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24 Comments:
Hard call. I love Saveur for its beauty, as well as its insight into other cultures. However, I rarely cook from it unless I have a week to spare. For day-in, day-out stuff, Bon Appetit. For reading, Gastronomica. Confusing enough answer?
Barbara Hanson at 1:07AM on 02/08/07
Huh, my comment didn't show up. Anyway, I asked the question because I am a magazine junkie. My favorite cooking magazine is Fine Cooking, which is published by Taunton Publishing. (They do a Gardening and Woodworking magazine, too.) The magazine, though expensive, more than paid for itself with the way the recipes are laid out - once you've done a recipe a few times, it's really easy to innovate and experiment and make up your own version. The instructions are so easy, too - everything I've made from these magazines have been a huge success, with family, friends, co-workers.
I tried reading Cook's Illustrated before, but I found it too technical for me and the OCD got to me. I do like Saveur for its beauty as well. And I loved, loved the Gourmet issue where they had the literary supplement. If only all the Gourmet issues could be like that. Food and Wine is okay, too, but I find it short on content sometimes.
toastykitten at 1:12AM on 02/08/07
I should have added that I have a soft spot for Food & Wine, as they published an article of mine, back when dinosaurs walked the earth.
Barbara Hanson at 1:56AM on 02/08/07
Since 1993 I have been a devotee of Cook's Illustrated. It is by far the magazine with the most useful information, products, food tastings, comparson testing and recipes. Every year I order the annual book and keep them handy. I use the annuals books (a bound set of the years magazines) more than any other cookbook.
If I could only get one food magazine Cook's Illustrated would be it.
JerzeeTomato at 2:31AM on 02/08/07
Over the years, I have subscribed to oodles of magazines gourmet and otherwise. I have found them very useful in many ways. I am a charter subscriber to Taste of Home--not especially great for the serious cook--but it is sort of "familyish", simply formatted, easy recipes-- not requiring exotic spices and ingredients. I am a disabled senior now and no longer cook family meals so I'll probably stop subscribing, leaving me to the luxury of cooking an occasional gourmet feast as I did formerly!
joturtle at 3:09AM on 02/08/07
Saveur magazine hands down
fatbuddy at 4:43AM on 02/08/07
Saveur magazine hands down!
fatbuddy at 5:05AM on 02/08/07
Ed Behr's Art of Eating and John Thorne's Simple Cooking quarterlies. The writing in these two is head-and-shoulders above anything else being published today.
aj
dikaryon at 7:33AM on 02/08/07
Cook's Illustrated is my favorite, too, though after reading things online the illustrations strike me as even more of an anachronism. (But I guess that's part of its appeal for some.) Though not my favorite, I started reading Food & Wine again lately and was surprised by how much it had improved since I previously dropped it.
Adam Kuban at 8:26AM on 02/08/07
I'm with Adam & Jerzee that Cook's Illustrated is by far my favorite. I've never been a huge fan of the recepice because I think their flavor profiles are so meek. But, the amount I learn from each issue is tremendous and applicable. However, I read Gourment & Food & Wine like fashion magainzes where I'm looking at what are trends and movements in other areas.
Husband at 8:43AM on 02/08/07
I can't really get into US food mags. Observer Food Monthly works for me:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/foodmonthly/
Graham Holliday at 9:10AM on 02/08/07
cooks illustrated, magazine and online. food and wine. i recently resubsribed to gourmet after having been disillioned with it a few years back. i keep a stack of those and others in the bathroom so that people can read something interesting while, um, occupied.
french tart at 9:15AM on 02/08/07
"Everyday With Rachel Ray"
JUST KIDDING!
Recently I ordered Cooks Illustrated...I am waiting for my first issue.
ThatGirl153 at 9:57AM on 02/08/07
Gastronomica!
roboppy at 10:21AM on 02/08/07
Saveur has some of the best articles and food photography. I think that's my absolute favorite as a food magazine. As a veggie though, I like that I can cook everything in Vegetarian Times and I love Cook's Illustrated.
rockchick at 10:43AM on 02/08/07
Cook's Illustrated, because I am a scientist, and really appreciate the approach. I also love the back covers.
There is one that I like from Australia, but I can't remember it's name.
monica at 11:28AM on 02/08/07
I'm so pedestrian. I like Gourmet and Bon Apetit. It's nice, light fare. I want to like Cooks Illustrated. I really do. The content is solid. But as a designer, the sketches and the design kill me, and I can't get past it. Not that it's bad design, necessarily - but definitely not my thing.
corycm at 11:48AM on 02/08/07
Big fan of Cooks Illustrated.....Simple, clear, scientific when it needs to be and even elegant when it needs to be.....Love the TV show as well.
I also subscribe to Cuisine at Home...It's similar to Cooks Illustrated, but color and a little more "everyday".....simple but yummy recipes. My Biggest pet peeve about both (same pet peeve with most cooking shows) is the repetition of "hints"...I KNOW HOW TO GET AN AVOCADO PIT OUT OF AN AVOCADO!!!!!!!!
MikeNYPT at 11:57AM on 02/08/07
Cooks Illustrated. I'm relatively new to cooking, so I find the recipes and skills they have in their magazine help me build a good foundation that also keeps me experimenting. Plus, I haven't made a recipe from them yet that hasn't turned out well.
josh! at 1:56PM on 02/08/07
Hate to be boring, but I have to say that Gourmet has never, ever let me down. I do like Cook's Illustrated but I HATE those illustrations! Gourmet wins for the sheer volume of recipes in a given issue. I do buy Bon Appetit once a year for the Thanksgiving issue, and then Martha Stewart Living at Christmas because there are always nice cookie recipes.
I appreciate the product reviews and neat instructional pieces in Cook's Illustrated, but there aren't enough recipes in there for me to warrant the cost.
misssbhavens at 3:23PM on 02/08/07
I also bought the initial issue of CHOW when it came out. I thought it was interesting, but the photography left something to be desired. I haven't really checked their website out, but it seems filled with a lot more content and more popular, so maybe they will eventually scrounge up enough money and marketing to do print again.
toastykitten at 3:25PM on 02/08/07
Cooks Illustrated and Eating Well.
JEP at 5:36PM on 02/08/07
I've been a fan of Cook's Illustrated for years, not necessarily for the recipes but for the techniques. I also love the touching editorials by Mr. Kimball. I've been a long-time subscriber of Bon Appetit, as I find their recipes to be the most consistent (plus they're more about the food and less about lifestyle). Gastronomica is great, but after a year I couldn't justify being a subscriber. I simply never had time to read a full issue.
EJ at 10:54AM on 02/09/07
Cook's Illustrated by a mile. It's actually about cooking food as opposed to the "lifestyle mags" that have food in the background. I've been getting it for two years now and every recipe I've tried has been a winner. It's also nice not to be bombarded by ads when I read it.
newbatgirl at 5:44PM on 02/10/07