What Do You Think of the New Bon Appétit?

In late April we wrote about some of the changes coming to Bon Appétit magazine, now that former GQ style editor Adam Rapoport is at the helm. With the release of the second issue since its makeover, we're wondering: what do you think of the new Bon Appétit?

I have to be honest — I wasn't really fan of the magazine when Barbara Fairchild was editor-in-chief. The recipes never seemed to excite me and the trend pieces often felt tired, spotlighting stories I had seen on food blogs six months before. I can probably count on one hand the recipes I tried in two years as a subscriber.

Nor did I especially like last month's issue of Bon Appétit, the first with Rapoport in charge. Like some Kitchn readers, I wondered where the recipes were. I didn't care about the stylish lives of the Missoni family. And basing a whole issue around Italian food felt overly safe and a little boring in the first place.

But the June issue has captured my heart, making me excited for the future of the magazine. Less than a week after getting my copy, I've already made two recipes — strawberry conserve from the Canal House kitchen and some very cool refrigerator pickles which I'll be sharing later this week — and have a couple more bookmarked. The "Summer Cooking Manifesto" feature and its 21 rules about summer eating ("No. 7: No one is going to improve upon the tomato sandwich") may have been written just for me, with its no-frills attitude, interesting-yet-unfussy recipes (bright purple basil simple syrup!), gorgeous photography and modern layout.

With this most recent issue, Bon Appétit seems to be doing what it takes to capture the interest of food blog readers and younger cooks, giving us innovative yet straightforward recipes and ideas that feel fresh.

(And yes, Gwyneth is on the cover. But let's not make that the only thing we talk about.)

What do you think of the new Bon Appétit? Do you like the new issue or does it miss the mark for you?

(Images: Bon Appetit)

Comments (43)

I didn't like the last months, either, but ADORE this month's issue with Gwyneth on the cover. Great recipes, editorial and images all around! Love the content.

I began reading this last night as I settled down for the evening before bed. So far, I am enjoying what I am seeing and have earmarked a couple of recipes. But I've gone on the record as saying even though I love Gwyneth, I'm not a fan of her being on the cover of a food mag.

It's nice to hear someone else mention what they're doing right over there at BA. I too have been a subscriber for about the same time, and while I believe the design was much more beautiful in earlier issues, I feel like the content is just much better. It's accessible and lively, and I feel like I'm actually learning techniques as opposed to just recipes w/one obscure ingredient. Daniel Duane's wine article was articulate and real, and so anti wine snob—not a viewpoint you often hear in food magazines. Very refreshing. And, like you, the Summer Cooking Manifesto had me nodding and bookmarking and trying to coax the NW clouds to float away so I can eat a summer tomato. Thanks for this post!

I'm sorry but my June issue went directly into the trash. I didn't even open it. The content may have been terrific, but the cover expressed such a basic misunderstanding of what I want from a food magazine that I couldn't even look at it. I want good design and amazing food photography. The cover looked like it should have been on Shape.

I considered picking it up at a news stand, but honestly, it was Gwyneth on the cover that turned me off.

The redesign is lovely. I'm a fan.

I LOVE the June issue. I've made a recipe already and have marked about 4 others I want to try. I hope that the cover goes back to being food since that's what this magazine is but I'll continue to read it if the issues stack up like this months.

I strongly dislike the new Bon Appetit. 2 covers in a row with basic pasta??? This month was better, but still not back to where it was. Both months' recipes feel very basic and nothing new. It should be called Cooking 101 and not Bon Appetit.

Ditto, mbhnyc.

The pasta one was a complete turn off. The new one is way better and I have several recipies bookmarked as well. I like the wit in the new version.

I'm so glad to hear there are others who like the June issue as much as I do.

@mbhnyc, @Fondue and others who are turned off by the cover -- it might be worth it to buy it, tear off the cover and take a look through it, just to see if the new content is up your alley.

I recently renewed my subscription for 3 years, got the bill last week and then the new BA issue arrived. I cancelled my subscription. The new editor is so enamored with Italy and movie stars that I think all the issues are going to be about Italy and pasta and non-food celeberties. He needs to go back to GQ. The cover reminded me of People and that may be where BA is headed, just another magazine that is about celeberties, not food. I have been a subscriber for years but no more.

I haven't picked up a BA since I bought one since October. I was returning to the states from living in Africa for 15 months and was so excited to see a real cooking magazine again and I remember liking BA before I left. However when I realized that half the magazine was just ads, not food-related contnet, I haven't bought one since and won't again.

*obviously I meant "content"

I really enjoyed it - especially loved the summer manifesto bit as well! I think the editorial has a revived personality and feels very accessible. Get over the Gwenyth hate and give it a try!

I have been so disappointed in the magazine, especially in light of the demise of Gourmet.
This edition of "BA" looked like the People Magazine of the food world. Save us Ruth Riechl!!!
I am cancelling my subscription.

Not a fan at all. It's been "dumbed down" and celebrity-fied. When I subscribe to a food magazine, I want to read about food and the people who create it - not about celebrities who pretend to be chefs. If they keep going in this direction, I will definitely cancel my subscription.

I haven't received my June issue yet :( The May issue was great; I made several recipes and they were all excellent. Since this is the first year I've subscribed, I cannot comment on the changes but I have enjoyed the issues I've received so far.

I haven't received my June issue yet, so I can't comment on the content. But I'm one of the people who is getting Bon Appetit as a replacement for my Gourmet subscription when they folded that magazine. I was never a huge BA fan, but it wasn't worth the trouble to go after the $20 or whatever I had paid, so it just keeps showing up in the mailbox. It's okay, but no Gourmet, and I doubt I'll renew when it finally runs out unless the next few issues are really fabulous.

I am just about the write a blog post about how I have to eat my words, because I HATED the May issue. June, however, was great in the way of content. Not crazy about the Paltrow thing, although I personally love her--the whole cooking in a tight blue dress editorial felt a little...In Style?

That said, I am really happy it seems to have improved, I hope it stays consistent, and they still need to lay off the crazy text treatments, although June wasn't as bad as May.

haven't received the June issue yet, but i wasn't overly impressed w/ the Italy issue. i've been saying to a co-worker of mine (a fellow foodie) that the photographs have done nothing to make me salivate and want to try any of the recipes in Bon Appetit. uninspiring.

Love the new design compared to the old. Much cleaner!

I liked the old Bon Appetit for what it was but I also really love the sleeker look under Adam Rapoport. I renewed my subscription without any reservations though to be completely honest, I wish they had put anyone other than Gwyneth Paltrow on the cover. Maybe someone in the food industry or one of the recent James Beard award winners but not her.

Totally agree. Wasn't a huge fan of BA for the past couple years which made me sad since I've been a subscriber since 1990.
So, the May issue came and I was totally underwhelmed and uninspired. Yesterday June arrived. Wow. It was refreshing. I enjoyed most of the content although I could have done without several of the Gwenyth "glamour poses", especially the one of her posterior in the tight blue dress, ugh. There were several approachable recipes that I actually want to try. Excited to see what else is in store.

It has become the "People Magazine of Food Magazines". More glitz than quality. June is better than May but not enough for me to keep buying it...I gave it to a neighbor who's a big Gwen fan. We now need a decent "upper-end food mag".

I LOVED the current issue! (The one with Gwenyth on the cover.) Honestly, I didn't get around to even cracking open the Italy issue until after I'd read this month's! I have to say, the Italy issue did not inspire me.

It's also kind of interesting to see that the new design director was a part of the Cookie magazine design team--I feel like a lot of the spreads in the new BA, feel similar in style.

Sounds great but I would never buy a food magazine with a person of (any) person on the cover.

I've never been a BA subscriber, but Groupon in DC has a deal going on right now ($7 for a year subscription http://gr.pn/ks1DTM) so I'm going to give it a try!

The Italy issue felt very masculine to me. Like GQ all up over it. The new fonts and redesign were certainly modern but I echo several others here in saying the content was meh. I was worried about the future. Then I just got the Gwyneth issue. I haven't read it yet but I will say I was really turned off my the cover. First of all, why is the first person (in my memory, I'm sure she's not the first ever) on the cover a celebrity who happens to also cook? Second, pasta with cherry tomatoes two months in a row? Editorial foul. My personal jury is still out. I'm not historically a BA hater, I have found some great recipes in there in the past; BUT, we shall see. If it continues to feel so masculine I will quickly lose any remaining affinity I have.

Ahh, I knew I could count on The Kitchn for some lively debate on this! I can't quite make up my mind, but I really enjoyed reading everyone's comments.
I feel like Paltrow's recipes were things that I make all the time that I don't really need a recipe for, anyone else?

I like the new design - it's cleaner, and some of the content is really enjoyable. I do wish there was some more in-depth content about food, though. It seems a little fluffy. I don't really care to ogle wealthy foreign and/or rich people's lifestyles.

(And Gwyneth, on the cover, instead of food... really!? Gag me! What where they THINKING?)

I love the new format. My favorite food mag by far.

I saw this on the newsstand yesterday and I was turned off by the giant mug of Gwyneth Paltrow. I thought it looked ridiculous.

I loved the Italy issue!! It has been my favorite issue is months, maybe years. Haven't had a chance to look at the June issue yet, but I can't remember a time when I've actually made so many of the recipes in a single issue. I hope things continue in this new vein, though I generally liked BA prior to the switch as well. Gourmet was fine and interesting reading, but I've always made more BA recipes.

I HATED the May issue. It just felt slicked up and devoid of real content. I don't read GQ and I have no desire to have my favorite cooking magazine turn into it. And then when the June issue arrived last night with Gwyneth on the cover, I just about threw it away without even looking. As someone said in an earlier comment, putting a celebrity (who is not, whatever she's trying to pretend right now, any kind of chef) on the cover represents an utter misunderstanding of what most readers come to food magazines looking for. If I wanted slicked up pseudo-cooking, I'd read Instyle or some other crap celebrity magazine. I'll confess, I haven't read the magazine yet because I was so turned off by the cover, so maybe the content will sway me. But Bon Appetit, you can stop sending me reminders asking me why I haven't renewed my subscription -- it's because your new EIC has destroyed everything I liked about your magazine :-(

I used love everything about the old Bon Appetit. I loved the content, COVER PHOTOS (AHEM, go back to how it was! WITH FOOD.), and layout. The new Bon Appetit isn't really doing it for me anymore. Plus I hate that they put Gwyneth on the cover. I used to buy this magazine because there's an appetizing food shot I want to devour. Now, not so much.

dumbed down to the point of inconsequence. a "recipe" for guacamole? really?
been a subscriber for at least 15 years, canceling asap.
GP on the cover was the last straw.

I miss Gourmet, frankly. I read the new BA quite quickly and while I thought there was more of interest than in the last issue, I thought the celebrity stuff was vapid and annoying. If I want to read about celebrities I'll read People. I want to read about food and real food issues, and I want recipes that challenge me to cook better. Like a new restaurant, I'll give them a chance to adjust, but I'm skeptical.

I thought the old BA photos were SUCH a turnoff, and I never once made a recipe in the two years I subscribed. In the past two (new) editions I dog-eared almost every page. I'm totally digging the fresh vibe, and the recipes are for things I want to cook! Keep up the good work.

I think the new BA is refreshing. It feels like it is focusing more on the trend of simple, good food that you share with your friends and family, not recipes that you use to impress others. There were several articles in June about people (non-celebrities) and their special meals that I really enjoyed. The first shot of the Hendersons in their kitchen was a favorite shot - better than any drool worthy dish. For me, cooking is more about sharing good food with good people. Those that say the new BA is like People mag are half right. It is more about the people that cook the food (celebrity, chef, food blogger, or home cook), not just the recipes. And, I find that much more enjoyable to read.

I was livid when they canceled Gourmet and forced my 2-plus year subscription to Bon Appetit. Livid. It looks like they hire photographers off Craigslist for their covers and there is nothing worldly in Bon on any level (Gourmet was both cultural inspiration backed by authenticity and an actual travel guide for me). I have tossed virtually every issue sent to me since without even breaking open the wrapper.

But the Gwyneth Paltrow issue had me reading a bit. If it wasn't already paid for, I would never bother with them every again. Why read about nothing inspiring when I have such fantastic food blogs that open my mind to the world? (read David Lebowitz enough and you get not only great foods but a view into Paris, a combination I sorely miss from Gourmet)

So they have a LONG way of being useful, but since it's in my mailbox I will keep my mind open.

And I will never forgive Condé for ruining Gourmet.

It's terrible. I joined this site just to comment on this topic. I'm glad so many people share my viewpoint. The magazine has become too focused on trends, style, and celebrities and not enough on food. And the layout is like a website! I subscribe to real magazines because I want to read a real magazine. Not everyone has the attention span of a gnat. I have been a subscriber for 11 years, and I canceled my subscription after reading the first new issue. The second I saw the cover featuring Gwyneth on the newsstands, I knew I did not regret my decision. I would also like to point out that I am not "a 50 year old that doesn't like change." I am 30, I am a true foodie, and I feel that the new layout does not give the subject the respect it deserves.
When I received my last "What did we do wrong? Please come back" subscription renewal notice in the mail, I made sure to turn it over, write exactly what they're doing wrong on the back, and mail it in. I encourage you all to do the same. Maybe we'll get our magazine back someday.