Features

           
            This blog caught my eye right away simply because of the name, and the first recipe that happened to be up was right up my alley; healthy and cheesy (http://brokeassgourmet.com/articles/cauliflower-queso-fundido). Prep time, Cooke time, and estimated cost were all right at the top, no need to even search for that when you are really trying to be price and time conscious, because it is all right there, which I love. The ingredients all listed are quick and easy, and the directions are easy to follow and informative. Yes, the blog did kind of focus on how the dish itself was not that photogenic, and how they were not even going to post the blog because of it, but what did it matter because food is not something that should be judged by its cover.


            I also enjoyed this one, because being a broke college student that name really draws you. However, I like the set up of this site better because it is cleaner and the images really stand out more than they did on Broke Ass Gourmet. Budget Byte’s site is also chocked full of recipes right away, while the first site I checked out only had the one recipe on its homepage. I liked this one a lot too because all the information you need to know is right there, all in one place. This site actually had the prices by the individual ingredients which is helpful, but I do not necessarily think 100% necessary, because if you do not like the price of the one ingredient then you may as well not make the recipe at all.

Feature 2:

Another Wine Blog caught my eye because the humor is already right there in the title, and it has everything a person could want. It has everything from wine, beer, spirits, cooking, pairings, travel, humor and ranting. Mine obviously is not going to have all of these things but I would like to always keep a certain level of wit and cleverness in the pieces. The pieces on this blog are a little lengthy for my taste, but easy to read, interesting, and simple. The photography is not that impeccable either, which makes me feel okay about not being the only blog out there with the not so best images.

As for Girl and the Grape I like her because she likes to give people “straight talk”, and I also want to keep that no BS attitude in my blog. The author, Alison Crowe’s blog is real and raw and is just for discussion of wine with no fluff. I also enjoy the way she tells her stories in a lot of detail, like how wines heavier in natural tannin and color can “handle” a little more oak whereas a Pinot Noir generally calls for less. Detail is definitely something I need to work on so maybe I can learn a thing or two from her posts.




Feature 3:


Not only did I enjoy this how-to because it is the season for it, but because the images are pleasing, and the steps are informative yet simply put. It really is the blog entry for “Cooking Turkey For Beginners”. I also appreciated how the entry led with a relatable little blurb on how cooking a turkey is a daunting for anyone, not just beginners.


Now this one, is much more geared to the age group I am going for with my own blog. Yes, it is BuzzFeed, but they sure do know how to put together a good how-to. This entry is appropriately titled “How To Host Thanksgiving For The First Time Ever (For Under $100), fitting for our generation I know. BuzzFeed really knows how to make something that some could think of even reading it as mundane into playful and fun. Without having it all in one entry this one simply has every thing you need for hosting, and in it links to the recipe for the gravy, the turkey, the stuffing, the sweet potatoes, etc. Whether you need help with it all, or just a few minor details, you can click through and have fun with it because it is all in one place! – sorry I got a bit carried away with this one I really enjoy their work.

Feature 4:


Katie Parla, is an author; Tasting Rome, a food tour guide, and fantastic food blogger, who I actually had the opportunity of taking a food tour with while studying abroad in Rome. Her blog is mainly focused on all things Italy and Italian food, especially Rome. What’s so great about Parla and her blog is the outlook of an American on all things Italy and her strong passion for the way the live and the food they eat. As much focus as she puts on Rome, she also posts about her travels to Paris, Tokyo, the United States, and all over Italy. I believe she wants to share her appreciation for food and where it comes from that she wants to share it with the world, and that is the beauty of her blog.


Boy Eats World: Tiny Travelers Tasting the Globe caught my eye. It is a blog of a mother who found her inspiration to create this blog through her son Raffles. Raffles is too young to understand the expenses that food and travel can lead to, but as a family they make some of these adventures come to life through food and travel and a combination of the two. With the appropriate categories: Travel, Recipes, Restaurants, and more, they encompass what I believe is the epitome of a food & travel blog. It is also difficult not to be intrigued when there are two adorable kids involved in the postings.

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This post really took me aback when reading it. Yes, it is a food blog, however the creator of a pinch of yum, Lindsay felt the need to make this holiday post, about her view on the holidays and if you have gone through anything like she has, how to get through them. Lindsay appropriately titles this post, “a holiday guide for sad people”, which may be off-putting, but does grab your attention, and is fitting once you have read the post. She lets us into her past, telling us about last year when her infant son died in her arms. This event is what made Lindsay a “sad person”. This post is really targeted for people who have also had these horrible life-changing experiences occur in their lives who need a little inspiration of how to carry on through the holidays (or just to make it through without having a mental breakdown). As holidays are supposedly the happiest times of the year, it may be hard for some who have gone through struggles to see that, and this post is about how to cope with that, and smile through the pain. No, this post is not about food, but that is what I like about it and I believe brings more personality to the blog, sets it apart from the others, and I believe is an important message for those who have or have not gone through struggles.


To end the capsules on a lighter note, I enjoyed this fun little Thanksgiving Poutine recipe by I am a food blog. With a few delicious looking pictures of the ingredients and the assembling of the poutine, and a short and sweet little blurb on their Thanksgiving “a very Voon Thanksgiving”. This I thought combined the holidays and food well, because although it was a recipe post, to me it felt more like a quick little story about the family’s day, and ‘oh this is what we happened to make’. I enjoyed this layout very much because there is nothing like appreciating your family for who they are and their unique hilarity. Rather than it all being about the food it felt to me like yes I want to share what we made with you guys, but I really just want to get back to my family, which I love.

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This may sound cliché, or obvious, but these are my two favorite local blogs. They are with the times, updated constantly, give you valuable information from new restaurant openings and closings, to collaborations between local businesses. I also enjoy these two sources because they have come from reliable sources that have been around for years, and are highly reputable. When I am looking for what is going on in the city (Philadelphia), I am not seeking out the local small guy for what he has seen or heard, I want to know for a fact that what I am reading is true, and Foobooz and The Insider provide that. Both platforms have food news I did not even know what I was looking for, but now being on The Insider and seeing that a new Roman style pizza place is coming to Center City (Alice), I could not be happier that I checked in. As for the 50 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia for Fall 2017, who would I rely more on than Foobooz. With the option to ‘browse your area’ I do not know who else can offer that much knowledge of where to dine near you, all in one place.

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