Chow Mag Launched

LTH'ers

I stopped at Borders (Broadway and Leland/Lawrence) last night to pick up a copy of Chow Mag, I haven't had much time to do anything but a quick flip through before purchase. I discovered Chow Mag when doing a search, and I signed up for email notification...this was the first notice I received in about 5-6 months.

I am not advocating purchase of the magazine just yet, but rather wanted to let you know a new source is available. I would also like to hear any other comments. Anyway, a few interesting articles are listed and of course the "mission" seems to be chow-worthy.

FYI, I also saw Dining Out Chicago was also available. However, after taking a quick glance through it, I decided to wait....I have a subscription offer that was mailed.

pd


Email............

[I removed the promo email]

I went to Borders (the one at Broadway & Diversey) last week to check out a copy of Chow but they didn't have it. Maybe they just got it in?

Anyway, I just went ahead & subscribed. I'm looking forward to checking it out. I'm a magazine junkie & especially a cooking mag junkie.

I think the email from Chow Mag was timed to the expected release/availability in stores...probably not as much control over NYT publication.

Regardless, I assume fairly wide availability if it is at my Borders and I am sure a quick phone call to any other store let you know if they have it.

pd

It's nice of them to welcome us to the food revolution, at least. ;)

Now that I have had a chance to look over CHOW, save your money. The rag is heavy on the advertising with puff pieces and pseudo-articles about new or discovered products with web addresses and phone numbers to aid you in purchasing, none of that nasty turning to the pantry shopper at the back.

Alan Richman has a new book out, you know this from reading the leader to his puff-interview. Normally you would have to read the whole article to catch the little blurb at the end....but this way if you are sick of listening to him, you know right up front that he has a new book out. He complains that the worst thing about food writing is that nobody writes pieces longer 500 words....hello, editor are you there. Perhaps he didn't realize the interview would be printed in CHOW.

Q: How did Editor-in-Chief, Jane Goldman, blow through $100 million following the internet boom with her prior publishing endeavor?
A: By selling sizzle instead of steak.

Nice to see some things don't change.

Here is a piece on the editor of CHOW magazine:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6560463/site/newsweek/

Food is such a democratic enthusiasm, I wonder why anyone needs a magazine. I do know people, though, who think there is nothing better than duplicating the cover of bon appetit in their own kitchen. Different strokes, I guess.

cowdery wrote:Food is such a democratic enthusiasm, I wonder why anyone needs a magazine. I do know people, though, who think there is nothing better than duplicating the cover of bon appetit in their own kitchen. Different strokes, I guess.

cowdery,

"Democratic," as in everyone does it? I guess you're right ( ). I'm not sure if you're questioning the validity of CHOW and Bon Appetit magazines, or food mags in general, but I got to tell you, the very generous Giovanna just gave me a big box of Saveur mags (mint condition) going back several years almost to issue #1, and I'm thrilled every time I thumb through the collection. I know now what will be my bedtime reading for the 2005.

Hammond

David Hammond wrote:the very generous Giovanna just gave me a big box of Saveur mags (mint condition)

Man, I saw that offer just a little too late, and I'm quite envious. I very much enjoy that magazine.

Why does anyone need a magazine???

Oh Chuckie... So you smoked a little homegrown food chat on this board, big deal. Wait until you start skin popping the big F, flipping through old cookbooks in some dank library, the stench of your food porn lust consuming those nearby, then we'll let you discuss our addiction.

"Brother, can you spare some change, I needs to get me a fix on a few paragraphs so's I kin sleep...I ain't rested in weeks." I'm guessing a few junkies are already dreaming of Hammy's stash.

pd

I also should have remembered that there are a few food writers here.

Guess I know how I'd feel if someone questioned the need for, or, say a whiskey magazine.

It's just that I need so little help getting hungry.

I also should have remembered that there are a few food writers here.

That's an understatement.

Last summer, several of us had dinner with a freelance food writer. Later, we were talking about the experience. I came to conclusion there was very little difference between her and us, she may collect money for what she does and we do it for chuckles.

In fact, at various times posters here have consider launching a magazine. Mycoman in fact does edit and publish a speciality magazine on mushrooms. IF you are considering launching a whiskey magazine, you may benefit from a conversation with him.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote: I came to conclusion there was very little difference between her and us, ...

No, Cathy, there IS a difference. I would much rather read the writers on LTH than nearly any food writer currently published in a magazine or newspaper.

Okay, back to rolling out my pie dough.

Happy Thanksgiving!

pdaane wrote:Why does anyone need a magazine???

If you meant printed-on-paper (and I don't really think you did), apparently the publishers of Chow thought the same. It has just recently been resurrected as a web-only published by C-Net and intimately linked to Chowhound.

I never knew about the paper edition, but stumbled across a reference in another thread to someone wondering where it had gone, so I thought I'd make note.

About all I noticed in my quick run-through was a pretty superficial treatment of DIY barbecue. But if you find anything good there, let us know.

Cathy2 wrote:

I also should have remembered that there are a few food writers here.

In fact, at various times posters here have consider launching a magazine. Mycoman in fact does edit and publish a speciality magazine on mushrooms. IF you are considering launching a whiskey magazine, you may benefit from a conversation with him.

And don't forget Hungry Magazine ( http://www.hungrymag.com ) -- published by another LTH regular -- and carrying a few things I've written that just don't fit on LTH -- such as extensive food histories and travel pieces. There is a lot of great stuff on LTH, and I read it far more than I read any magazines, but there are still things that aren't a good fit here, but they're still worth doing.

Oh -- and as for getting money for food writing -- it can't be a bad thing to get paid for what you love.

I've written that just don't fit on LTH -- such as extensive food histories and travel pieces

If you are getting money to write, then please go forth and do the free enterprise thing. However if it is a recreational piece with a food leaning, history or travel, then it is a right fit for LTHforum.

I have especially liked your trip to Mongolia sipping the first of the season mare's milk. It was great armchair adventuring, which I would enjoy reading more!

All the best,

Cathy2 wrote:
If you are getting money to write, then please go forth and do the free enterprise thing. However if it is a recreational piece with a food leaning, history or travel, then it is a right fit for LTHforum.

I have especially liked your trip to Mongolia sipping the first of the season mare's milk. It was great armchair adventuring, which I would enjoy reading more!

Thanks, Cathy2.

Then perhaps I'll post the reviews I wrote about the Culinary Historians trip to southern India and the trip to France for the anniversary of Napoleon's coronation -- I'll just have to try to figure out how to post images. But then again, I don't really have to post images. I'll try to dig those up tonight, and find out if you're the only person who wants to read food travel on the site.

Of course, I'll still always be in search of paying markets. But I also enjoy sharing with "family."

Cynthia wrote: I'll try to dig those up tonight, and find out if you're the only person who wants to read food travel on the site.

There are at least two of us who do.

Hammond

Cynthia,

I could always help with images, which could include hosting them.

Regards,

David Hammond wrote:

Cynthia wrote: I'll try to dig those up tonight, and find out if you're the only person who wants to read food travel on the site.

There are at least two of us who do.

Hammond

Make that three. I'm confident there are more.

That said, I think Hungry Magazine is a cool project, and it has a different kind of audience than LTH, so I'd understand the appeal of putting certain pieces there -- but be sure to tell us about them if you do.

But really, it seems to me that LTH is about food and community, so if members of the community have something to say about food, then this is a fine place for it.

germuska wrote:That said, I think Hungry Magazine is a cool project, and it has a different kind of audience than LTH, so I'd understand the appeal of putting certain pieces there -- but be sure to tell us about them if you do.

I've had about a dozen pieces published on Hungry, primarily under Food History and Travel, though I have one under Food Production (this last one is not really writing, but rather a slide show of rice production in various Asian countries).

And I'm about to post a couple of travel pieces here on LTH, though I think I'll do that in a new thread.

Thanks for the encouragement.

I'm actually writing the Gear column for the new Chow. My first product review's on absinthe paraphernalia.

http://www.chow.com/stories/10117