If there were an award for “Most Beautiful Food Website”, Epicurious would take home the prize. Recipes from this site range from the simple to the elaborate. The features are beyond cool: they have a Recipe of the Day to pique your interest, and full menu plans for those frantic days. There is a section on healthy food which has some delicious-looking photos. I have a special soft spot for the “Buzz Box”, which keeps you up-to-date on the most popular recipes. Why? This is where I found my favorite birthday cake recipe! There are few cons about this website; the most problematic is that it takes quite a while to load if you happen to be on dial-up. Some recipes also lack photos.
Another gorgeous website is Culinate. With a focus on healthy, natural food, this site is sure to please the green crowd. The writers do an excellent job sharing their enthusiasm for food. The majority of recipes are simple; you won't find any foot-long ingredient lists here! Crystal photographs tempt the taste buds long before you even begin to read the recipes. Far from being a straightforward recipe box, Culinate features articles on eating naturally, often giving advice on organic and vegetarian fare. Their staff also review cookbooks and food-related books, both the classics and those fresh from the stacks. A few caveats: because of the rich photographs, this is another slow website. It is not as recipe-heavy as Epicurious.
If you enjoy exploring world culture through food, be sure to stop by Indy Ethnic Food. Based in Indianapolis, this site offers a Global Recipe of the Day. Their cache of recipes includes more than 2600 dishes from around the world. They also feature ethnic restaurants, although these are mostly found near Indianapolis. A list of food and wine festivals and a food forum round out this interesting site. While it's not as pretty as Culinate or Epicurious, there is a wealth of information here!
When you're in the mood for some food research, check out Food History News. Unassuming on the outside, this site packs a punch when it comes to the long and glorious histories of some of our favorite foods. One of their most interesting features is “The De-bunk House”, where they dispel popular food myths. A weekly “Editor's Notebook” spreads the word about new food books on subjects from the ancient Spice Routes to Christian views on what and how to eat. It also gives readers a heads-up when food-related symposiums are scheduled. There are a few historic recipes that will give anyone a thrill, from the history buffs to those of us who think that 1776 is just a radio station! Although the recipe selection is lacking, there is so much other material that food-lovers will find this an excellent resource.
One of the most popular websites for menu-planners is All Recipes. It's easy to see why: their extensive, member-created recipe selection is continually growing. Each recipe can be rated by any member, and you won't have to go through the pain of a failed dish because “nobody told me this would happen”. The searchable database is great, and there are usually some pretty good amateur photos. On the con side, ratings are sometimes skewed by disgruntled members who changed the recipe instead of following it. However, the sheer number of recipes available here makes it likely you'll find something delectable.
