Who is Dorie Greenspan and why does she Dominate Tastespotting?
I'm assuming she's a pastry chef or something, but I've noticed that according to those on Tastespotting, she's like the messiah of baking.
The recipes featured on Tastespotting, my favorite food porn site, are so eclectic and different ... that is, until EVERYONE tries Dorie Greenspan's recipe at the same time. Does anyone know how that works? Why does it seem as if everyone who has a food blog tries the same recipe at the same time? Last week there were like, seven pictures of her recipe for a pear tart. Who is Dorie Greenspan and why do foodies love her?
Also, does anyone know what the baker's challenge is? I've seen that referenced on Tastespotting just as often.
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17 Comments:
From http://www.doriegreenspan.com/about.html:
Currently, I am a special correspondent for Bon Appétit and write recipe, travel and lifestyle stories for the magazine as well as posts to the the Bon Appétit Editors’ Blog. For the past three years I’ve been the food critic for the Louis Vuitton City Guide to New York, and for the past almost 20 years I’ve written cookbooks – nine, to be exact – and won five James Beard and IACP awards for them, including Cookbook of the Year ... I’ve been the co-author on two cookbooks with Pierre Hermé, Paris’s king of pastry, written the Café Boulud Cookbook with Daniel Boulud, the famous French chef in New York (and, lately, Palm Beach and Las Vegas), and had the great honor and terrific fun of writing Baking with Julia, the book that accompanied Julia Child’s PBS Television Series.
Yeah, I think I'd trust her judgement ... ;-)
LunaPierCook at 6:22PM on 01/10/09
The reason that suddenly, Dorie Greenspan recipes suddenly dominate Tastespotting in waves is because there is a large, Internet baking group called 'Tuesdays with Dorie.' Everyone bakes the same recipe every Tuesday. Obviously, if a huge group of members who are on Tastespotting bake something at the same time and a number of them post it (and many of them are excellent photographers and do very eye-catching presentations) it will seem like her recipes are disproportionately represented.
HeartofGlass at 6:39PM on 01/10/09
The Daring Bakers is another challenge baking group. You are given a recipe and must post/blog about it on the same day. Tuesdays with dorie is no longer accepting new members but www.daringbakers.com still is. I am a daring baker and I love love it as it opens you to try something you might not try otherwise.
love2cook at 6:59PM on 01/10/09
I discovered Dorie via the daring bakers blogs who also participate in "Tuesday With Dorie", when they all bake a Dorie recipe on Tuesday. Then they all post their finished product for all to see.
Althought they are not accepting anymore associated blogs, nothing is keeping you from participating on your own and posting on your own blog. It is something I love to watch but I don't participate. I bake a lot of Dorie recipes on my own and do not feel the need to bake every Tuesday.
Now I am a homebaker and I am a Dorie fan. Her book "Baking: From My Home to Yours" is a great collection of recipes and a primer for homebakers.
I mostly read baking blogs because I enjoy watching for technique, trends and recipes.
Dorie is a guest contributor to SE. We all dig her. Time for you to get onboard.
JerzeeTomato at 7:38PM on 01/10/09
Dorie freakin' rules. This reminds me I still havent done the coffee cardamom pots de creme yet...
simon at 8:13PM on 01/10/09
Sorry to say, I really thought this was a joke question. Dorie Greenspan IS definitely one of my messiah's of baking! Her book (one of her books) Baking From My Home to Yours has made me an awesome baker, and I love her blog too.
I don't belong to any groups or have a blog, but I make plenty of her recipes and haven't come across a fail yet. She was a poster right here on SE last year, you should look up her posts and try some recipes out, you'll see why everyone loves her. Who couldn't love someone who co-wrote a book with Julia Child? This woman is pure genius and lives a life I can only dream about.
bobcatsteph3 at 8:37PM on 01/10/09
For me, it's a toss up: I would NOT read her because of Bon Appetite and Louis Vuitton, but WOULD follow her due to the apparent inspiration she has given her followers.
Keight at 9:14PM on 01/10/09
@Keight: you would pass on her entirely only because she contributes to Bon Appetit or you wouldn't read her stuff in Bon Appetit because you don't get or like the magazine?
ccbweb at 10:55PM on 01/10/09
Yes Keight, and 2 of her major associations have been with Pierre Herme and Julia Child.
renzata at 11:15PM on 01/10/09
@everyone--btw, I wasn't denying Dorie's greatness--obviously the zillions of bloggers to take the time to bake her recipes on a weekly basis (I am in awe of their dedication sometimes, and of the people who started the group) and the many people on a waiting list to join the group are testimony to the fact that her recipes and work are great. I was just noting when there are blogging rings, that tends to make certain recipes circle more quickly and to get more visual 'play.'
HeartofGlass at 5:39AM on 01/11/09
Dude. Dorie Greenspan was just another baker in my book until I tried this one T-Giving. I had no idea who she was but after sampling this pie I tend to join the masses in adoration. I suggest you print this recipe and hang onto it for next holiday season or if you get a wild hair on a really cold weekend this winter.
therealchiffonade at 8:23AM on 01/11/09
Pumpkin Bear, thank you for asking this question - I had the same question myself!
floridayaya at 10:01AM on 01/11/09
Chiff and Jerzee are big fans. That's all the endorsement I need.
PerkyMac at 10:25AM on 01/11/09
FIVE James Beards?!?! WOW. I'll be checking that out! That has to be some kind of record...just one and I'd take notice, but 5!!!
MaresyDotes at 12:34PM on 01/11/09
I am such a non-baker, but many of the recipes she has had on SE are really accessable to home cooks who don't do much baking. I made her savory cheddar chive bread, and highly recommend it :)
Kerosena at 3:32PM on 01/11/09
I don't bake frequently, don't have a sweet tooth, and generally skip dessert. I received "Baking: From My Home to Yours" from thegoodcook.com by mistake and decided to flip through it before sending it back. The book fell open to Dimply Plum Cake on page 41, which is a variation of a cake my mother used to make all the time when I was a kid. I figured it was meant to be so I kept the book and I love it. Dorie's recipes always come out great, and any time I do a special dinner this is the book I go to for dessert. Seems I do more baking lately, and when the temps go down to the single digits this week that is what I'll be doing. Check out Dorie's blog, get this book -- you'll become a fan.
ride&cook at 4:04PM on 01/11/09
I'm sold!
Thanks you guys.
carolrsfMISSESTEXAS at 10:16PM on 01/11/09