A happy recipe for building a diverse community around the dinner table

Editor-in-Chief Jamila Robinson launches her first full concern with a deal with content material and group.

Anna Wintour known as her “an absolute star within the kitchen.”

Nevertheless it is probably not Jamila Robinson’s baking prowess (she loves baking croissants from scratch) that propels her to the highest of the foodie world. Conde Nast’s latest editor-in-chief in good well being And Epicurius Titles are, as Wintour calls them, group builders. Robinson is steadfastly dedicated to constructing and uniting her new group across the issues she loves most — recipes, eating places, and meals tradition.

Recipe for fulfillment

Robinson is a 20-year veteran of the world of meals journalism. She has a robust mixture of journalistic abilities and meals expertise that has undoubtedly taken her to the highest in good well being Header. “I’ve all the time had a job adjoining to meals in a technique or one other,” she says.

Robinson most not too long ago served as assistant managing editor for the meals content material franchise at Philadelphia Inquirer. She additionally labored on meals and life-style content material and techniques at USA At this time And Atlanta Journal-Structure He has held management roles on the James Beard Basis.

“I’ve all the time discovered nice pleasure in the best way writing about meals brings individuals collectively,” Robinson says. “It opens the door to dialog.”

Creating group by dialog – and sausages

Try the quilt of Robinson’s first full concern at present, and you may probably end up speaking about scorching canines — Chicago-style scorching canines, that’s. The meals town has develop into well-known for takes middle stage with a canopy picture and a mouth-watering featurette, together with a High 8 listing (undoubtedly try Superdawg!) for anybody from or touring to the Windy Metropolis.

The characteristic is a part of Good urge for food A brand new part known as “Finest in City,” the journal’s initiative to mix content material round eating and journey — and to spark dialog. Robinson needs her readers to attach over meals and group over shared pursuits; For instance, one of the best scorching canine in Chicago or one of the best pizza in Detroit. “Consuming on the middle offers us a fantastic lens for storytelling,” she says. “And I discover that storytelling is an effective way to encourage group as a result of meals intersects with every part we do.” Whether or not you are strolling round earlier than a soccer recreation or consuming earlier than the theater, “we all the time discover a reference to meals,” she says. .

Increase audiences by complete content material – and Coquitos

Bon Appétit has been serving its base since 1956. Thus, one in every of Robinson’s challenges is to proceed offering readers with the content material they count on whereas increasing the content material to new audiences.

“It is not an either-or,” Robinson explains. “It is ‘sure and’.” For the model’s 2023 vacation concern, for instance, Robinson knew individuals would come to the journal for cake recipes. Nevertheless, I additionally felt it was necessary to draw new audiences.

“The coquito is a drink that Caribbean individuals drink through the holidays, but we’ve got by no means had a recipe for coquito earlier than,” she stated. “The query was: Can we put cookies or coquitos on the quilt?” What was Robinson’s answer? “We did each.” Robinson and her crew determined to ship a coquito wrapper to subscribers and a cookie wrapper to newsstands as a approach to entice audiences.

This technique has paid off. Providing trusted core content material in addition to new content material that addresses a various viewers attracts new readers with out irritating the norm. “I see new power with several types of recipes that match my background,” Robinson stated. “We even had a vegan recipe for individuals who cannot tolerate dairy merchandise.”

Meals developments for 2024

Seize a Fino Martini (see the journal’s last part, Final Name, for the recipe) and take a look at Robinson’s meals tradition predictions for 2024.

Deal with drinks

Just like the Fino Martini, Bon Appétit readers are concerned about drinks, from kombucha to cocktails, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and specialty waters of every kind.

Vegetarian elements

Robinson says plant-based elements have gotten in style, particularly in baking.

Gluten-free bread

The March concern features a part titled “Gluten-Free Baking for Everybody.” “These are very scrumptious desserts and cookies with a phenomenal texture,” Robinson says. “Even when you’re not delicate to gluten, however somebody in your loved ones is allergic to gluten, this offers you an opportunity to bake.”

Veggie-forward pasta

Robinson finds that foodies are extra drawn to pasta recipes crammed with greens moderately than meat.

Dinner events

There is a persevering with motion towards giant dinner events at house, and Robinson says the best provider is BA56. This new initiative, featured prominently within the March concern, shares some outdated and new favorites from in good well being Archives, all with a contemporary makeover. Because the March concern explains, “Our editors combed by our huge archives and chosen 56 recipes it’s best to make this 12 months.” For instance, Kimchi Udon with Scallions is that this month’s featured recipe.

Robinson’s mission is to attach the world by meals. As she stated when she took the helm of the journal: “For me, meals is an artwork kind that intersects with each a part of life and connects communities. This position is an thrilling new chapter in my dedication to constructing an extended desk and displaying the world that meals tradition is accessible to everybody.