Cook's Illustrated
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A great magazine even for the culinarily-challenged
"Cook's Illustrated" serves as a mentor to me and others who refused to learn the art and science of cookery in the kitchens of their loved ones.I did take a home economics class in high school, but my main memory of it is my teacher's repeated iteration of "Oh mercy, Elaine.Mercy."It took a long diet of college jello and Spanish Rice, and then a marriage in which neither of us fathomed the mysteries of the kitchen to get me interested in the art of cooking for myself and others.

Most of the other magazines in the culinary market don't seem to cater to the cooking-challenged.For instance, the seemingly simple instruction "beat enough sugar into the meringue to stiffen it" caused me to set the oven on fire.I added cups and cups of sugar to my three egg whites and the darn meringue finally got grainy, which I figured was the equivalent of 'stiff.'Not so.Once enough heat was applied, the meringue flooded over the sides of the pie plate and set the oven ablaze.It was not easy explaining my culinary mishap to a sceptical fireman.

My inadvertent attempt at incendiarism wouldn't have happened if I had been following a recipe in "Cook's Illustrated."Here the recipes are lovingly detailed, and there diagrams on 'simple' techniques such as How to Slice an Onion.Most of you probably learned about such matters at your mother's knee, but I was more interested in Astronomy than Onions back in the good old days when someone cooked for me.As a consequence, I've been slicing onions incorrectly until the December 2004 "Cook's Illustrated" hit the newstand.

The contributors to this magazine test their recipes multiple times, varying the ingredients, using different cooking utensils, until they get what they consider to be the perfect outcome.For instance, in the article on "Balsamic Braised Chicken," John Olson writes:"At that point, I stopped my tests with the high-end vinegar.Simmering such a vinegar might well be considered high crime in Italy.All the time and effort expended to create its subtle flavor balance would be wasted, as boiling destroys it. (This is not a problem with the cheap stuff.)"

"Cook's Illustrated" recipes are adventures into a mysterious art, as well as producers of wonderful dishes.The editors don't accept advertisements, so you can trust their ingredient and product recommendations.If you are a fan of the show, "America's Test Kitchen" on public television, then you'll definitely love the magazine that details this program's favorite recipes.Also check out their website at cooksillustrated.com for eleven years worth of recipes.

The Best Cooking Magazine out there
Some people don't care why the food came out great or why it came out horrible.I do, and that's why I love this magazine.I enjoy reading what the author/cook went through to arrive at the printed recipe. I also enjoy the colorful covers and the back page with beautiful drawings of a "topic" food, such as a variety of tomotoes, hams, etc.Great magazine.However, I'm not crazy about their website.

Great down-home cooking mag
Any magazine that doesn't except advertisements seems to be a step ahead of those that do. This is the case for Cooks Illustrated. Some of the recipes this family loves are: Best Beef Chili, Ground Beef Tacos, Glazed Carrots (although I prefer the recipe in the Northern Exposure cookbook), Maple-Glazed Pork Roast, and many of the pastas. The drawbacks I've found for this magazine are that sometimes the spices are a bit powerful. This is usually true for the chicken sauces. They have one in which they recommend 40 garlic cloves to be cooked with the chicken breasts. This is just too many cloves and leaves one feeling like they just bit into a head of garlic. I suppose that being these people work in a test kitchen all day it takes a lot of spice to activate their taste buds. Being one has to alter some of the ingredients for any recipe this is not a huge burden, it just takes awhile to get used to. I also don't like the fact that they always use no-boil noodles for their lasagna. I hate these noodles. They never turn out as good as boil noodles and it only takes 10 minutes to boil them. When you're taking two hours out of your day to make Lasagna Bolognese an extra 10 minutes for good noodles shouldn't be too much extra work. I've also found that the baking recipes aren't the greatest. I've tried the chocolate chip cookies and they are too thick. My three year old didn't even like them. The New York cheesecake was ok, but that's it...just ok. However, aside from these minor quibbles a lot of the recipes are fantastic for making dinner. It's one of the few mags where you can grab a recipe out of it and know it's going to be edible... and possibly exceptionally good. The quick tips section is also a joy to read. I also enjoy their equipment reviews (although The Cooks Catalogue is a must have for this). They used to have cookbook reviews where they tested recipes in different cookbooks and printed the results. They seem to have withdrawn this section, which is too bad because I really enjoyed it. It gave one an idea of what cookbooks to stay away from and which ones were really good. I especially liked how they would mention if it was for an average cook or an advanced cook based on whether or not the cook listed exact recipes or just gave a general idea of what to use and let the reader come up with their own measurements. Overall, if I could have only one cooking magazine this would be it. It has many great things going for it. I also subscribe to Intermezzo for the "fancier" recipes. ... Read more

Asin: B000069YW9
Sales Rank: 81
Subjects:  1. Food & Gourmet   

Bon Appetit
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Gorgeous Food

Bon Appetit has been a regular addition to my cooking arsenal since its inception. It is simply a gorgeous magazine, with beautifully laid out photography and excellent features. This is a magazine for the person who loves to cook.

Unlike other food publications, Bon Appetit offers earthy robust recipes and features that appeal to the everyday cook. I love in particular: Cooking For Two, Cooking Light and the section devoted to bringing recipes from well known restaurants around the country. In this section, readers write in and request a recipe from a restaurant that really impressed them. It's fun, informative and often amazing how really uncomplex some of the dishes are.

Underneath all the good looking dishes and witty dialogue, lies the heart of Bon Appetit. It's about home and very basic values, which I think accounts for its huge popularity. Through my reading this magazine, I've come to appreciate the homely root vegetables, to keep a well stocked pantry, and to avoid costly mistakes in buying cookware.

I think it makes a lovely gift for a young bride, who might be nervous about cooking and entertaining. With it's no nonsense approach to cuisine, plus the support of a stellar online community-Epicurious.com, it is a very nice package for anyone who wants to simply cook creatively and well.

Really good recipes
When I was going through my old cooking magazines a few years ago before a major move to another state, I found to my surprise that the recipes I most wanted to keep were in Bon Appetit. Although I also enjoyed reading Gourmet, I realized that I had cooked relatively few of the recipes in that magazine. I am ready to make another magazine purge, and I expect the same thing to happen. Gourmet is fun and interesting, but Bon Appetit is a keeper.

I love to go from page to page.......
I've recently started reading my Bon Appetit from cover to cover just because everything is so good (pictures, recipes, articles, etc...).Having three small busy children, my time is limited for meals during the week and my favorite section of this book is "Fast Easy Fresh".I can always find a few recipes that are easy to make yet edible in the eyes of my children.My second favorite section is "Readers' Timesaving Recipes".These readers seem to share the same type of lifestyle as me (limited kitchen time) and they submit very yummy, quick recipes that I can whip up in no time.

My husband and I believe that dinnertime as a family is so important to the well-being of our children that making meals that require endless preparation and cooking just isn't a priority for us.

I also love to entertain and have dinner parties so the new column that begins in the April 2005 issue entitled "Party Improv" is a great addition.I like that they give big, delicious ideas with little effort... including suggestions for table settings, cocktail concoctions, music, wine and a complete menu for your party!!!They thought of it all!

I highly suggest getting your subscription today so you don't miss out on any future issues! ... Read more

Asin: B00005NIND
Sales Rank: 64
Subjects:  1. Food & Gourmet    2. Wine    3. Cooking   

Gourmet
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Disapointing at best.
If finally decided to try out this magazine. What a disappointment. This magazine is like 90% ads. And for so many pages you would expect more pictures of the recipes. Some recipes don't even have a picture or will have a tiny one in the corner. Yes many of the recipes are great and you learn a lot about traveling (like if this were a traveling mag.), but you will be better off buying their books. Skip this one, it's not worth it.

Magazine needs help
I agree this magazine has gotten worse through the years.
Also too many ads.

Bring back the old Gourmet
Gourmet used to be one of my favorite magazines, and for many years I either subscribed or bought it at the newstand.It had great recipes, a lot of information on ingredients and cuisines, and beautifully illustrated travel articles that gave me a real feel for the places.Gourmet may have been a little stodgy and old school (Bon Appetite, which I also subscribed to, was always trendier), but there was no higher quality food magazine.

All that changed a few years ago when the editorial staff was replaced.The look of the magazine is now totally different, as is much of the content.The increased number of ads makes it hard to find the articles and recipes.The tone of the editorial content is shriller and more hype-driven.The magaizne is seems more oriented toward Foodies out to stalk the current In chef than to home cooks who want to serve high quality food.Between the content and the layout, the magazine seems to be on overdrive.What I want in a cooking magazine (or for that matter a magazine of good living) is something that doesn't scream trendy at me.Unfortunately, that no longer describes Gourmet. ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7QH
Sales Rank: 103
Subjects:  1. Food & Gourmet    2. Cooking   

Saveur
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Saveur is far and away the best magazine for food lovers
Delicious recipes, color photos, travel background, ingredients sources, well written articles and the ads are not designed to make you rip the magazine apart like a certain 'no ads' magazine.

Sometimes the contributing authors are a little full of themselves, but overall the writing is excellent and the food is authentic to the region being written about.Its a touch expensive direct from Saveur, but a good deal on Amazon.

Great Read!! Cover to Cover
I love this magazine because it gives the background and history of food. When I get the magazine each month,I have to read it right then and there. I finally found out where Salisbury Steak originated. In Ohio, by a doctor during the Civil War. Not in England. The photography is beautiful and some of the stories are memories of what the certain food means to them. They make you want to try everything in the magazine. Saveur is not pretentious as "Food and Wine" or "Gourmet." It is nice to read about regular people that make great food at reasonable expenses. Subscribe to this magazine!

Quality, Content and Value!
Nuts 'n Bolts opinion...you get what you pay for (apologies for ending the sentence with a preposition!).SAVEUR is quality, specific directions and very clear.Other competitive magazines have 80% ads throughout magazine.Saveur does not.Photos are superb.The recipes continue on next page (vs. continued 43 pages in the back), Editor's comments on availability, etc. are included.Paper is thick and high gloss.We spend more money each month on Starbucks.Treat yourself to a much less expensive luxury.Subscribe to SAVEUR. ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7SL
Sales Rank: 89
Subjects:  1. Cooking Food & Wine    2. General    3. Home Economics    4. Food & Gourmet    5. Cooking   

Food & Wine
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Focusing on a central theme in each issue, such as 25 party ideas (number 25: nautical party) or 35 quick and tasty dishes, Food & Wine indulges a broad range of culinary connoisseurs and thirsty enophiles. Expect a number of well-rounded recipes and festive commentary on the theme at hand, but don't expect that Food & Wine will be weighed down by said theme--each issue also contains a home shopping guide (in case you need to know where to purchase a green bamboo tray), restaurant reviews, a Drinks/Wine section, and shorter articles that run from "Win a Date with a Chef" to "The Joy of Slow Cooking." --A.J. Rathbun ... Read more

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Shallow, Pretentious, Trendy
The editor's gratingly smug and breezy monthly letter sets the pace for this vapid Lifestyle magazine, which you'll enjoy only if you're like her -- rich, creepily entitled, self-absorbed, and interested merely in the accoutrements of opulent dining, but not really food or actual cooking itself.

Subscription Savings
You may get a Subscription for $19.99 if you pull out a looseinsert from one of themagazines on the shelf at the books store or super market.

Good Eats, Fine Drinks, and Having Fun
Food and Wine is a pretty good magazine for those who enjoy the finer things in life when it comes to unusual cuisine and expensive fermented beverages. This publication is usually very long- over 250 pages- and its packed full of recipes, travel excursions to wine growing regions, and general facts about different varieties of wine and where to find them.

One thing about this magazine that surprised me at first is the emphasis on the food. I know the magazine is titled "Food and Wine", but my initial impression was that this would be a magazine devoted entirely to wine with occasional mention of the foods that go with wine. It isn't like that at all. The food sections and the recipes are just as important as the featured wines. Recipes are so frequent, in fact, that the magazine even has an index located near the front with all the recipes listed by food type, showing the page number to turn to for the recipe.

Besides the frequent talk about food and wine, this magazine is also dedicated to entertaining. I have heard it suggested that this magazine should change its name to "Food, Wine, and Entertainment". It would make sense, because conviviality and high- class partying are certainly an important component of this magazine.

There is one thing about Food and Wine that I wish was different. I appreciate the factual information and I like the personal touch that you find in some of the stories about winery owners, chefs, and the like. But I think Food and Wine gets a little too sidetracked from time to time in its reporting. For example, it is common to find stories that talk about subjects like home decorating. This would be fine in a magazine about home design, but I don't think it belongs in a magazine like this.

Overall, this is still a good publication. Lovers of great eats and fine drinks will enjoy it the most. It's worth taking a look, if nothing else, just for the recipes. Even if you're not a frequent imbiber of the fruit of the vine, there is still something of interest to be found in the pages of this magazine.
... Read more

Asin: B00005NINY
Subjects:  1. Food & Gourmet    2. Wine   

Cooking Pleasures
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Not What They Claim
I very happily joined Cooking Club of America, and began receiving this magazine quite a while ago.At first, it did appear that the club offered so much to its subscribers, but as time wore on, I could see that it was all just marketing.

Yes, I did have the opportunity to try out two different products.Yes, a lot of the information in the magazine was good.I even managed to get one of my recipes published in their publication.

My major reason for giving this magazine such a low score was because they have harrassed me for months with telemarketing phone calls trying to get me to be a Lifetime Member.When I tell them I am not interested, they have a "new" deal for me.When I still tell them I am not interested, they have yet another deal.The calls were continual, as my Caller ID showed me.

Also, approximately 3 months after you renew your own subscription, they start mailing you about how you should get the next year now...to keep club costs down.An idea may be to NOT contact members so soon after they just paid their subscriptions.

Save your money on this one and try Fine Cooking or Cook's Illustrated.Not only do these magazines provide better recipes, more professional tips, they also do not call you daily to get your money.

No Title
The magazine is very nice with color pictures and recipes that look okay, but that ingredients are either rare or expensive, the magazine is too fancy, and it's hard to find what the recipe is like. They don't put a review, you have to tell for yourself. And plus if it doesn't have a picture, you have to guess what's in it. I rate it one star. I'd rate it a half star if there was such thing, but there isn't. I wouldn't buy this magazine.

Simple Magazines
I let this one go it reminded me to much of Cuisine Magazine and I already had that one so there was no need for the two. The recipes are real simple and not very complicated at all that was a PLUS and a break from all those other Magazines I subscribed to.

It's format is very good for the person that doesn't want to get bogged down in the ads or the product information in the back of the Magazine. The Magazine is thin so it doesn't take up much space and features step-by-step pictures.

Happy Reading ... Read more

Asin: B000066T1G
Sales Rank: 2137
Subjects:  1. Food & Gourmet   

Cooking Light
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Focused on "healthy living" rather than chronic dieting, Cooking Light is geared towards both the veteran cook who wants to "lighten up" and the novice determined to give up prepackaged "diet" meals. Each issue covers a different theme, from "superfast suppers" to "pretty, easy fruit pies," and includes features on food-related health trends; fast, healthy meals; and original recipes from readers. We especially like it when the editors rescue a reader's favorite, albeit fatty, recipe, giving it a healthy makeover, showing before-and-after stats on calories, fat, and cholesterol. The message is clear: you don't have to sacrifice the foods you love once you learn to "eat smart." --Daphne Durham ... Read more

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Light on the cooking
I just started a subscription to this magazine and when I got my first issue I thought they had sent me the wrong magazine!There were no recipes or cooking articles in the first half of the magazine.There were fitness articles, organizing hints, and style sections, but no cooking until the second half of the magazine.There were a lot of ads- but that I can live with.I was just disappointed not to have more sections that are actually about cooking.The recipes and cooking sections in the second half of the magazine were really interesting and had lots of ideas I'd like to try.I just wish that the whole magazine could be about cooking and recipes rather than trying to be something else.That said, I think the cooking sections are worth the hassle of digging through the other articles- lots of ideas and mostly easy to prepare.

Mostly advertising
I just received my first issue and by the time I got to the middle of the magazine there was only 1-2 recipes.I was very disappointed.I was interested in mainly recipes not advertising or articles.

A great read
Being a mother of teenagers it is hard to come up with good recipes that can win-out over fast food in their mind. This magazine gives great healthy options that even picky eaters enjoy. ... Read more

Asin: B00005R8B6
Subjects:  1. Food & Gourmet    2. Health & Healing - Low Fat    3. Diet    4. Dieting    5. Weight Loss    6. Healthy Living    7. Cookery    8. Recipes    9. Nutrition    10. Cooking   

Sunset
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Sunset: A Well Rounded Magazine
I've been a Sunset subscriber off and on for years. They are the most well-regarded magazine out here in California, for gardeners, cooks and do it your-selfers.

Each issue offers a regional spotlight, offering travel, lodging and special interest activities. It's a great resource for anyone looking for perhaps a different area to visit.

The cooks section is always great and usually I can find at least 4 recipes to use in my kitchen each issue. Sunset also offers their recipe annuals, which have become treasured favorites in my kitchen. These hardbound books are a compilation of all Sunsets recipes. For those that love bread baking, Sunset offers some simply awesome bread recipes. All recipes are tested first in Sunsets' kitchens, before publication.

Sunsets garden section contains monthly tips and reminders for doing seasonal chores. The planting guides are a novice gardeners best friend. Every issue devotes itself to between two and three garden projects-offered step by step, and again-only after being tested in Sunsets own gardens.

Add to that the many great home design feature and projects, you get a magazine worth 3 times the amount they charge. If you've never tried Sunset magazine, I can honestly say you're in for a treat.

Bring back the good memories of living in Northen California
I moved to midwest a couple of years ago due to a job change. I am bored by the midwest life style. I dreamed of flying back to California all the time and every time I see California on TV, my eyes get wet in a second. Sunset brings the sunshine, color, food, garden and fragrance of California to my life. Everything in the magazine just looks so familiar.
I do hope the magazine report more exciting things I like about San Francisco and Napa Valley, like the county fair, small town July 4th celebration and fireworks, good Chinese restaurants, and organic farms. Oh, the peach at San Rafael's farmer's market is just wonderful. I fly there every year in September to catch the flavor king and flavor queen peaches, the sweet and fragrant grapes, the tender and crunchy cucumber, the lovely peapod, the new crop cashew nuts, and handsome harp player and the nice farmers.....I would call that a good life.

West coast gardener's definitive guide
If you live west of the middle like I do you must also be addicted to this magazine.

I look forward to the release of every issue.Great articles on all sorts of things to do, places to go and gardening tips to savor, this magazine is all you need.

Go back and relish past issues too - there is never a dull feature. ... Read more

Asin: B00005NIOW
Sales Rank: 26
Subjects:  1. Gardening (Garden, Gardens)    2. Home (Houses, Homes)    3. Food & Gourmet    4. Regional    5. West Coast    6. Recipes    7. Cooking   

Southern Living
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Still the best
Southern Living captures the very flavor of its namesake with its coverage of gardening, decorating and especially its recipes. Don't miss their annual Christmas book - it's well worth the money and subscriptions to Southern Living are always a wonderful gift

My favorite magazine of all time
I subscribe to a lot of magazines. Southern Living, along with Cooking Light, are the two magazines I most look forward to arriving every month. It covers gardening, decorating, travel and entertaining. I remember back when my mom got this magazine in the 80s and it had black and white photos. Today, it is full of beautiful photography in full color, of course. The recipes are great - I have prepared many of them and not one has been a flop. By the way, you don't have to be southern to enjoy this magazine!

Thick magazine full of color gardening photos and reviews.
I just moved to the South so I thought I better learn about the area! This is a fun magazine. It's very thick, with sections on vacation spots, restaurant reviews, garden how-tos, home remodeling, and lots of recipes. I've already learned how to eat a steamed crab and that there are bed and breakfasts on islands off the Georgia coast. ... Read more

Asin: B00005R8B5
Sales Rank: 41
Subjects:  1. Home (Houses, Homes)    2. Gardening (Garden, Gardens)    3. Food & Gourmet   

Martha Stewart Living
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Even if you will never make a "gourd candle" or a "Fortuny-inspired tablecloth," Martha Stewart Living can't be beat for its wealth of ideas concerning what Martha calls "good things." A crafter for craft's sake, and an obsessively organized woman (just look at her personal calendar, included in the first few pages), there is no concept or task that is too mundane for Martha. Like Martha herself, the magazine is impeccably organized--recipes and decorating instructions appear with full-color photos, each filed in their own sections of "cooking," "keeping," "crafts," "home," and "collecting." Learn to slip matched sets of bed linens into one of their pillowcases for easy and convenient shelving, make washcloth mitts, and coordinate mismatched towels with decorative ribbon. A whiz at flower arranging, dinner parties, card and sewing crafts, and decorating, Martha covers and conquers all areas of the home--plus weddings, baby showers, and holidays. --Daphne Durham ... Read more

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inspirational but...
I have had a hard time, not only finding the ingredients for recipes and crafts, but also getting them to work out the way they claim they should in the magazine.

style for the masses
This is a fine magazine with truly scrumptious recipes if you're into the kitchen/food thing, home ideas that one can actually use (or that will inspire one to do something similar), and exquisite photography, usually quite stark and simple, of ways to enhance the aesthetic beauty of one's life.
One can serve a plain meal of soup and bread, and make it look like a feast, if you get into Martha's way of looking at things, and it does not take a spending spree to have a "Martha Look". Her basic table settings tend to be white china (one can use mix and match white plates from the local thrift store), clear glass, and colorful fabric...add some well shaped twigs in a glass vase for a centerpiece, and voila ! you have a table that could be shown in this lovely magazine; a rule for "The Look" seems to be the absence of clutter.

Of the regular monthly articles, I like "Ask Martha", which solves problems posed by readers, from health issues to how best to clean your eyeglasses, to "How can I get the coating on my chicken to stay in place when I am frying it ?".
"Clip-Art Craft" is another I appreciate, where in the August '04 edition for example, there are attractive templates for postcards, which one can copy onto card stock, glue a 4 x 6 photo to, and send to your friends. It's another grand idea from Martha !
You'll find articles on antiques, pets, gardening, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and much more, and on the last page, the yummy "Cookie of the Month".

Martha Stewart has brought style and good merchandise at affordable prices for those of us who are budget conscious, but like nice things. I have bought her bedding, and her bathroom accessories have graceful shapes and are an excellent value, and this magazine is one of my favorite aspects of the "Martha industry". The Patricians I know are not usually kind to Martha, but Proles & Plebes like me tend to greatly appreciate her.
Martha, we're going to stick by you through thick and thin !

i love it
This is the most well rounded magazine. Outstanding photography and truly well written articelsmake this a one of a kind. ... Read more

Asin: B00005NIOA
Subjects:  1. Home (Houses, Homes)    2. Food & Gourmet    3. Home & Garden    4. Crafts