Food Blogging

What’s the Value of “Looks Delicious?”

February 7, 2010 by diannejacob 99 Comments

In a previous post about Simply Recipes‘ Elise Bauer and her comments policy, we started a discussion about the value of “Looks delicious” as a comment on food blogs. At the risk of flaring tempers again, I’d like to bring it up now.

Let’s look at the “Looks delicious” comment from a variety of angles related to food writing. First, I’m sure we’ve all left some version of “looks delicious” as a comment when we’re salivating over close-ups of [Read more…] about What’s the Value of “Looks Delicious?”

Food Trends — Should You Pay Attention?

February 3, 2010 by diannejacob

It’s the start of the new year, and everyone has predictions.

The Fancy Food Show just released a list of the top five food trends for 2010, according to a panel of “food critics and food writer experts” on location. They are:

“good-for-you” foods
coconut
gluten-free foods
exotic citrus, and
“nostalgic” foods.”

Then, adding to the list are are the usual Top Food Trend stories that appear every January. Nani Steele sent me a whole passel of ’em from Market Watch, the Food Channel, Slashfood, Epicurious, Yahoo Lifestyle, and Eating Well. I’ve boiled the trends down to:

Comfort food cooking with basic ingredients — lamb and pork are particularly trendy
Budget-friendly recipes are still in style
Regional ethnic food, particularly those of Korea, Morocco and Japan
Good-for-you foods, based on allergies and building immunity.

I’m sure magazine and cookbook editors and literary agents pay attention to these forecasts. Aaron Wehner, publisher of Ten Speed Press, told me they’re drowning in budget-friendly cookbook proposals right now.

Trend stories make me wonder: should food writers jump on these trends and suddenly pitch articles and cookbooks on coconut and exotic citrus, or other trends mentioned in these stories? If you’re a blogger, will you write blog posts with recipes based on these trends? How do these trends guide you, or do they? What will you do with this information?

(Photo thanks to Stephanie Stiavetti of The Culinary Life)

Is Lower Pay for Web Writing Defensible?

January 21, 2010 by diannejacob

Maybe the magazine editor was just talking off the top of her head, but when I read it, steam came out of my ears.

In a story in the International Association of Culinary Professionals’ newsletter, by Stephanie Stiavetti , the editorial director of a national food magazine spoke of writing opportunities on her magazine’s website:

“There’s a lot of fear and concern…the move to user-generated content will impact those who made their living writing for print, but it has also opened up new opportunities for bloggers.”

Oh yes, we know all about that, how links are the new currency, and dwindling opportunities for freelancers. The article continues:

“How much quality can you expect from an uncompensated writer who may not be willing to put a lot of effort into an unpaid gig? ‘A lot,’ says the editor, who plans to use guest bloggers in the future: ‘We’ll be [Read more…] about Is Lower Pay for Web Writing Defensible?

Blogging Pro Not Afraid to Delete Comments

January 19, 2010 by diannejacob

Me and Elise Bauer in the dining room at Club Med Ixtapa

Me and Elise Bauer of Simply Recipes, in the dining room at Club Med Ixtapa.

Last week in Mexico at the Club Med Food Blogger Camp, Elise Bauer of Simply Recipes spoke about the history of her mega-successful blog and particularly, her philosophy about blog comments.

At first I was surprised she had so much to say about comments. Then I was grateful, because I don’t always know how to handle them, particularly the snarky ones that irritate people. Elise’s no-nonsense policy showed just one of the reasons why her blog is so [Read more…] about Blogging Pro Not Afraid to Delete Comments

Sensuous Writing with Corn Pops

January 15, 2010 by diannejacob

Brooke Burton of Foodwoolf puts her food writing chops to use.

Yesterday at breakfast here at Club Med Ixtapa Food Blogger Camp, I cast around for the perfect food on which to base a food writing exercise using all the senses.

(You remember which senses I mean, right? Let’s review:

Touch
Taste
Sound
Sight
Smell.)

Then I saw individual boxes of Kellogg’s Corn Pops at the cereal station. Perfect! They would trigger childhood memories, make us laugh, or inspire [Read more…] about Sensuous Writing with Corn Pops

Kickin’ It at Club Med Food Blogger Camp

January 12, 2010 by diannejacob

I’m adjusting to this new format of food writing and blogging conference, where hanging out is a big part of the day. Today I’ve walked along the beach in the surf, done yogalates with David Lebovitz and Matt Amendariz, gave Nancy Hachisu a quick Twitter lesson, had lunch with Michael and Donna Ruhlman, and now I’m sitting in the bar, waiting for the presentation at 3 p.m.,when Jaden Hair and David Lebovitz discuss book proposals, with a handout from me.

You’ll just have to join us next year. Really. You can relax and network [Read more…] about Kickin’ It at Club Med Food Blogger Camp

Food Publishing Still a Crapshoot, Says Editor

January 5, 2010 by diannejacob

Sydny Miner, newly minted Executive Editor at Crown Books.

Recently I spoke with Sydny Miner, about to become executive editor at Crown Books and leave Simon & Schuster, where she edited the Food Network’s Paula Deen and Molly Wizenberg’s first book, A Homemade Life.

Sydny started working with Paula Deen in 2002, before the food network made Deen a star. What was she like? “She’s the person you see on TV, maybe a little quieter in person,” says Sydny. We fell in love with her and her great voice. We knew Southern cooking was a perennial subject. We knew her restaurant was a destination.

Yet, she says it was a gut feeling to take Deen on. “We just caught her on the way up.” Sydny might say the same of Molly Wizenberg. An early reader of food blogs, Sydny suggested an agent contact Wizenberg about writing a book [Read more…] about Food Publishing Still a Crapshoot, Says Editor