I had never really considered the possibilities of food websites until this past summer. I was looking for a recipe for earl grey ice cream (sampled and entranced by on a recent trip to Herrell’s, in Cambridge, Mass.) and happened upon www.deliciousdays.com.
Run by Nicky and Oliver, a couple from Munich, Germany, delicious:days was named one of Time Magazine’s 50 Coolest Websites in 2006. While recipes for Nutella-banana muffins and parsley crêpes with a chanterelle mushroom filling are mouthwatering, more enticing is the look of the website. Oliver, an accomplished photographer and web designer, turns food into true visual art, which he both exhibits in an online gallery, and integrates into the sites web design.
Inspired by this discovery, I began to investigate other food websites. Discoveries ranged from Epicurious, a recipe center from the publishers of Bon Apétit and Gourmet magazines, to The One Dollar Diet Project, which chronicles the adventures of a couple who conducted a month-long experiment in which they spent only a dollar each per day on food. Below are the six most interesting. All are updated on a regular basis, most daily, so be sure to check them often!
delicious:days (www.deliciousdays.com) – The world’s most beautiful blog. Features photography, German-influenced recipes, and links to food-related articles (did Marie Antoinette really say “Let them eat cake”?). Updated about once a week, but always worth the wait.
New York Times Dining Section (http://www.nytimes.com/pages/dining/) – contains everything from restaurant reviews (for New York and Connecticut), recipes, and fun articles about products, etc. this is a must-visit for any foodie. Whether or not you cook, there are literally thousands of articles to read, with more added daily.
The One Dollar Diet Project (http://onedollardietproject.wordpress.com) – This blog is distinct from others on the list because it doesn’t involve eating or cooking, but is worth checking out. This economic/gastronomic experiment, which was designed to exhibit both the difficulties of eating on a low budget, and the possibilities for those who are forced to do so, contains fascinating accounts of their journey, as well as lists of what exactly the couple ate for $1 a day.
Epicurious (www.epicurious.com) – The most comprehensive list of gourmet (though not necessarily difficult) recipes on the internet.
Herrell’s Ice Cream (www.herrells.com) – the shop where I first encountered my two favorite ice creams: earl grey and chocolate pudding. Read their list of flavors, and remember to stop by when visiting Harvard.
Bread and Butter (bnbfoodblog.blogspot.com) – the online accompaniment to this column. Starting this week I will begin posting recipes as I discover/create them, as well as food websites, videos, photos etc. Be sure to check often, as I expect to be adding short posts several times a week.
