What the hell is going on with Bon Appetit magazine? I have been a subscriber for decades. (My yearly subscriptions was actually a tax write-off when I was a food critic in Ann Arbor.) Now, I am questioning whether to renew my subscription, although I probably have paid ahead into 2030 because of the incessant renewal requests.
All of the sudden, the font is size 8 (or less) and often is almost the same color as the friggin background. Yeah, I know. BA is going after the younger audience, but hey, I still cook using new recipes. I still want to crawl in bed at night with my foodie magazine and get so hungry I find myself in the pantry with a flashlight.
However, the most irritating and unjustified offense of the magazine: size 8 font and often close to the same color as the background. Right now, I’m looking at directions for making a classic martini. Under Do the Twist (like in a lemon), the font is size 7, medium gray ink, with a similar background color. I need a magnifying glass. I need a martini.
I’ve always enjoyed going to the magazine’s r.s.v.p section. This is where readers request the recipe of a favorite dish they had in a restaurant, and BA gets the restaurant to let them publish it. It’s a good way to see what people are eating when they dine out. This month’s r.s.v.p. section has recipes for stuff like Tofu Yum-Yum Bowl (I say Yuck-Yuck), Lentil Croquettes with Watercress and Kefir (Keifer Sutherland?), Ham and Pea Pies, ….and this month’s dessert, Miso Doughnuts. For the love of God, where is this country headed?
More grumbling to follow. There’s Food & Wine magazine…