Magazines take over the family room

           I have never noticed the pile of magazines hanging out in a basket adjacent to the couch. A short stack of newspapers obscure the bounty lying beneath them. Upon further investigation, I found several issues of Self, Food & Wine, Restaurant Business, Stricly Food for Thought, and a single issue of Cosmopolitan. I'm curious as to why my mother decided to purchase just this issue of Cosmo, but the answer scares me too much to ask. The handful of Self caught my eye, but the pile of Food & Wine piqued my interest most.

          I haven't stopped drooling thanks to the Food & Wine magazine covers. Pictures of gourmet dishes include smoky salmon, prime rib roast, glazed pork, and grilled chicken. I think the most interesting thing about this magazine is that each issue focuses on one topic. The September edition is the travel issue. The cover features Asian chicken paired with a California wine and a headline for recipes from around the world. The October issue is all about great wine from France, California, and Spain as well as California wineries the reader should visit. November is all about Thanksgiving, but includes an extra cover devoted to special offers for subscribers. The best way to end the calendar year is with an issue of the best holiday recipes, featuring a mouthwatering prime rib roast on the cover. I'm starting to drool again. To kick off the new year, and subsequently make me hungry, the January issue is all about the reader. Cover stories include the most requested recipes, favorite wines, best cooking classes, and America's top food city. I don't know where the February issue has gone, but the March copy includes an order card for the Food & Wine annual cookbook that is free for subscribers.

I hope the stack of Food & Wine continues to grow. After perusing the pages, I think I have found a new favorite magazine. I love to cook almost as much as I love to eat. I have two main interests in life, sports and food. My dad is generous enough to save his copies of Sports Illustrated to satisfy my sports appetite, and now this discovery will cover my love for food. And in a year when I am legal, I can add wine to my list of interests, making Food & Wine that much more relevant to my life.