Our Staff's Favorite Food Writing from Around the Web

Food writing is a vast and beautiful landscape. There’s truly so, so much to consume. Our co-founders Amanda and Merrill are no strangers to all that words have to offer and, lucky for us, they’re here to share some of their favorite selections of food writing out there. But you’ll have to wait!

On May 23, they’ll be hosting Selected Shorts, a weekly radio broadcast where all types of people share what they consider to be premiere bits of writing. Past episode hosts have included Nora Ephron, Zadie Smith, Jane Fonda, Stephen King and Salman Rushie, to name but a few. Amanda and Merrill have curated a segment centered around "Food and Frustration," an ode to all those moments in the kitchen where things don’t turn out exactly as planned. And why that’s OK sometimes!

For those who want to get closer to the action, there’s a live recording at the Symphony Space on Broadway and 95th. If you're interested in attending, head here to get tickets. Otherwise, their talk will be recorded and released as a podcast, which you'll be able to eventually download on the Selected Shorts site.

In the meantime, we've rounded up some of our staff’s favorite food writing from all across the web (like this piece, by John Birdsall, a personal favorite). They range from sweet to silly and all types of meaningful. Take some time to read them, then share your favorites piece of food writing with us in the comments!

Nikkitha Bakshani, Associate Editor

The Maraschino Mogul’s Secret Life, Ian Frazier

This article almost reminded me of magical realism: how, one very hot summer in New York (the hottest ever recorded), honey from local bees became red. From there, we learn so much about the people behind the scandal (for lack of a better term); their characters stood out to me more than the very compelling narrative itself, about a secret marijuana garden at the Brooklyn factory that makes Maraschino cherries.

Cory Baldwin, Director of Partner Content

Hello, Roberto, Helen Rosner

Emma Laperruque, Food Writer and Recipe Developer

What to Expect When You're Expecting Dinner, Nora Ephron

I love anything and everything by Nora. She wrote a novel and so many essays and screenplays—most of them not all-about-food like this particular piece. But when it snuck up, it stole the show.

Joanna Sciarrino, Managing Editor

All You Have Eaten, Rachel Khong

Rachel's a brilliant writer, but this piece—a carefully woven diary of food, memories, and identify—is one of my favorites.

Connor Bower, Social Media Manager

This Twitter thread, @David_Rudnick

Easily the most passionate pasta exposé I’ve come across. 10/10, would add sauce again.

Hana Asbrink, Senior Lifestyle Editor

The Poodle Who Hosts a Japanese Cooking Show From Beyond the Grave, Talia Lavin

I've quietly enjoyed Cooking with Dog for the better part of a decade and never knew it was part of a culinary zeitgeist until Francis (the show's poodle host) passed away in 2016, and posts like Talia Levin's beautiful tribute starting popping up. I still watch Cooking with Dog. Long live, Francis.

Victoria Maynard, Director of Finance

The Best Restaurant in New York Is The American Girl Café, Caity Weaver