Does anyone miss the contests!?!? ...and find this site rather dull as of late!?!

I seldom come to the site any more. I am more likely to look at things on New York Times Cooking or Smitten Kitchen. I used to really enjoy the Genius Recipes column when it appeared more regularly, but that page is now so busy that I don't bother to wade through all of the content for something that might be a new post.

I have not been on the site for a while for all the reasons stated above. Miss the contests. Miss the old site.

I see everyone else misses contests too. I agree that something is missing that is more than the sum of its parts here. Let me say what, for me, is missing, because there ought to be more than one way to supply it. So this is a site with over a million people, that features recipes by a fraction of these million, mostly older contributors or staff writers. But when there was a contest it formed a small focal point and *everyone* could contribute; often it focused on seasonal produce, or some problem we all have, or stretching limited ingredients. I always looked at *every single recipe* that was submitted, I'd go every few days to see what was newly posted, and I always found things and think "hey that sounds easy" or "kim chi and pickled okra, why the hell not?" or "interesting, I never thought of that"; I'd collect them and try them. I was interested in the community picks. I did not always or even usually try the winners, or vote on the winning choices (too often there would be an ingredient I couldn't get or a technique I couldn't replicate, though it was interesting to see what was chose). However for me the important part was to see the hundred or so creative ideas for a two or three ingredient biscuit, and to have someone say "Yeah, I tried this and it actually works" I know other people were doing the same as me, reading *all* the recipes and collecting a few. For me too, it was a stimulus to post recipes that I would not rush to put up otherwise, super easy weeknight dinners and made the most of a simple set of ingredients or used more bell peppers than usual in an effective way. I don't do that any more either. I know people saw these when I posted them on contests much sooner they probably would have otherwise, because they started to appear in collections much sooner. I respect the selection of winners, and the huge amount of work that has to have gone into testing and choosing (and editing! and rephotographing!) them, but that's not what I miss most. I just like having people who are not staff writers post new things on a theme. So why can't we just have a monthly theme, where everyone votes on recipes that should be tested by the community, and then a set of community picks coming out of it? Without the staff testing, or editing, or photographing, without even necessarily choosing a winner. That would give me the array of new stuff and the stimulus to post recipes again.

I like the idea for a different forum for meatier questions--there is so much going on with food--history, politics, environmental issues, economic questions. A chance to exchange ideas would be so welcome.

People ask for advice here versus Internet search to feel more connected and confident with responses from a trusted community. JMO
I enjoy sharing ideas and from reading idea posts from Food52 staff, on the Hotline, surmised it was welcome to do so.
BB

Hi all, I’m reviving this thread with an update! In the coming days, you may notice we’ll be temporarily taking down contests from the site’s main navigation bar. This is happening to make space for all of our Thanksgiving and holiday goings-on—but don’t worry, the contests will be back! They’re an important part of Food52’s history, and they’ll continue to be an important part of our future—so they’ll be returning in a smarter, easier-to-understand format in 2018. Stay tuned for more on that: We’ll be back with the details in January, and we thank you for your patience.

I disagree with most comments in this thread! I do miss the contests but I definitely do not find this site dull! I love the articles, but especially enjoy features geared towards cooking/baking how-to's. Many are commenting that basics can be found on any other site, but I think that even an experienced cook can always learn something new, even in terms of basics. I check this site every day and I rarely use any other site for recipes/inspiration. Keep up the good work, Food52!!

How about some folks set up a contest committee, make suggestions about your interests, catalogue all the past contests, link winners etc. That would be a great contribution. Thoughts?

Yes! I am a young (but seasoned) user of Food52, who's been around since the early days. antoniajames, kukla, queensashy, mrslarkin, fiveandspice - these are names (handles) of people i've absolutely never met and who have no idea exist, but taught me a world about cooking and flavor and online community. I miss the contest, I miss not having to wade through articles about linens and seedlip(?) and pink milk to get to the actual recipes and community I had come to expect from the site.

There are ways to grow, and to grow responsibly, but I don't think Food52 is doing the best job of that right now. I hope that we are a gracious enough community to give them a chance to try again (you certainly deserve it, Food52!). It's a thankless and near-impossible task and I appreciate the continued responsiveness of some of the long-time staffers but, please - do something different! Shake up your community engagement! We miss the old Food52.

Could not agree more - this site has become a vapid shell of what it once was. I get that it's expanding and needs to support the entire staff, but there is a way to do this that keeps the community aspect, and isn't just click bait. Such a bummer, such a loss, such a shame.

It would be great to see new contests soon. Fall and winter are times many people get back into the kitchen. Who cares if people recycle recipes for contests? With so many recipes on this site, a review and reminder of what's in the recipe archive is nice. Many folks create recipes just for the contests as well.

I have been a member since January 2011, and agree that the focus of food52 has shifted from home cooks to a more shotgun approach captured in many of your comments. From what I have read, 60% of revenue comes from on-line sales and 2016 projected earnings are $16 million. Kudos to Amanda and Merrill who have created an amazing business model!

I very much miss the contests, community picks and the healthy interchange that was on Hotline before Hotline turned into a kind of questioning that has me want to respond "just google it". Just checked the last approx. 20 hotline questions and 7 people who asked questions joined the day they asked the question; 3 were admin. questions having to do with orders and technical glitches; 2 were questions 6 years and older and 7 questions from members who have participated for at least a year.

Have given up on the idea of Food52 as a community built around questions and recipe sharing. We were such a strong community that here in Seattle we had gatherings of Food52 members from Portland to Victoria BC just for the fun of it. And two amazing book signing parties that Merrill and Amanda came to. Those were the days, as they say.

I agree. It's true there are still some good things about the site but I think people who are newer here don't realize how fantastic it was before. That's what we are talking about. Not the new version that just keeps getting further and further away from the spirit of the original.

Amanda and Merrill used to write regular columns/articles, but they have also gone missing. I used to be on the site daily. I miss the interaction.

I think we've been down that road a time or two since the format changed, and my response is still the same.... YES!

I like this site, find it of quality. I enjoy the recipes, most of the articles. I cook on a professional level, albeit modest not famous mind, and cook at least 50 variations of recipes over the year. It is concise here, easy to search, well organized, not so personal as to be dripping honey and gossip. So, while I understand some folks don't have enough 'new' to be curious etc, I bet some other folks are ok with the pace. Thanks.

And as I speculated in my earlier post - the promotions for a new cookbook dropped today...

I too miss the contests. They were motivation to create new recipes and I loved seeing what everyone else came up with.

All the monetizing issues aside (and there are many), what really bugs me is that the editors seem to think it has to be all things to all people. This site originally leaned towards people who already know how to boil potatoes (and do some pretty fancy things with them after that!). There are a million sites for people to figure out the basics. I loved this site because it gave me ideas and inspiration to elevate the food I was already making. Now it's just another average site. Hardly worthy of the genius of thirschfield and chefjune and antoniajames and, and...

Yes. If editors or out there somewhere listening, I'm irritated by columns that are trying to sell me something and by anything about celebrity chefs. I come here for unique, high quality recipes and food writing with a community atmosphere. Too much of the aforementioned drivel drives longtime readers and community members away.

Old questions on the hot line being recycled may be annoying but surely are not a cause for the disenchantment of so many long term members. Personally I find the “areas of expertise” for some of the current writers a total waste. Many of them are degenerating into the realm of click bait and I swear I will never again look at any of the articles starting with topics such as “taking the internet by storm” or “Instagram goes wild”. I was never personally caught up with the contests but I still find them a source for wonderful recipes, that usually come with direct access to the creator and/or many other cooks who had tried the recipe. In the last 5 years or so I have picked up so many little pieces of advice, mostly from other members, that not only have made be a better cook but have made me more interested in cooking. The current crop of celebrity recipes seem to often come with more issues and less feedback than recipes developed by dedicated community members. I have no problem with the concept that the site is a business and needs to be run like one. It just seems incredibly sad that some middle ground between the historical site and what “sells” cannot be found.

I sense that the contests don't make any money for the site and they were a lot of work for the staff and that is why they have dropped in priority. I get that - this is a business not just a hobby. Seems like many online food sites are struggling to find ways to make these ventures viable - when the NYT food site starts charging - you know it is a serious situation. Seems like perhaps the cookbooks (salad, ice cream) have become the moneymakers and the focus. I am fine with that - but as an old member of the community I would just like to hear a straight answer to why the contests went from once a week to once a year. It was so inspiring and I still recommend this site to others but I don't frequent it like I used to. That makes me sad - this was one of the most formative in my development as a home cook. And the community was fabulous - just thinking about someone like Kukla who we got to know through her recipes in the contests. Inspired cooking that i never would have searched for on my own but were brought to the forefront through the contests.

Other than the contests, what suggestions or ideas would people like to see?

Lindsey-Jean, would it be possible to disable the answer function for questions over a certain age? That would be a welcome improvement.

Yes, I find the ancient questions annoying, too--couldn't something be done to prevent questions of a certain age from being answered again and again?

Thanks, Lisanne. I think that's the article that prompted me to send a pitch.

Hi all, as BerryBaby noted, we are working on a plan for the contests, I know it's taking awhile, and I'm sorry for that. For some of you who are very active on the Hotline, I probably sound like a broken record, but I promise that the community truly is a priority and we are listening to you!

Pierino, you are definitely one of the people I miss. What's the process for getting an article published on the site? I've tried, but have never had a response.

Yes, I agree. The community has disintegrated and the Hotline has become a place for people to question whether they can still eat their ground meat after it sat on the counter all night or if they can substitute peas for carrots in a recipe for stew. Even the standard of writing has gone downhill, in search of the lowest common denominator, I suppose. I look in once per week, and that's enough.

Totally agree with these comments. Especially about the content being dumbed down. I suspect they want to appeal to 20-somethings in their first apartments? The recipe compilations usually feature recipes by the editors or "celebrity" chefs. So it's not really about home cooks anymore. I feel like they have lost their way. Or discovered that e-commerce is a better moneymaker.

Miss the contests.

I totally agree. In fact, I recently wrote a letter to the editors telling them this very thing. I also feel like the site has been kind of 'dumbed down'. It used to be a fantastic site with really accomplished amateur cooks who inspired the heck out of me. I hardly ever come here anymore.

They were something to look forward to. There is a response on another thread from Food52 that the contests will return in a different format. Takes time.
For me, I enjoy the articles. I pick and choose which ones peak my interest. There's something for everyone.

I agree! I'm sure the contests were an awful lot of work, but it kept me engaged much more.

Wow! Thank you for your opinion! Let's see if there are some other answers in the next 24 hours.....but I do not see any of my favorite cooks logging in any more :-((

Yeah, totally a bummer.....was a fun distraction and way to share. You totally read my mind. It was never about a prize it was more about respect from other cooks. Makes me sad.

Yeah, totally a bummer.....was a fun distracted and way to share. You totally read my mind. It was never about a prize it was more about respect from other cooks. Makes me sad.