Foodies woke up yesterday to the prospect of a pair of big new culinary publications headed by two very familiar names: Gwyneth Paltrow and Ruth Reichl. Paltrow, of course, has her hands in a plethora of pots—from music to blogging to the occasional acting gig—but rumour has it that she may be preparing to delve into the food magazine business, backed by the Hearst Corporation.
Keith Kelly, writing in the New York Post, speculates that Paltrow has been meticulously grooming herself for the position for years:
Gwyneth Paltrow has been remaking herself in recent years as a food expert with strong ties to celebrity chef Mario Batali—and now, according to a reliable source, she is trying to expand her empire outside of the Hollywood realm with a magazine project.
Considering Paltrow’s soon-to-be-released cookbook, My Father’s Daughter, and her recent Spanish food adventure alongside Batali, it’s not too far-fetched to imagine a food magazine as her next venture (she does have a kid named Apple, after all). We were under the impression that the golden era of food glossies had come to a close with the shuttering of Gourmet back in 2009, but Paltrow’s celeb cred might just help her pull it off.
As Paltrow moves to the page, Ruth Reichl, the final editor-in-chief of Gourmet, moves to the screen—the computer screen, that is. According to widespread rumours, Reichl will be heading the Gilt Groupe’s food spinoff, Gilt Taste. Reichl has called the future e-magazine “the food magazine of my dream.” We’re very curious to see how it will all take shape, given Gilt’s two-day flash-sale model. (And waiting three to five business days for our once-fresh cut of sushi-grade salmon? Count us out.) It’s uncharted territory for both Reichl and Paltrow, and we’ll be watching to see how the two food lovers fare.
• Paltrow said to bee cooking up a food magazine [New York Post] • 10 Reasons Why a Gwyneth Paltrow Food Magazine Might Actually Work [New York Magazine] • Golden Delicious: Ruth Reichl to Run Gilt Groupe Foodie Site [New York Observer] • Life After Gourmet is Good: A Chat With Ruth Reichl [Bay Area Bites]
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