TypePad Featured Blogs

the barefoot kitchen witch

Hungry? Then step right into the pages of the barefoot kitchen witch, a blog that will bake, baste, braise and beat its way to your heart (and stomach). Packed with videos, pictures, and recipes for virtually everything you can put on a table, the site is filled with comfort food, breakfasts, desserts, and more. Too many to name here, but some of the more recent highlights include a hole in one cake, salmon cakes, and herb batter bread. Simple instructions and lots of clear, beautiful shots make the items even more tempting, and the recipe rollcall on the sidebar will offer additional inspiration, such as Breads, Cookies, Stews, Fish, Fowl, and Meats (among many, many others). Recommended cookbooks, blogs, and cooking sites add a tasty touch to this filling online kitchen.

Melissa Makes Bread

Caution: the following blog may be hazardous to your waistline! A “multimedia blog devoted to home bread making, pastry, and all things dessert”, Melissa Makes Bread, is the creative outlet of a chemical engineer. This unusual mix of talents began in the author’s school days, where she studied organic chemistry and “the heat transfer in a mug of hot cocoa…and the molecular units that form gluten in dough”. This unlike journey continued in France where her love of patisseries and boulangeries became ingrained; now she’s making breads and pastries in the United States, and you can taste the results in her recipes for bread pudding, plum tarts, and “no knead” bread. Lots of things to make and bake here; recipes are included for most of them and video demonstrations show how to prepare still others. The site has a lot of resources for the home baker too, including cookbooks, links to purveyors of fine ingredients, sites containing top of the line supplies, and more. Dig in!

A Wine Story

Marisa D’Vari knows her wine – an expertise due in part to her having hosted the cable TV show, A Taste of Luxury, which featured celebrity chefs and wine makers from around the world. Today, Marisa’s views, opinions, and talents can be observed in her blog, A Wine Story. In these pages, you’ll experience culinary delights and sample some of the world’s best wines, as her journeys through Bordeaux and Languedoc will attest (don't despair Americans, there's a positive review of an American wine from an unexpected source too). In a unique post, Marisa has the chance to sample the “same” wines and views that were likely enjoyed by Thomas Jefferson over 200 years ago. Naturally, the grape is the featured subject here and in addition to reviews on the complexities and nuances of both popular and little known wines, Marisa’s knowledge and experience powers her observations on such diverse topics as Wine Etiquette and Psychology. Related blogs, restaurant reviews, video, and a fun “wine Tarot reading” round out what is one of the more robust, full-bodied sites we’ve sampled in a while.

Ideas in Food

Put the cookbook away! Creativity in the kitchen starts with improvisation and experimentation, the keywords of Ideas in Food, from husband and wife chefs Aki Kamozawa and H. Alexander Talbot. Deeply committed to using organic and artisanal food products, the team is constantly experimenting with new techniques and ingredients to provide innovative food, clear flavors, and simple, beautiful presentations. Their ideas range from unexpected uses of Tarragon and Screwpine to flavor food and drink, to a taste of Pistachio Brittle, to a new take on an old favorite. This is a site that encourages new approaches in cooking and video presentations combined with simple instructions make the meals easy to prepare. There are lots of Categories here (and not just for food: Preparation, Delivery, and Approach among others, are covered); recommended blogs, books, and equipment round out your culinary excursions. This is not your mom’s kitchen, but we think you’ll find room for it.

Soup Spoon

Food, glorious food! And in the pages of Soup Spoon, you’ll encounter morsels so tempting, you can almost taste them. The author, “a cheerful cook with a savvy seasonal palate” entices readers with thoughts and recipes such as French Lentil Salad, a Balsamic-Glazed Chicken dinner, and Petite Cornbread Muffins just to name a few (there’s a convenient Recipe Search if you’d like to get right to work). Comfort food? Most definitely – and what makes the blog such fun reading is the author’s genuine love and enthusiasm for her cooking. Just like her recipes, she’ll throw in a little of this and a little of that in her writing, making the blog a “kitchen conversation” that’s just as enjoyable as the food she makes.

Boots in the Oven

Funny thing about traveling – you get hungry! And that gives you the opportunity to explore different cuisines, regions, wines – and if you’re like Girlie and Husbear, the chance to host Boots In The Oven, a delightful blog that marries two of their passions: roaming the world and sampling its delights. Right now, they live in Austin, Texas, which gives them a seat at the center of Southern cooking (amid other surprises); they also spent time in Italy tasting their way through the “Boot”, and Egypt. Closer to home, there’s a stop in D.C. and a stop for Spanish. Part travelogue, part foodie, and all fun, Girlie’s posts and pictures (and suggested food blog reads) will have you coming by for seconds

Noodle Pie

Food for the stomach, food for the mind…that’s the theme of Noodle Pie and its posts on food, journalism, and media. Written by an ex-Vietnam resident (currently living in France), the blog forms a tasty mix of recipes, observation, and opinion, as you’ll see in his thoughts on the perfect place to eat, social media, even criticism (follow the links here to read about cheese sandwich day – it’s a riot!) One of the primary subjects is the exotic, flavorful world of Vietnamese cuisine and you’ll find plenty of posts, photos, and videos on it (links within the posts will give you more writings on the subject at hand). Insightful, informative, and often funny, here’s a blog that will have you going for seconds!

Love Apple Farm

You are what you eat – and to Cynthia Sandberg, owner of San Francisco Bay Area Love Apple Farm (and author of the similarly-named blog), that’s biodynamically grown tomatoes and other veggies. What’s biodynamic agriculture? It’s organic farming that balances soil, plants, and animals through fermented herbal and mineral applications, the use of the astronomical calendar to determine harvesting and planting times and more. Result? Some of the best tasting, healthiest produce grown in the Bay Area (particularly tomatoes) – which is why Love Apple Farm is the exclusive kitchen garden to world-renowned Manresa Restaurant in Los Gatos, California. Cynthia’s informative, engaging posts will be of interest to anyone who grows things (whether it’s on a farm, in a garden, or a flower box). Subjects range from holistic approaches to bed preparation, composting, and watering. The blog is rich in links to books, equipment, seeds, and more – everything to start you on the road to healthier eating. And if you’re wondering what a Love Apple is – you’ll get your answer the minute you bite into one of Cynthia’s tomatoes! (Yes, she sells them!)

Farella Wine and Vine

Located north of San Francisco, Napa Valley, California, is perhaps the country's premiere region for wine making. Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, red or white, you name it, it's probably produced here, as Farella Wine and Vine will tell you. The daily musings of a grape grower, winemaker, nature lover, and father who has been running a winery for over 20 years, this blog offers not so much recommendations as a behind the scenes glimpse into just what goes into that bottle you brought home from the store. Filled with live video, photos, and music to highlight posts on producing cabernet, the all-important harvesting of the grapes (and the crucial decisions that must be made every step of the way, and life in Napa (also a top tourist destination and an easy day trip for those visiting San Francisco). Lots of other topics too, with galleries filled with photos of the region, the vineyard, and family, this is a full-bodied blog that will serve you well.

The Cork Dork

Let’s toast 2007 with a taste of the grape – and whether your taste runs to Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, or Champagne, you’ll find it discussed in The Cork Dork. An oenophile’s delight, the blog samples and discusses brands both popular and little known (to this editor, at least)! Wine not to your taste? Never fear, the author (in real life, a corporate citizen who loves wine and food) posts reviews on beer and cocktails too. Quick tip: Check the Category section for notes on restaurants and travel (to wineries, for example). Here’s a rich, inviting resource for everyone who lives the red and white (and if there’s a blue, you’ll find it here)!

Seven Fishes

This time of year naturally lends itself to reflection, family, and tradition…and in The Seven Fishes blog; you’ll encounter everything related to Christmas…with an Italian twist (no, you don't have to be Italian to appreciate it)! Inspired by the story of an Italian American family preparing for a traditional Christmas Eve seafood feast, this blog offers observations on Old World celebrations with a New World flavor. For anyone with an appetite, there are tasty posts on food, food, and more food (with lots of yummy pictures). You can also regale yourself with snippets of Italian news, traditions, and culture, all highlighted with video clips and photos. As you settle in to your own traditional Christmas Eve, take a moment to see how others spend the holiday, and wish yourself a Buon Natale!

The Passionate Cook

“Tis the season – to eat! And here’s a tasty little blog that will whet your appetite for all things culinary. The Passionate Cook serves up recipes, tips, reviews, and more that chefs of all levels will love to taste. In addition to the main foodie posts, such as the one on a certain guilty pleasure, the blog is very user-friendly. Check the sidebars for a recipe index for food groups (such as bread, desserts, and barbeques) that are placed into neatly organized categories, read favorite food blogs from around the world and check out the author’s recommended cookbooks. Back to the food: start with spicy pear chutney, bite into some figs and finish up with a Bostini Cream Pie. This is obviously a labor of love from someone who knows and loves food, and there’s lots more to see (and smell and taste), so pull up a chair and dig in – you’ll keep coming back for more!

In Praise of Sardines

Did the name get your attention? So will the contents of In Praise of Sardines, Brett Emerson’s blog on the “less well-known ingredients, restaurants, farmers, and artisans”. Brett is a San Francisco-based chef planning to open his own restaurant; he also writes about all things gastronomic, including the art of frying an egg, the least popular recipe ever  (and how it’s actually quite good!) and of course his thoughts on opening and running a small restaurant. San Francisco residents (and visitors) will want to take a look at Brett’s Bay Area Shortlist for recommendations on (but not limited to) the best small plates, Italian, and for splurging. Brett has an engaging writing style (and knows his subjects well) so snack on his stuff today!

Cook Sister!

A koeksuster is a traditional South African pastry best related to the sweet fried goodness of the classic American doughnut. This is just one of many intriguing food discoveries Jeanne introduces us to in her delectable blog, Cook Sister!. A passionate native South African turned London lawyer, Cook Sister offers such eclectic recipes as Broad Bean Crostini or Chicken Liver in Sherry Sauce. Adventure to cities across the globe to indulge in local cuisine and tradition lead by this true international aficionado. But remember, no journey is complete without a toast to life with a refreshing Kir Royale cocktail. Cheers!

Ms Glaze’s Pommes d’ Amour

Ever wondered how to skin a rabbit or where French chefs get their produce?  This San Francisco native turned culinary diva shares her adventures and recipes as a female chef at a three star Parisian restaurant in her delicious blog, Ms Glaze. Read about her triumphs and failures as a chef in the brutal San Francisco restaurant industry and later at the prestigious Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris where she faced the overwhelming challenges of traditional French pastries. Not keen on following recipes?  Then tune into her array of YouTube how-to videos and get the real time skinny on everything from puff pastry to BBQ scallops. Bon Appetite!

 

EatingAsia

“EatingAsia is a labor of love,” write Robyn Eckhardt and David Hagerman, the culinary travelers behind this deliciously informative blog. The duo have lived intermittently in Asia for 11 years, and whether they’re munching putu (steamed rice cakes) in Malaysia, sambal (a chile-based condiment) in Indonesia, or bun cua (rice noodles and crab soup) in Vietnam, Robyn’s evocative descriptions and David’s crisp and abundant photographs may provide the next best experience to actually stuffing yourself silly. In fact, we defy anyone with functioning tastebuds to peruse these posts without developing an irrational impulse to at least sniff their monitor. Go ahead, try it.

My Wine Education

Wine doesn’t have to be complicated, no matter what the snobby sommelier at that snooty high-end restaurant implied. Enjoying a good wine is part art, part science, and all fun. In My Wine Education, join Michelle and Kevin as they meander down the grape-strewn path to find the best wines in the Cincinnati area. Discover events, wine tastings, and shops, with some beer and spirits shout-outs provided by Kevin. Michelle also shares information that proves useful for those wine lovers outside of the Cincinnati area (including a cautionary tale about buying wine off Craigslist. Yikes!). This is a wine blog with a nose for educating the reader as much as it is a record of good food, good wine, and good times.    

The Perfect Pantry

What does the perfect pantry hold? We're guessing it's not instant stuffing and a circa-1986 can of sliced olives. On her blog, The Perfect Pantry, professional food writer Lydia Walshin schools the cooking mortals of the world on staples we should have on hand to make spontaneous (but still delicious) meals. Insisting the perfect pantry is "as essential as good pans and sharp knives," (wait... knives are supposed to be sharp?) she takes us through a wondrous world of condiments, spices, and freezer must-haves, with plenty of recipes to put those staples to work. Now, what do we do with that can of sliced olives?

Life Begins at 30

If you are what you eat, then we'll just describe Jennifer Maiser as fresh. Her passion for local, fresh eats suffuses every post of her Life Begins at 30 blog. Whether extolling the whole foods writer and advocate Michael Pollan, highlighting the perils of relying solely on organic certification in choosing “farm-friendly” edibles, or simply laying down 10 reasons to eat local food, Jennifer ladles out heaping helpings of useful information for anyone who thinks twice about what they're ingesting. Other categories you might want to sample: Around San Francisco, Farmers Markets, On Dining In, and On Dining Out. Bon appetit!

Bad Home Cooking

At first glance Bad Home Cooking appears to be a hybrid mommy-food blog. Not so! This is actually the state-of-the-art procrastinating tool for best-selling parenting author Julie Tilsner. Contributing writer to Parenting and American Baby magazines, Julie lets us inside her kitchen while she cooks everything from chicken soup to almendrados. She reads cookbooks for fun, teaches us how to avoid bread and pasta for a week and live to tell about it, and sets a good example for all of us un-schooled cooks in the kitchen by patting herself on the back when she succeeds at the recipe in front of her. Almost as good as the Sunday morning comics, you'll enjoy Julie's humor at her attempts with everyday meals. Looking for more serious foodies? She's got your back with her delicious list of many award-winning food blogs.

New York Girl Eats World

Travel writer Nicole Cotroneo devours the globe while on assignment for The New York Times, globerati.com, and The Washington Post. New York Girl Eats World documents her adventures at home and abroad food first. She explains, "…most people turn first to food as a way of acquainting me with their culture, offering it with a pride and sincerity that transforms it into something more than sustenance. I think, true love." Travel with Nicole to the Amalfi Coast where she finds her "One Love," or peer over her shoulder in her own kitchen as she experiments with purple cauliflower. The posts are filled with colorful pictures, humorous essays and even a featured mouth-watering recipe column from J. Fortune, chef to international celebrities and politicians. Nicole has a way with words that make you want to meet her in Spain for tapas and wine. Bon appetit!

The T-Cozy

There's something relaxing and civilized about sitting down to enjoy an afternoon cup of tea. The T-Cozy, a blog run by the owners of the T-Party Antiques and Tea Room in Connecticut, brings you news about all things tea as well as the inside scoop on running a shop. Filled with tantalizing tidbits including how to make the perfect tea sandwich and an analysis of the best teapot, it makes you feel warm and cozy just reading it (not to mention hungry). Don’t forget to take a look at their sister blog, Kitsch Encounter, where you can find sweet, vintage items for sale. If you appreciate the tradition of teatime, this blog is just your cup of tea.

NYBarfly

More fun to read than Page Six, NYBarfly is a laugh-out-loud blog about drinking in New York. This blog is what you'd get if Perez Hilton joined Charles Bukowski on a bar crawl. Dominant, deliberate, and drunk, there is a random mix of gossip and bar reviews that read more like personal diary entries than some stuffy bar guide. We love that they make up drinks for their readers' entertainment and enjoy their love/hate relationship with holidays. "New York City is built on a river of alcohol. Around a bend in that river hides the perfect, crystal-clear Martini," they say. Agreed. But reader beware, this blog is not for the faint of heart. NYBarfly contains nudity, violence, sexual content and all the other good stuff that would make the author of the original Barfly proud.

I Love Nacho Cheese

Who doesn't love nachos? Seriously. Corn chips covered in melted cheese (or a cheese-like substance), they're the perfect nosh for Friday nights in front of the TV or hanging out with friends. At I Love Nacho Cheese, Joey Mack celebrates the melty orange snack food in all its gooey glory. Didn't think there was much to say about nacho cheese? Think again. Taste tests, recipes (including the official I Love Nacho Cheese recipe), and nacho news (you read that right. News about nachos) are all in here. Did you know, for instance, the first known usage of the word “nacho”  was in a 1949 book, A Taste of Texas? Or that the number one craving for pregnant women is nacho cheese? We didn’t either. I Love Nacho Cheese came along just in time.

Fermentation

Tom Wark is a communications specialist in the wine industry, providing strategy for wineries and wine-related firms. So it's no surprise that Tom is passionate about the wine world. But it's the fact that he's an obsessed media junkie that makes him a vintage blogger. Fermentation is a must-read for anyone in the wine business. This is not the place to go if you're looking for someone to tell you what bottle of red you should serve at your dinner party Friday night, but perusing any of 130+ "Wine Blogs You Need To Read" in the right nav bar might give you some ideas. Tom makes good use of his categories. Those interested in the business side of the wine world can go directly to Wine Business and Public Relations and Wine, while those interested in sipping this blog can get a more digestible range of topics from 10 Things and Wine Education. Tom has 17 years of experience under his belt and has been blogging on Fermentation since 2004. Read the whole thing and you could train a sommelier afterward -- or start your own label.

Brandon Eats

Not all epicurean bloggers are from NYC and San Francisco. Brandon Eats is a long-standing blog from a foodie in Richmond, Virginia. Nominated for the 2006 Best Food Blog award for writing, Brandon's talent shines through both in her blog (yes, Brandon is a she) and her writing for Richmond's Style Weekly. She's as sophisticated cooking spaghetti and meatballs for her kids as she is reviewing the palate-pleasing haunts of smart Richmonders. The sidebars are a virtual library of resources for foodies ranging from newspaper food sections to the be-all end-all of food blogrolls, and recommended reading to boot. Roll up your sleeves and dig in to two years of tasty recipes, delicious photos, and an education in the finer side of the society's new restaurant ecosystem -- cutting-edge chefs and the eaters who adore them.

Hedonia

Hedonia is either the food blog of an exceptional person or the personal blog of an exceptional foodie, we're not sure. But instead of worrying about categories, let's just eat! Follow writer Sean Timberlake as he traipses through the restaurants, markets, and food-related emporia of San Francisco. If you can tear yourself away from Sean's mouth-wateringly detailed posts on hearty home-cooked dishes, you'll also find hundreds of categories worth of entries -- from accessories (home of the Popener) all the way down to wine. In fact, Sean seems to accomplish more in a day than most of us could in a week, and judging by the depth and breadth of Hedonia's wonderful content, he gets more cooked in a year than most of us do in a lifetime. So whether you're looking for culinary tips for your own kitchen or just want to live vicariously through Sean's, a trip to Hedonia is a must.

The Tea Scoop

There's a big wide world of tea out there, and The Tea Scoop brings it to you on a daily basis. Filled to the brim with tea tidbits, articles and information, this blog follows one tea connoisseur's journey to brewed bliss, starting with her first tea party at five years old. From health benefits to product reviews to resources, the humble tea leaf is celebrated in all its aromatic glory. Did you know, for instance, that the combination of tea and chocolate can be healthy for your heart? Or that you can cook up some tasty recipes using tea? Or that some teas bloom into glorious flowers when steeped? Neither did we. But now we have the scoop, and so do you.

The Budget Wino

The Budget Wino is a blog about inexpensive wine. Not "cheap" wine, thank you, but wine that just happens to cost no more than $10 per bottle. Dorian, your humble wine critic, is just that -- unassuming -- he wants to present reviews that talk about wines in terms that the layman can understand. He figures that many buyers simply want to a wine that they can appreciate; they don't really have any interest in learning the specialized vocabulary of the wine connoisseur. He's been diligently reviewing wines from the Napa Valley and beyond for the past six months or so. So, if your favorite wines come from the aisles of your local grocery and you find that your tastes are aligned with the wino's, you can't beat Dorian's simple thee-point rating system. Let the bargains flow!

Dover Canyon Winery

Dover Canyon is an "artisanal microwinery" located along California's Central Coast. Mary Baker and Dan Panico are at the helm of this labor of love, which you can read all about at their lively Dover Canyon Winery blog. The pair gave up their jobs at bigger wineries, lured by the call of smaller, handcrafted releases (and the accompanying smaller budget). After ten years on their own, they seem to be going stronger than ever, garnering great reviews for their Zinfandels and their Syrah blends, while their wine club gets close to needing a waiting list. Check out the blog for an inside peek into the life of an artisanal microvintner. Follow along as cows are shooed from the vineyard, wine (and blog) awards are earned, and customers are individually celebrated.

Rudd Sound Bites

Yale's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity is dedicated to making a real change in the world's diet. Rudd Sound Bites is their community blog that sheds some overdue light on this serious epidemic. It's not a preachy diet blog.  Rather, Rudd faculty members are connecting media topics and governmental policy with everyday life. They are addressing the prevention of obesity and battling weight stigma head on. From discussing programs like the Calorie Restriction diet to raising the topic of a junk food tax, Rudd Sound Bites points to news and debates around the world, and links to other valuable resources and articles. Don’t let the word policy scare you off, the team posts about weight issues in film, fast food, and the work place, too.

Starbucks Gossip

We recommend a triple-shot of Jim Romenesko every morning, and here's the best way to get it: Visit Starbucks Gossip, a "coffee confidential" from the man behind the Obscure Store & Reading Room as well as an eponymous filter blog about the Media. With daily dispatches from the hyper-caffeinated codependency between Frappucino-makers and Frappucino-drinkers, Starbucks Gossip is just what you'd expect from this long-time Web stand-out -- excellent. It was recently named to Rex Sorgatz's "Best Blogs of 2006 You (Maybe) Aren't Reading" (which also lists five other TypePad sites) and we think Sorgatz has zeroed right in on Romenesko's wonderfully simple  angle -- to offer a place for both employees and customers to vent, vet ideas, and kvetch about the little Seattle coffee-bean company that now blankets the globe with more than 7,000 outlets. 

Restaurant Girl

Restaurant Girl is here to guide you through the New York City dining landscape, from Food Trends to Gourmet Gossip. "Think of me as your culinary concierge, always here to guide you to the hottest menus in town & take you to the best restaurant for every occassion." From her home in the Big Apple, she eats, drinks, and delivers in-depth write-ups of new local restaurants that read like they're straight out of a hip, travel guide. No wonder, this experienced foodie also writes for Time Out magazine. We love that she gives us both "Don't Miss" dishes as well as "Don't Bother" dishes, and we're crossing our fingers she gets hit up for a television deal. Move over Rachael Ray, there's a new food femme in town.

Gastrokid

Foodie dads Hugh Garvey and Matthew Yeomans put on their culinary capes from two separate continents to bring us Gastrokid, a tasty blog that serves recipes and kitchen wisdom for kids. Hugh and Matthew are ordinary working dads (with big byline resumes) that come home to the same question every day -- what to feed the kids? Gastrokid documents their efforts whether they're successfully getting their young'uns to eat brussels sprouts, or they've found the only two things their kid will touch -- beans and rice.  The posts range from Farmer's Market reports to tips on how to get your kids to help in the kitchen, all the while chock-a-block with recipes for other families to duplicate. The Gastrokid crew is setting a terrific example of how to get your kids to eat healthy home cooked meals while having a whole lot of fun.

Rancho Gordo

Napa, California's Rancho Gordo farm produces beautiful beans -- butter beans, marrow beans, runner beans, Anasazi beans, and many other kinds. And proprietor Steve Sando knows exactly what to do with them. Not only does he sell his gorgeous array of heirloom legumes (and corn and chiles and herbs) at fine stores, farmers markets, and online, but he also cooks with them at home. What else would you expect from a bean baron? Of course, you're welcome to visit Steve's "New World Kitchen" via the Rancho Gordo blog to see what he's cooking up. It might be delicious enchiladas cobbled together from leftovers. It might be a batch of hand-ground tomatilla salsa. It might be a video tutorial detailing the basics of bean cookery -- required viewing for anyone who has yet to internalize the mantra "Soak the beans!"

The World is a Kitchen

It's no secret that we love authors who use TypePad -- our bookstore is full of published writers who blog on the service. And while many use their blogs to carry on conversations with their readers from book to book, some enterprising authors create individual blogs for each new release. (You get unlimited blogs at our Pro level.) Such is the case with The World is a Kitchen, a new book that collects culinary adventures from around the globe, edited by Michele Jordan and Susan Brady. The compilation takes readers into kitchens from the Americas to Africa to Asia, with a few extra nibbles in Europe. The blog, on the other hand, is a feast of information from and about the book -- sample chapters, contributor bios, reviews, upcoming readings, culinary tours and classes, and links to prominent food/travel blogs. Simple, yet sumptuous, this smartly designed book blog is a great example of how sharing -- whether its food in a foreign land, or bites from a published book -- can make strangers into friends.

Michael Ruhlman

Michael Ruhlman is the author of several great books about chefs, food preparation, and the pursuit of culinary excellence, including The Soul of a Chef, Charcuterie, and, most recently, The Reach of a Chef. A few months ago, when Ruhlman began a guest-blogging stint at Meg Hourihan's excellent food blog, Megnut, we were excited by the possibility that the author would eventually start a blog of his own. Happily, our appetite for more missives from the culinary world was quickly satisfied by the appearance of Ruhlman's TypePad blog -- a must-add to the daily reading of any self-respecting foodie. Ruhlman isn't a hands-on food blogger, in the traditional sense, but his access and insights into the highest levels of food preparation and artistry are simultaneously enviable and enlightening.

Veronica's Test Kitchen

Veronica's Test Kitchen is a relatively new food blog, but Veronica's finished meals show that she's anything but new to cooking. Following the time-tested recipe for a great food blog -- attempt delicious dishes from classic and contemporary chefs, detail your trials and tribulations, and photograph the mouth-watering results -- Veronica is well on her way to joining the ranks of the other popular food bloggers. We particularly enjoyed reading about her brownie and other dessert recipes. (We would've enjoyed tasting them even more!) One of the great things about Veronica's blog, as the title suggests, is that she's not afraid to try things, even if success if far from certain. Veronica is committed to the idea of running a "test kitchen" and finding out what tastes best after all is said and done.

Sparky Brand

Here's a recipe: Take yummy fruit flavors like pomegranate and berry, add some Omega-3 for its healthy reputation, package it in brightly colored carton, and sprinkle in a healthy dose of dishy, London fashion week gossip. Sound like something tasty? If so, check out Sparky Brand. They're a new juice trying to make a splash in the U.K., most recently unveiling their second flavor (mixed berries) at London's celebrity-studded Fall fashion soirees. It's rare that you find a health drink blog that includes entries as scintillating as this, but when you hire shoe-designer / "supermodel" / bon vivant Charlotte Dellal as a guest blogger, anything can happen. Visit the company's main site and you'll get a taste of the health benefits that the drink delivers as well as an eyeful of Sparky Brand aficionado Elle MacPherson.

The Food Section

If you think cooking the perfect Thanksgiving turkey is hard to do, try making a food blog that stands above the rest. Named "the consummate gastronomic blog," by Gourmet Magazine, "Best Food Blog" in the 2004 Food Blog Awards, and noted by Bon Appetit, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post, and New York Daily News, Josh Friedland's The Food Section has recently celebrated its third anniversary and is still sizzling. The Appetizers section on the right is a basketful of foodie news, the Shopping List is a sidebar of products that Friedland recommends, The Agenda is a weekly list of events going on in and around the Food & Wine scene in New York, and you can search the site or use the category bar at the top to tempt your taste buds with a variety of dining experiences, movable feasts, and envy-worthy meetups with other famed food bloggers. While most people know that passion is one of the main ingredients to a successful blog, Friedland is testament that good writing and industry participation are essential parts of the recipe, too. Friedland's writing has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, and he's currently writing for The Grinder, part of the long-awaited new website from Chow.

Innocent Drinks

Today's featured TypePad blog offers the daily ruminations of the creators of Innocent Drinks, a small business success story worth telling your grandkids about. Once upon a time, Innocent Drinks was merely a good idea. Then it became fresh natural smoothies sold at a music festival. After polling customers and asking them whether or not they should quit their jobs to dedicate themselves to smoothies, the overhwelming response led the IDers to become full-time beverage makers. Based in London at the appropriately named Fruit Towers, this ethically responsible team of juice lovers has widened their business to span France, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Innocent Drinks is as informative a company blog as you're likely to find. Sure they talk about their drinks and their drinkers, but they're also kind enough to share what they've learned about being green and their take on good business. Their whimsical nature and affection for the the healthier, more socially responsible side of a life is both delightful and contagious. Here's hoping that Innocent Drinks makes it stateside as soon as possible, so we don't have to travel to Europe just to try one.

Ha Ha Ha!

Ha Ha Ha! is the blog of Hamakua Springs Country Farms, a farm on the north coast of Hawaii's Big Island. Specializing in sustainably farmed tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, and bananas, Hamakua Springs is first and foremost a family affair. Richard Ha is the head of the family, but he defers to the whole group, joking that everyone gets a vote, but he only gets 3/4 of a vote. The blog details the individual employees, awards, travel, the farm's products, the challenges of sustainable farming, and personal challenges as well (good luck with the weight loss, Richard!). If the idea of working on a family-owned, modern farm in a truly gorgeous setting isn't enough to whet your appetite, then perhaps we need to mention that Hamakua Springs works closely with noted Hawaiian chef, Alan Wong. We can't imagine anything much more sublime that farm-fresh produce in the hands of a culinary superstar, enjoyed on a Hawaiian island paradise.

The Perfect Pantry

Professional food writer Lydia Walshin's Perfect Pantry includes ingredients that you probably have in your very own kitchen -- olives, couscous, chili powder -- and some that you probably don't -- panko breadcrumbs, fish sauce, powdered buttermilk. It's great to see a food blog that gets down to basics, focusing on individual components and how they fit into a cook's repertoire. Lydia describes her motivation for starting her blog: "When I first set about creating a pantry checklist for Ninecooks' cooking groups, I realized I had to justify every item on the list, which made me think about why it's in my pantry, and how to use it. And that's what this blog shares, one condiment, one spice, and one package of rice noodles at a time." The long-form posts include photos, recipes, and extensive background information on each ingredient, replete with delicious links.

Foodite

Gerald San Jose, the founder and lead writer of Foodite, is a Level 3 student at the French Culinary Institute in New York. He and his fellow writers sling their laptops through the streets of New York to bring us the freshest scoop on the food world -- online and in the most talked about restaurants. Find out what you must put in your basket at the market, get a recap of the Season Finale of Hell's Kitchen, or grab a NYC restaurant recommendation before making your weekend reservations. What separates Foodite from the masses of other food blogs, is their grasp on the rest of the foodosphere. Their juicy del.icio.us links act as the AP of the food world, while Gerald acts as our tipless server trying dishes and retaurants that other food forums are buzzing about. But don't think it's all fun and games. Foodite has a whole section of their site dedicated to teaching us about Molecular Gastronomy, and a sidebar of food books you'll want to have stacking up on your own kitchen counter. If you want to sample what Gerald is learning at school, stop by L'Ecole for a prix-fixe meal.

The Scotch Blog

A great American once said, "I love Scotch. Scotchy, Scotch, Scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly..." Ah, so true. And if you share that sentinment, as so many of us do, The Scotch Blog is ready to quench your thirst. Providing in-depth commentary for serious whisky connoisseurs, Kevin Erskine, author of The Instant Expert's Guide to Single Malt Scotch, offers an incredibly diverse menu of subjects  --  from Scotch history to distillery tours to unfiltered industry rumors. He even takes questions from readers. Browse the archives for more smart Scotch content than you can shake an empty bottle of 18-year-old Laphroaig at.

Coffee & Conservation

This blog is a real eye-opener. Coffee and Conservation covers the interaction between the environment and America's favorite drink. Did you know that coffee is a huge U.S. import, second only to oil? This blog offers information on how and why to integrate sustainable, Fair Trade coffee into your lifestyle, including reviews, summaries of ecological research, and commentary on the practices of small cafes and corporate coffee retailers. Coffee and Conservation's level of detail is really impressive, as is the author's dedication to educating people about crucial need for biodiversity and the disturbing destruction of bird habitats by unsustainable coffee farming. So, the next time your sitting at you're desk with a cup of joe, browse this blog and learn what you can do to minimize your habit's impact on the environment.

Epi-Log

Tanya Wenman Steel's new food blog has a high-profile home: Epicurious. Yep, that's right, dropped right into a boiling pot of great recipes, feature articles and general foodie excellence, the Epicurious Editor's Food Blog is the newest item on an amazing menu of gourmet content. It now sits side-by-side with the long-running Daily Dish, a weekday treat of foodie news from around the globe. The Epi-Log is a little more behind the scenes, a little more personal. In fact, Tanya recently took a vacation and turned the reigns over to a guest editor (food-blogging powerhouse, Meg Hourihan). Hopefully as the "overcaffeinated editor" hits her stride, we can expect more exciting announcements, off-kilter food finds, and kitchen-table musings.

I Heart Farms

Those who've only seen San Francisco in movies, or on a short vacation wouldn’t necessarily connect the Bay Area with farming. But Tana Butler has found a love for small farms and those that devote their lives to them. I Heart Farms introduces you to the people and the landscape behind the produce in farmers markets and local Bay Area restaurants. See a world you might not have thought about before via photo albums of farms, farmers she's met, and locally grown farm food. If you are interested in finding out what types of chefs and restaurants support sustainable agriculture, check out her