Food For Thought Cooking Things And Magazines

food for thought

notyourmomma 16 years ago

From the re-designed Sara Moulton website. Her thoughts on on-line recipes. What do you think?

May 29, 2006
Buying cookbooks
I have been traveling a lot, mostly on mall tours around the country and I have noticed, as I did last fall when I was on book tour, that people aren’t buying cookbooks the way they used to. I would take it personally but my editor says that with a few notable exceptions (the absolutely hottest new stars on the food scene) cookbooks aren’t selling well, period.

So I was feeling a little frisky at a cooking demo I was doing in Evansville, Indiana and I mentioned right before I started to the front row of viewers that I would be selling and signing my book afterwards and they should really pick it up because there were only 8 1/2 months left until Christmas. Well, this one lady replied that she did not buy cookbooks anymore since she could download anything she wanted on the internet!!!!!! I was horrified. So this was the reason nobody was buying cookbooks. Of course I bullied her into buying one but I have been wondering ever since if that indeed was what was going on. I mean, why would you just download any recipe on the internet without knowing if it had been properly tested and developed? Is it all about quantity now and not about quality?

I would love to know what you all think.
http://www.saramoulton.com/blog.php

Flag
rml 16 years ago said:

I find it hard to believe that she's shocked, but I also believe it's more of a generational thing. Think about how Dictionary sales are. Call me old fashioned, but I prefer printed out pages.

Flag
thepiggs 16 years ago said:

I read an article in the cooking section, complete with the main recipe, about the Artisan bread cookbook and was so intrigued that I had to rush right out and order the book. There is NO way I could not have that book. There are lots of recipes and I've kept it in the kitchen, usually open, and flip from recipe to recipe. I just can't do that with the internet.
I do like internet recipes but sometimes you just need to read what's behind the recipes.
Just like my magazines, I need to see some recipes in person, not just off the net.
That lady might never have bought a cookbook, as some people are just too cheap. You buy what's improtant to you and find excuses on why not to buy what isn't important.

Flag
linebb956 16 years ago said:

I still buy books... not as many... but I do. I love finding the older, vintage ones..

My computer is kind of hard to hold while cooking... and printing them ... at least from here, lacks the step by step of some..

And no comments about my needing pictures to read guys! LOL

Flag
pleclare 16 years ago said:

I absolutely love buying cookbooks. Selective but still love it!

Flag
thepiggs 16 years ago said:

I don't think you can beat sitting down with a cookbook. The internet might provide more recipes but the book is so much better to have in hand.

Flag