As my TWD contribution bakes in the oven, I'm pondering what it is about this magazine I don't like. First, you should know that I love magazines. I have tons of them -- and I've recently culled the herd a bit too, yet still have a pile that's reaching Everest proportions. I especially love food magazines, so when I renewed my Oprah subscription (I'm an original subscriber, I'll have you know) I was offered a free copy of the premier issue of the Food Network Magazine to try for free. I said sure (and I'm now inundated with a bazillion offers from other magazines - my mistake!). I was so underwhelmed by the first issue that I said "thanks but no thanks" per their offer and asked that they cancel the subscription.
They sent me the second issue anyway, and I looked through it cover to cover tonight, and found darn little to interest me. Almost nothing to tear out and keep (if you only saw all the clippings I have you'd know this is not at all usual for me). I've been wondering what it is I don't like and the only thing I can figure is that I am not their demographic. I'm not sure who is, but it definitely isn't me.
There's no depth, no substance, too much "hey look at me!" graphics and flash. Somehow the food is photographed in a way that doesn't look at all appetizing (they need to hire some of my TWD brothers and sisters who take awesome photographs of food!). I saw a bunch of recipes that had specialized ingredients I would have to go out and buy, or they just did not interest me at all (Scallops with Cabbage and Capers - really?), so I moved on without investigating. They showed Bobby Flay's kitchen (they did Tyler Florence's kitchen last time) and showed his $9,224 Viking range. In this economy, when so many people are losing their jobs, who can afford that besides a Food Network star?
So I'm wondering -- have any of you looked it over? Is it just me?
10 comments:
A few weeks back, I bought the issue you have pictured. Usually when I buy I food magazine, I get through it in a couple of days, then I go back and check and mark any recipes I missed. And then I go through it again. I'm not sure what it is with this one, either. But I haven't made it through once, yet and I only saw 1 recipe that appealed to me. I was thinking about subscribing when I first got it, but I've decided I definitely won't.
This struck you in the same way that the kraft food and family magazine strikes me...not very good.
Thanks for this review. I got an ad in the mail and sent in my request yesterday. I wish I had read your review first. Ah, Well. Maybe it will get better.
no, it's not just you. i was surprised by how this magazine seemed really disjointed or something. too many things going on, but then not really anything going on.
i do miss my oprah subscription.
I just got a subscription offer in today's' mail. So your post was perfect timing. I wasn't sure if I should bother, but now, after reading your view, I think I'll pass. I also just canceled Bon Appetit and Gourmet, because everything is available online. So why pay for the recipes?
I'm so glad you posted this! I was thinking about checking it out but now don't feel like I'm missing anything by passing on it. Thanks!!
Oh my gosh -- I'm so grateful for your comments! I thought it was just me!! Whew!
One word for you "Ditto." I always turn down the pages and rip out recipes to try and that was one of the only magazines where there was NOTHING interesting. I bet it won't last long..they should have asked us for help!
Hi, I was browsing TWD and came across this post. I got the free first issue of this magazine, and felt the same way. For all the bright, glossy pages I was not that interested. I think the Food Network may be spreading itself too thinly.
I agree with some of your thoughts. I enjoyed the magazine because I find most of the food network personalities entertaining but as far as the recipes go, think you're absolutely right. I felt like it was an expanded version of Rachael Ray Magazine which I'm not over the moon for either.
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