I have a problem. Well, maybe it isn’t so much a problem as it is a deep love. You see, to me, words on a printed page are special. They’re not fleeting like the words on a screen – words that are quickly replaced by newer, shinier versions of themselves. Magazines are for perusing, without the heft of a book and with the promise of even more content on the way. (Oh yeah, and each new issue feels like a little surprise.
Right now, I am falling in love with the artisan/luxe feeling food magazines where the designs of the page are as important as the words and images.
Jamie Magazine ($9.95/issue or $122/year, iPad version available)
Jamie Oliver’s magazine has been a favorite of mine since I discovered it on a shelf at a Barnes & Nobel several years ago and was one of the first magazines I ever bought where the pages were a higher quality paper rather than the flimsy glossy pages of most other magazines. And while the content in this magazine isn’t gluten-free specific, the majority of the recipes are usually gluten-free or easily adaptable. As a bonus, this magazine is from the UK, so there are weight measurements for all the recipes which makes conversions and adaptations of baked goods to be gluten-free easy. The best part of this magazine, however are the ideas for simple weeknight meals. Even though I love to cook, during the week life makes spending an hour making dinner feel like an onerous undertaking and the ideas for quick, simple & delicious meals are always appreciated.
GFF Magazine, $15/issue or $50/year (plus shipping, digital versions available)
This magazine is brand new on the scene with only 2 issues under its belt, but it is quickly becoming a favorite read each month. The aesthetics of the magazine are those of a high-end food publication and all the food just happens to be gluten-free. Fans of magazines like Kinfolk, Sweet Paul and Lucky Peach will find this magazine feels like a member of that high-end food club with content that just happens to be gluten-free. There’s not a single recipe that wouldn’t be a hit with a gluten-full crowd. I love that this magazine is just about the food, in the crowded gluten-free magazine space that makes this magazine stand out. The subscriber version of the latest magazine looks so good on my coffee table, I am seriously considering buying a print of it to go in my kitchen. Plus, it is a small business run by a couple of uber talented women. What’s not to love?
Cherry Bombe, $20/issue or $38/year
Another high-end magazine I am currently loving- this one is about women in food. Again, the magazine is printed on high-end paper and almost feels like a book. It is published twice a year and the pages are filled with women doing amazing things in food. I don’t remember quite when I discovered this, but it was after the second issue came out. Because it is published twice a year, the magazine is the longest on the list (which more than justifies its premium price tag). This magazine hits all the right notes when talking about women in food and is significantly less blogger-centric than “Where Women Cook”.
Allergic Living, 19.99/year
Ok, before I go any farther, I have a vested interest in this magazine succeeding because they are the first publication to publish my writing since high school. My article on food allergies & dating is going to be in their spring 2015 issue, so go on and subscribe. Now that that is out of the way, we can get on to the goods. This magazine covers a whole spectrum of food allergy concerns, which I appreciate as a food allergy sufferer. There are articles on treatments, issues and advocacy as well as recipes. There is a little more family-oriented content here, but I learn something new from each issue I read.
Gluten-Free & More (formerly Living Without), $8/issue or $23/year
This was the first magazine I read when I went gluten-free and has been a staple in my house for years. Gluten-free diets and living with Celiac disease are the main focus of the magazine, but there is a lot of food allergy content as well. The content does feel a bit more geared towards families, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t an enjoyable and informative read. They rebranded recently from Living Without to Gluten-Free and More, which is a more descriptive title (and also not something that could be thought of as negative).
What is your favorite gluten-free or food-centric magazine? (I want to know if I am missing any must-reads!)