Good Quote: Ruth Reichl on Cooking vs. Shopping

We just listened to a fabulous (and rather heart-breaking!) interview with Ruth Reichl on NPR's Fresh Air.

• Listen to the interview here: Ruth Reichl: A New Book And The End Of 'Gourmet' at Fresh Air/NPR

The interview was really worth listening to (not least because it cleared up our misconceptions on how to pronounce Reichl's surname). She talked about the sudden, unexpected end to her career at Gourmet, and while she was unfailingly gracious, it was clear that this is still a very painful topic for her. She mentions how differently she would have done the last issue, the November issue, if she had indeed known it would be Gourmet's last.

She also talked about her new memoir of her mother, which treats her mother rather more sympathetically than her earlier books.

But after that, near the end, was the part that really made us prick up our ears, and also feel even more sad about Gourmet's end. Reichl talked about her real love of quick home cooking, and of meals you can put on the table in just a half hour or less. She shared a few of her own favorite recipes, which can be accessed at the NPR story page. But the thing that really grabbed us was this quote, and her assertion that just deciding what to have for dinner, and making a plan and shopping list ahead of time, is really what will help you get dinner on the table fast.

It reinforced our belief that Gourmet, while dealing with many high-end food trends and some weighty political commentary, was still helmed by someone who kept everyday cooks at the heart of things. We love Gourmet's recipes; we make recipes from that magazine more than all our other sources put together, and we already miss it.

Related: Gourmet Magazine Closing

(Image: Melissa Hom/New York Magazine)

I had the opportunity to correspond with Ruth recently --- she is a lovely, gracious person. This was a great interview.

posted by mlleErica on October 27th 2009 at 10:46am
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I could not agree more. It depends on where I am shopping as to how I feel about it. If I am at a farmer's market..the time feels dreamy and inspired..versus picking up "stuff" at Costco. Plus, my least favorite chore is unloading the car and carrying sacks to/from to the house. I don't know why I hate doing this (I'm sure it has to do with going with my mom to the commissary on base and having to lug all those bags into the house as a kid)

posted by prettyinperiwinkle on October 27th 2009 at 1:26pm
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oh and I too..will miss getting my Gourmet. I had no idea she didn't know it was to be the last..sad corporate world we live in isn't it? They forget that people actually love what they do! I wondered about the cover too. But I thought it was intentional and I liked it all the same.

posted by prettyinperiwinkle on October 27th 2009 at 1:29pm
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Very true. When I subscribed to my CSA box, I found the unexpected benefit that it actually makes my life a heck of a lot easier. Instead of thinking "What should I cook?", then shopping for the ingredients, the problem is constrained. It's more like "Ok, I have kale this week. What can I make with kale?" Much faster, less to think about, and it makes me experiment more too.

posted by Tracey at The Thoughtful Table on October 27th 2009 at 2:56pm
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*wipes away single tear*

I can't wait to listen to that interview. I already miss Gourmet, even though I haven't cracked the November issue open yet.

ABreadADay.com

posted by eprewitt on October 27th 2009 at 3:15pm
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i really enjoy what the kitchn has to offer, but isn't the demise of Gourmet due to the popularity of free sites like the kitchn (among many other factors i'm sure)? maybe we, as readers, should provide a bit of dough (to clarify, i mean money) to help out the media that we enjoy?

posted by ahojinl on October 28th 2009 at 12:25am
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Technology killed the Indie bookstore. Just as it is slowly killing the newspaper and publishing industry. Now, media outlets like these have to figure out how to not "give" away what they've been charging for all along. Just a sign of the times. It's time to move forward.. All that said, I still love cracking open a real book not an e book. Still love going to movies and watching them on a big screen.
Still love getting things in the mail..magazines, letters.
But in a pinch, I'll plop in front of the pc and watch an episode I've missed or search for a quick recipe!

posted by prettyinperiwinkle on October 29th 2009 at 1:35pm
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