In this week’s Food News, Gourmet magazine is closing, where you should spend your restaurant money, and eating responsibly on a food stamp budget:
Goodbye Gourmet: After 68 years, the November issue will be Gourmet magazine’s last. I was sad to hear this news. I love Ruth Riechl’s books and have been visiting the website during her tenure as editor (yes, I probably should have subscribed), particularly enjoying Gourmet’s travel and food politics coverage. After November, those with subscriptions will receive Bon Appetit, Gourmet’s sister publication that Condé Nast is keeping, for the remainder of their subscription. This New York Times article talks about Gourmet’s closing, and Gourmet’s website also has a closing announcement. You can also follow Kylie Sachs Twitter campaign if you want to help save Gourmet.
Which Restaurants Are Worth the Money?: Dollars are tight these days. Before you go out for your next big meal, take a look at Gourmet’s list of restaurants that are worth the money. Restaurants are listed in the Southwest, West, Pacific Northwest, Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast regions. I have to put in a special plug for Baltimore’s Woodberry Kitchen, which made the Northeast list. Their food is amazing, they focus on local ingredients and sustainable agriculture, and their staff members are nice, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable. This is my favorite Baltimore restaurant.
Eating Organic, Local Food on a Food Stamp Budget: In this week’s Baltimore City Paper food feature, Michelle Gienow and her two children (her husband does not participate) eat local, organic, responsible food as much as possible on $426, the maximum food stamp allotment for a family of three in Baltimore County. The goal of the experiment is to teach people to eat responsibly, as much as possible: “I hesitated to write about my efforts to do SOLE [Sustainable, Organic, Local, and Ethical eating] on a food-stamp budget, because I’ve always cringed at those ‘reporter going out to do as the poor folks do.’ But food is something we all need, and like it or not, we all need to start eating differently,” writes Gienow.
I’m dying to try Woodberry Kitchen, Jen! Next time I/we come to Baltimore, we’re going there. Duff from Charm City Cakes says his favorite dessert is from there. Let’s go!
If you want to make plans 5 months in advance, I want to go there for my birthday. Come visit then!
They’re always changing the desserts, but when we went they had a farmers market sundae with basil ice cream, nectarine sorbet, and almond cake (I think it was almond cake). It’s the best restaurant dessert I’ve had! What was Duff’s favorite dessert?