In some ways, I don’t even know why I’m pimping this year’s Best Food Writing collection, which is due out today. If you’re a die-hard local gastronome, you’ve probably read 10 percent of the book without even purchasing it.

How so?

Five of the 50 essays included are from D.C. area writers, including Joe Yonan, Monica Bhide, Jane Black, Todd Kliman, and yours truly. Not to make too much of this showing from local scribes, but let’s do a quick comparison of how the D.C. market fares against those cities with long-established food cultures, like Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. (Forget New York City; we don’t stand a chance.)

Here’s the break down of Best Food Writing 2009 contributors from each city (based on a quick scan of the 50 essays; errors may occur, as they say):

Read More “Best Food Writing 2009 Due in Bookstores Today” »

Pho: One of the great dishes that D.C. has to offer

Y&H is really getting to like Terrence Henry, who serves up regular commentary for the Atlantic Food Channel. I think I’d say that even if Henry didn’t call me a “great food writer,” which is a stretch but which I nonetheless enjoyed seeing in “print” as if it were an objective, verifiable fact. (I’ve already forced Wemple to read the piece, but he said nothing, refusing to take the bait.)

So what I like about Henry is this: He’s passionate. He’s honest. He’s knowledgeable. He’s a homer without embarrassment. He’s the kind of eater every city needs.

After my quasi-take down of Henry’s declaration that D.C. is a great food city, he came back strong with a longer essay better stating his case. I hate to disappoint anyone, but I don’t feel like ramping up this argument with another rebuttal.

Read More “The Atlantic’s Henry Counters: D.C. Is Indeed a Great Food City” »

You can probably count the number of full-time food writers in this area on two hands (with an unsocked foot available for unpaid interns). Many of us have the most wholesome of names: Tom, Jane, Todd, Joe, Ann, Zzzzzzz.  But one name that doesn’t get mentioned as often as it should is Northern Virginia Magazine’s Warren Rojas, a veteran reporter who has made a smooth transition into food writing by covering the gustatory scene in NoVa.

Along with his reviews, his Tweets, and his weekly chat, Rojas now adds a daily blog, Gut Check, which launched today. He will share writings duties on the blog with an intern. At this point, I think you have to call Rojas the unquestioned authority on Northern Virginia eats.

So what will Gut Check cover? E-mails Rojas in response:

Read More “There’s a New Food Blog in Town: NoVa Mag’s Gut Check” »