What the Death of Gourmet Magazine Means to Home Cooks

Photos

Gourmet Magazine

see larger image

uploaded by Huggingthecoast.Com

Last week, after 68 years of publishing, it was annouced that Gourmet would be closing its doors as a result of lost advertising sales during the economic downturn.

Gourmet magazine will cease publication after the November (Thanksgiving) issue. Instead of getting Gourmet Magazine in their mailboxes, subscribers can expect a copy of Bon Appetit magazine for the remainder of their subscription period instead.

This was a great surprise to many, as there had been editorial rumbling in some circles that Gourmet’s rival sister publication, Bon Appetit would be getting the ax instead. With noted food expert and bestselling author Ruth Reichl at its helm as well as Gourmet’s long and august history of publication, many thought that Bon Appetit would be the one to go.

Gourmet was often associated with an older, more upscale audience than the more recipe-centric Bon Appetit. Salon Magazine recently published an article intended to debunk that association, stating that Gourmet Magazine’s focus was more aspirational and inspirational than Gourmet’s critics once contended; inspiring many to learn to cook (and the piece’s author himself to eventually become a food writer).

As former Gourmet editor Ruth Reichl stated in two consecutive posts on her Twitter page the day the closure was announced:

--Doug DuCap/ Hugging the Coast Food and Cooking Blog