Rumors had been circulating for weeks about pending cutbacks at either Gourmet or Bon Appetit, but Condé Nast’s decision today to ax editor Ruth Reichl’s print baby sent shock waves through the food community (even if Gourmet’s book publishing and TV operations will continue, as will the Web site).

In his business story for the Los Angeles Times, Russ Parsons contacted included a quote from Reichl for a comment about the closure.  “Like everyone else, I found out this morning,” she told Parsons’ colleague, S. Irene Virbila, the paper’s restaurant critic. “I can’t talk about it now, it’s too raw. I’ve got to pack up my office.”

On her Twitter feed, Reichl added: “Thank you all SO much for this outpouring of support. It means a lot. Sorry not to be posting now, but I’m packing. We’re all stunned, sad.”

Others are equally stunned about the sudden demise of the 68-year-old magazine. More comments after the jump.

Read More “Journalists, Fans Respond to Condé Nast’s Decision to Kill Gourmet Magazine” »

Thank God for Ed Levine over at Serious Eats. He’s not afraid to speak his mind about food, the problems of his ongoing diet, or the issues that Barack Obama (aka, Mr. Hope and Change) can actually address during his coming administration. Sustainability, organics, and other food issues won’t be among them, he believes. Writes Levine:

Read More “Serious Eat’s Levine: Food Issues Not a High Priority for Obama” »

Serious Eats, one of my daily go-to sites about food and culture, has jumped head-first into the year-end list business. The site has counted down its Top 10 blog posts of the year. I’m not sure what it says about us, culturally, that an item about a new fast-food container tops the list. But whatever it says, I’m sure it’s not very flattering.

Serious Eats’ sister site on pizza, Slice, has also posted its Top 8 items of the year.

Photo courtesy of Serious Eats.