HYDERABAD: We pick and choose the best of indie food magazines from across the globe
Lucky Peach
When rockstar chef David Chang (of NYC restaurant Momofuku fame) decided to don the hat of editor in 2011 with Lucky Peach magazine, we knew something good was brewing. Chang not only took charge but also brought along friends such as Anthony Bourdain and Ruth Reichl (former restaurant critic of The New York Times) to be part of the magazine’s contributing editors’ roll. A quarterly dedicated to food and writing, each issue centres around a theme which is then delved into, through photography, essays, recipes and art. Lucky Peach is pretty avante garde when it comes to its treatment of long form writing and its aesthetics. Unlike the usual hyper-styled, glossy editorials of other food publications, Lucky Peach often resorts to gore, over the top drama and some bold and edgy writing. The back issues are equally lust worthy, including our favourites, the Ramen and the All You Can Eat issue. Price: Rs 646.
Details: amazon.in and flipkart.com
Fool
Started in 2012 by Swedish couple Lota and Per-Anders Jorgenson, this Swedish magazine was created simply out of love for food, says the art director and photographer duo. Unlike other magazines of this genre that often rely on recipes, Fool ventures away instead seeking inspiration from fashion, design and popular culture. Six issues old now, the magazine has featured rockstars of the chef world such as the Swedish Magnus Nilsson, Italian Massimo Bottura, Frenchman Michele Bras and American Sean Brock among others. And did we mention that the entire magazine is beautifully shot in black and white?
Price: Rs 1,000 approximately per issue.
Details: shop.fool.se
Sweet Paul
When Oslo native Paul Lowe Einlyng was living in New York City in 2007 and working as a craft and food stylist, inspiration struck in the form of starting a blog called Sweet Paul. Einlyng’s blog based on all kinds of sweets treats presented with a mix of crafty Do-It-Yourself and his keen stylist’s eye was an instant hit. This led to the launch of his own zine called Sweet Paul in 2012. A whimsical take on all the sweet things in life, Sweet Paul offers recipes, on desserts and sweets along with craft, ideas for styling, and the latest on food props. And Einlyng’s inspiration:his great aunt and granny who instilled in him a love for cooking, decorating and crafting.
Price: Rs 1,142 approximately per issue.
Details: sweetpaulmag.com
Kinfolk
This one’s not strictly a food magazine but food occupies an important position inKinfolk’s beautifully designed pages with plenty of gastronomy-themed pieces. The magazine describes itself as a ‘slow lifestyle magazine’ and takes a minimalistic approach to design. The themes revolve around cooking, slow living, design and community. Equally popular are offline events called Kinfolk Gatherings that range from workshops on slow living to community meals known as Messy Meals with collaborators from across the globe.
Price: Rs 1,170. Details: amazon.in
Gastronomica
A journal dedicated to food and culture, Gastronomica was started in 2001. The magazine asks very important questions about the role of food in our lives. Historical and emerging trends, in depth analysis of the social, political and economical dynamics of food, research and innovation and profiling of key figures from the food world such as activists, academics, producers and consumers, are some of the themes dealt with in each issue. We love the magazine’s minimalist and stark covers, using food ingredients to give shape to objects that often look like art installations.
Price: Rs 3,500 approximately.
Details: amazon.com.
Chick Pea
A vegan, vegetarian quarterly magazine since 2011, Chick Pea focuses on whole foods, cooking and living. This New York-based magazine’s covers are stunning with fresh produce often being styled like still life portraits. The print issues are made of recycled material and covers recipes, interviews and cookbook reviews. Printed and bound in small runs and ad-free, Chick Pea’s mission statement reads: “We believe in the beauty of prints, the accessibility of digital, the potential of whole foods, plant-based lifestyle, the embracing of every person’s point of view and a complete rejection of advertising”.
Price: Rs 1,000 approximately per issue.
Details: chickpeamagazine.com