The Piglet
Hey, What's Happening With the Piglet?
After ten memorable years, we're shaking things up with our beloved tournament of cookbooks.
Photo by Bobbi Lin
The Piglet—inspired by The Morning News' Tournament of Books—is where the 16 most notable cookbooks of the year face off in a NCAA-style bracketed tournament. Watch the action and weigh in on the results!
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97 Comments
Inga
October 24, 2020
I'm quite late to this but like many others have said, I'm really sad to hear that you have discontinued the Piglet. I have bought many books, and learned about many new books I had never heard of, because this tournament. They were also just a joy to read. It sounds like the problems described here (that readers can't find it on the site / miss changes to dates, etc) could be easily fixed through website design?? I hope someone else picks up the baton and starts something similar somewhere else.
keg72
September 19, 2020
I landed on this article some 8 months after it was published, after thinking to myself that I’d missed the 2020 Piglet and would love to catch up on it. (And like so many reviewers said, it was always buried on the site, so I was accustomed to having to hunt for it.) I’m disappointed to learn of the Piglet’s demise but also have the same question as the last poster — what happened to the new cookbook contest plan described in the article? And also, why has no one from the site bothered to respond/react to any comments here???
Katie
July 7, 2020
Was there ever any update on this new cookbook competition that was teased? I couldn't find anything, but with Food52, that doesn't mean it's not there--maybe just buried under promotions of $300 vintage coffee sets.
Audrey W.
June 4, 2020
This is so sad. I'll miss the Piglet a lot. I used to set a reminder on my calendar to go look for it. It wasn't easy to find, but it seemed like recently the articles written to mention it fell off sharply.
I had noticed the sudden upswing on the home page to a majority of shop links and listicles with growing unease, and I've found myself looking to this page less and less.
I hope the new format works out.
I had noticed the sudden upswing on the home page to a majority of shop links and listicles with growing unease, and I've found myself looking to this page less and less.
I hope the new format works out.
averything
May 20, 2020
Well.....I guess I'm just echoing everyone....but I too miss the piglet. Once each year was up and running I would save up some reviews to sit and read in one go after a long day at work. I have books on my shelf that are there because of the piglet. I loved some reviews and not others & agreed with some outcomes and not others but I really looked forward to it. The fact that people are still commenting in May on the original article is a testament to the feelings of readers. I wonder if there will be a change of heart re: the decision to end it. I for one for love to see it back in 2021.
cranberry
May 18, 2020
Another vote of disappointment at this news. I love the Piglet. Whatever crazy business decision that shoved it off in a corner ensured its demise. "Let's move it where no one can find it and then when the clicks drop we can kill it and blame it on Food 52 members." Thanks a lot.
foodlover
April 5, 2020
Now more than ever, we need the Piglet. Please lift our spirits during the crisis by resurrecting the event!
ono
March 15, 2020
I've been looking for information about The Piglet for a few weeks, and finally had to do an internet search to find this article. I, too, am so very disappointed it has been discontinued – I loved it as well. I thought, initially, some of the harsher comments about some of the reviewers might have influenced an evaluation of The Piglet, but, alas, it was data – too few comments and too few clicks.
I was worried what would happen when the company was sold and wondered what changes would occur. Sadly, among things that others have mentioned, the demise of The Piglet seems to be one of the changes. I’m not against change, of course, but it hurts my heart a little to see a more “streamlined” Food 52. I hope someone will take the leap and resurrect it somewhere else (Omnivore Books in SF?). Also, I thought it was such a wonderful way to celebrate new cookbooks and/or chefs/food writers who would get some attention that they might not otherwise receive – and I loved the food writing. Ah, the writing! Sigh. At any rate, it does feel like there has been a shift, which is not uncommon when companies change hands, but still. I appreciate being able to comment - thank you - despite finding this so much later than the article was published.
I was worried what would happen when the company was sold and wondered what changes would occur. Sadly, among things that others have mentioned, the demise of The Piglet seems to be one of the changes. I’m not against change, of course, but it hurts my heart a little to see a more “streamlined” Food 52. I hope someone will take the leap and resurrect it somewhere else (Omnivore Books in SF?). Also, I thought it was such a wonderful way to celebrate new cookbooks and/or chefs/food writers who would get some attention that they might not otherwise receive – and I loved the food writing. Ah, the writing! Sigh. At any rate, it does feel like there has been a shift, which is not uncommon when companies change hands, but still. I appreciate being able to comment - thank you - despite finding this so much later than the article was published.
foodlover
March 14, 2020
I rarely take the time to comment on any posts for Food52 or other sites. However, I want to express my profound disappointment at the decision to change the Piglet. The Piglet is an event I look forward to every year, devouring every word with as much gusto as a favorite dish. Just because people are not commenting doesn't mean they aren't talking about the Piglet. I have sung the praises of the Piglet to every food and cookbook lover I know, recommending tournament cookbooks and buying several myself. Not every event needs to be discussed and debated digitally. It would have helped significantly if you took the time to promote the Piglet rather than burying it in the depths of your website where only the most persistent of us could find it. Sadly, you took away the one element that made Food52 stand out from other websites. Now you are just a recipe and eCommerce site like all the others with no compelling reason to visit or remain loyal to.
SusanR
March 14, 2020
Thank you! This comment expressed my feeling so much better than I did below. I used to come to Food52 to look at your columns. Sunday’s I would always look for the 8 Blogs you posted about. Honestly, it feels like there is less food writing now and more a site I cannot afford to shop on. Definitely most of the emails I receive by far are about products to buy vs new ideas in good, recipes, genius ideas. Makes me sad.
Greg B.
March 14, 2020
Couldn't be more disappointed.
And to replace it with an "all time" cookbook review simply means this can't be done again the following year.
You ruined something unique that made you special. That's usually because you caved to the tyranny of a few voices.
And to replace it with an "all time" cookbook review simply means this can't be done again the following year.
You ruined something unique that made you special. That's usually because you caved to the tyranny of a few voices.
529hh
July 14, 2020
I wholeheartedly agree with all of you. Food52 has become a over-commercialized sink-hole. Once they kick Kristen Miglore and Genius Recipes to the curb, the site will be a worthless Goop knock-off.
srossi
March 11, 2020
Really disappointed with this news. If I wanted reviews of older cookbooks, I would look elsewhere. The yearly roundup of new cookbook reviews via the Piglet was one of the few things that kept me occasionally checking back in on this website. What a bummer. I hope Food52 will instead strengthen it's reviews of new cookbooks elsewhere on the site, rather than through a tournament form.
SusanR
March 3, 2020
This is very, very disappointing. I have been looking so forward to this year’s competition. I am hoping the upcoming competition will be as interesting and informative.
Inko
March 2, 2020
Like so many others I looked forward to Piglet all year. Searched for it seasonally - and wondered every year why you made it so hard to find. Enjoyed the goofy reviews and the earnest reviews and even the snarky non-cooking reviews. And now you’re ending it instead of making it more visible on the website? Bad decision.
Food 52 is now a retail shopping site for curated cookware - no thanks. I’m gone.
I’m not interested.
Food 52 is now a retail shopping site for curated cookware - no thanks. I’m gone.
I’m not interested.
Ktc1575
March 2, 2020
I’m so disappointed! I look forward to the Piglet all year long! I hope you’ll reconsider for the future!
erosenbr
March 1, 2020
I'm very disappointed that this is being discontinued. I love the Piglet tournament and I enjoy it every year. I never weigh in because I hate online discussions and have a feeling many are exhausted with online conversation but it's not a signifier that they're not enjoying the content. More a signifier that online discussion has become tiring to many. Not necessarily a sign of disengagement. I don't think it should be the main barometer for decisions.
cookbookchick
March 1, 2020
My initial reaction on the first day you posted this disappointing development still stands: Boo-hiss! As others have said much more eloquently, the Piglet introduced us to new cookbooks we might have overlooked. It also gave rise to some really outstanding food writing. And the controversies? Well, they sure added spice to our daily Piglet fix and gave rise to some great reading in the comments.
Joanie922
February 26, 2020
This is incredibly disappointing. You reviewed new cookbooks and the reviews gave life to a new book.
If I want a review on a cookbook I probably already own, I search it out somewhere other than Food52.
I feel the move into home furnishing is the beginning of moving away from what made this company so unique - a company that was about food and sharing recipes with a community. Now, I feel as Food52 is trying to be a retailer.
If I want a review on a cookbook I probably already own, I search it out somewhere other than Food52.
I feel the move into home furnishing is the beginning of moving away from what made this company so unique - a company that was about food and sharing recipes with a community. Now, I feel as Food52 is trying to be a retailer.
Kimi
February 23, 2020
I stumbled onto the piglet 4 years ago. It was hard to find but I did and I read all prior Piglets and waited in anticipation of the next year. I have purchased so many of the cookbooks. None of the cookbook were losers. I loved how someone had to make a choice from disperate books. I.loved the agony they felt in choosing, it's the same agony I feel when buying one books and it was often the loser that I bought because I'd it. I loved how I learned more about the judge, and it somehow made both the book and the reviewer so much more accessible. I rarely read comments because on most things they are angry or dont add anything to further the conversation; I read all the comments. The comments as much as the judge made it feel like a real community and added to the experience. The Piglet has inspired me to try new genres.
I am disappointed. I truly hope the new format will be a success, but I mourn the Piglet.
I am disappointed. I truly hope the new format will be a success, but I mourn the Piglet.
witloof
February 22, 2020
I am really disappointed by this decision, and by Food52 in general lately. The soul has been eviscerated from this website.
mrslarkin
February 20, 2020
In case you missed it: https://food52.com/blog/24999-big-community-book-off-cookbook-competition-announcement
Leil
February 18, 2020
I’m really sad about this change to the Piglet. Even though I thought it was hard to find in the website and I had to search it out, I did every year because I loved it so much. i never understood why it was so hard to find or why you never sent out notices about it. I loved the subjectivity of it, the reviews whether thoughtful or not, and learning about books I might never have picked up. I am also not interested in all time cookbooks. That’s completely different from looking at current books. I wish you could have done both of you wanted this other thing. These awards were so much more transparent than other awards and I loved that, as well as that not all these people were experts in their area.
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