaurants and food shops in the city, and they were spot-on with every recommendation. You can also follow Saveur's updates on Twitter and Facebook.
So there you have it--the first installment of "Flavia's Favorites"! Don't forget that magazine subscriptions make excellent gifts and Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Happy reading and cooking everyone!
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I like Saveur because it features many international recipes.