Food Network Magazine Launches on October 14

Gourmet is One Hot Tomato Still! (Photo credit: C. Bertelsen)

Just when you thought that the ‘Net finished digging the print media’s grave, along comes a behemoth, Hearst Magazines, and their new offering: Food Network Magazine. Described as “The magazine will appeal to food lovers and Food Network fans of all ages and culinary abilities, offering pages of accessible recipes and tips, as well as unprecedented access to America’s favorite Food Network stars.”, this mag joins Food Network’s other pre-existing magazine superstars, the eponymous Rachael Ray and Paula Deen magazines.

Printing only 300,000 copies, Hearst expects the its newest magazine to appear on news-stands on October 14, so plan to grab one while it’s hot, if you’re a fan.

The former editor of Rach’s magazine, Maile Carpenter, edits this new foodie treasure trove.

Just what we need.

We’ll see if any of these newer magazines “live” as long as Gourmet magazine, founded in 1941 by Earle MacAusland. Of all years in U.S. history to begin a fancy-pants magazine aimed at the wealthy! But it worked and still works. Reading Don Dresden’s June 1947 article, “After the War,” tears your heart out, to think that during all those years no one could visit Paris. Cream, butter, and meat–none to be had, rationing still taunting the liberated French people with flickers of memory of war. And fifty-four years later, Jonathan Gold, one of the wittiest restaurant reviewers ever, covers the modern Paris of 2001. (Gold currently writes restaurant reviews for The Los Angeles Times; his reviews for Gourmet sang. He won a Pulitzer for his efforts. See his Counter Intelligence: Where to Eat in the Real Los Angeles.)

So, as I said, we’ll see if the FN Magazine sings, won’t we? Food history is being made, folks. We don’t need old, rare cookbooks to study. It’s all right in front of us. Every day. Raw, primary material for the taking.

To learn more about FN’s newest family member, here’s the birth announcement from Hearst.