Q: Does a food blogger whose site draws a mere 35 visitors a day (hi Mom!) have a future in food writing?A: No, but if she did she would kill it now by publically boycotting the February 2008 issue of Gourmet.
I was gazing wantonly at Gourmet magazine's dessert recipes when a seemingly innocuous little caption cut me to the quick. I read the sentence only once before stashing Gourmet back in the magazine bin, vengefully mussing up its glossy cover in the process. My memory is hazy with hate, but I believe the caption - referencing a Devil Dog Cake - declared: This cake is as easy to prepare as a pan of brownies, but it will leave you breathlessly satisfied in a way no brownie ever could.
It is so like Gourmet to hate on plebian pleasures. Pure, uncomplicated, classic desserts are never innovative enough for them. For example, a recipe search for "apple pie" on the Gourmet.com website yielded two results: Fried Apple Pies and Warm Sweet Potato Pudding with Apples and Chestnuts. Limiting a recipe's title to two words is, apparently, too in-the-box for Gourmet's mode of thought.
The folks of Gourmet are more than pretentious; they are pharisees. I wondered, To what lackluster brownie recipe might this Devil Dog Cake have been compared to yield such a foul footnote? I searched Gourmet.com's virtual recipe box again. What did I find? NOTHING.
The folks of Gourmet are more than pretentious; they are pharisees. I wondered, To what lackluster brownie recipe might this Devil Dog Cake have been compared to yield such a foul footnote? I searched Gourmet.com's virtual recipe box again. What did I find? NOTHING.These condescending epicurians have passed judgement with a deaf ear to the defense. America's favorite bar dessert deserves a retrial, which is why I - the self-proclaimed Baroness of Brownies - will bake the Devil Dog Cake. With blindfold on and scales in hand, I shall decide whether its claim to superiority is justified.
Consider the glove thrown, Gourmet.
15 comments:
I love brownies! Looking at your blog is making me salivate. Must... have...brownie....
Thanks for sharing it on FLS today!
Hi, Jessica. I just wanted to share a brownie ingredient. When I feel ultra indulgent I use Plugra Butter, but Whole Foods & Trader Joes have a version of it that is just as good.
I can't wait to see your results of the cake vs. a brownie!
Well if all else fails, you definitely made me laugh. You go - defending the brownie is a hard job but I'm glad you are doing it! And while you may have been jesting somewhat about Gourmet, I have to agree with you whole-heartedly on their inability to simplify.
Mmm, I love brownies. If you want simple brownie recipes from Gourmet, try the one from The Farm on Epicurious' site. It's my favorite fudgy brownie, with three sticks of butter! You can substitute half of it with white bean puree, like I did.
Coming to Gourmet's defense, Epicurious.com will continue to archive all their recipes. Recipes on Gourmet.com have to be tied to specific editorial content. Besides, it takes a lot of work to code each individual recipe. That's thousands and thousands of pages. PS-I just started working for their web site.
Oh, boycott away! I find that food magazines in general are a little off beat, no American classics but rarely any authentic say Asian, Indian or African food either.
Yes! Game on!
That's brownie passion, for sure! ;)
i totally agree. there are some classics that are still better than even the fanciest desserts!
i just joined the DB this month too, just checking out everyone else's blogs, wanted to say hello :)
Hi! I am new to the DB's this month too and loved your blog (go brownies!).
I just wanted to say hello and pass along a liitle bit of meme love. I've tagged you.
http://phemomenon.blogspot.com/2008/02/mememe-me-me-me-tuning-up-my-singing.html
There is no way a cake of any sort could compare to the brownie. Sacriledge!
Your blog is fantastic - I love your writing! I just discovered your blog via Daring Bakers - I'm a newbie too... :-)
Call your mama - you got 36 readers now!
Wow. I mean, it's one thing the focus on "gourmet" recipes, but that sounds downright snobby. Many people (myself included!) love brownies. Grr.
Brownie or Die,
It's being considered.
I just stumbled upon your blog, through bakerella. UH-maze-ing (misspelled for emphasis)! Your voice has me in stitches. I can't wait to share your blog with my friends.
Thanks!
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