Thoughts on Bon Appetit

Well, I finished my last issue of Gourmet and just two days ago received my first two issues of Bon Appetit (which Conde Nast is offering to all Gourmet subscription holders).

Here is my snap judgment: it's just not the same.

Bon Appetit lacks the sense of travel and adventure of Gourmet. It has too many recipes, not enough food writing. It is in a sense like the difference between Road Bike Action (a magazine filled with stats and bike reviews) and Bicycling, which spends more time talking about adventures to have on your bicycle. I think if I wanted Food TV magazine, I would have ordered it.

I will give it a few more months, perhaps with the demise of Gourmet they will tweak the format a bit, but at the moment I am disappointed.

They shot my horse - Gourmet z"l

Well not really, but Conde Nast is taking Gourmet out back and putting a gun to its head. It might make financial sense, but I don't think I will ever feel the same sense of grandeur and delight reading Bon Appetite.

Gourmet Magazine, may your memory be a blessing z"l

More on the sad news over at the NYT.