Corby Kummer

Corby Kummer's work in The Atlantic has established him as one of the most widely read, authoritative, and creative food writers in the United States. The San Francisco Examiner pronounced him "a dean among food writers in America." More

Corby Kummer's work in The Atlantic has established him as one of the most widely read, authoritative, and creative food writers in the United States. The San Francisco Examiner pronounced him "a dean among food writers in America." Julia Child once said, "I think he's a very good food writer. He really does his homework. As a reporter and a writer he takes his work very seriously." Kummer's 1990 Atlantic series about coffee was heralded by foodies and the general public alike. The response to his recommendations about coffees and coffee-makers was typical--suppliers scrambled to meet the demand. As Giorgio Deluca, co-founder of New York's epicurean grocery Dean & Deluca, says: "I can tell when Corby's pieces hit; the phone doesn't stop ringing." His book, The Joy of Coffee, based on his Atlantic series, was heralded by The New York Times as "the most definitive and engagingly written book on the subject to date." In nominating his work for a National Magazine Award (for which he became a finalist), the editors wrote: "Kummer treats food as if its preparation were something of a life sport: an activity to be pursued regularly and healthfully by knowledgeable people who demand quality." Kummer's book The Pleasures of Slow Food celebrates local artisans who raise and prepare the foods of their regions with the love and expertise that come only with generations of practice. Kummer was restaurant critic of New York Magazine in 1995 and 1996 and since 1997 has served as restaurant critic for Boston Magazine. He is also a frequent food commentator on television and radio. He was educated at Yale, and came to The Atlantic Monthly in 1981. He is the recipient of five James Beard Journalism Awards, including the MFK Fisher Distinguished Writing Award.

In Italy, it's a One-Minute Cup

THE ONE-MINUTE CUP I'm in Italy right now, strictly working you understand, and espresso here is just that: fast. More »

Tale of Two Dinners

THE MEAT DID IT I dined with Zeke at his disappointing dinner. I wasn't disappointed. Why? Whole 'nother tasting. More »

True Bravery in Food Writing

BRAVE Most every body who loves and writes food has some kind of problem or neurosis about it. Some admit it, some don't. More »

Finding a Place for Grace

A PLACE FOR GRACE Zeke Emanuel calls for a communal return to a blessing before meals. Your move: write one. More »

Were You on Vacation?

COFFEE "As soon as someone tells me what their favorite coffee is, I stop and ask, 'Were you on vacation?'" More »

Tea, More Than Just a Political Prop

TEA This week's tea parties were about many things, but not tea. I change my blend every day, and don't need a party. More »

A Loving Water Dog Owner's Advice for the Obamas

DOGS The Obamas' wise choice of breed brings remembrances from Barbara Kafka about her own dog, Stubbs. More »

Joan Nathan's Gefilte Fish Recipe

RECIPE You can actually enjoy the tactile, if smelly, pleasures of making gefilte fish. Here's the recipe to go with the video. More »

Seder to Easter

SEDER TO EASTER Sally Schneider comes to the rescue with a holiday-spanning spring menu. And chocolate! More »

Video: Gefilte Jinks in Joan's Kitchen

Video: Gefilte Jinks in Joan's Kitchen

VIDEO Cooking gefilte fish in Joan Nathan's kitchen, with The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg kibitzing. More »

Update: Taxing Sugar Starts at Home

HEALTH How to get sodas out of schools and get obesity-preventing water in? Taxing sugar starts at home. More »

Mourning a Lost Blend of Great Coffee

COFFEE I started my morning with a cup of Peet's Anniversary Blend. I'm still in mourning, you see, for Sierra Dorada. More »

Drinking Healthy, Drinking Smart

HEALTH Is it finally water's turn to get some respect as the miracle cure? Well, for obesity, at least, it looks like it. More »

If I'm Eating Soy, I'd Rather Know I Am

SOY From tofu to livestock feed, you're eating it whether you want to or not. Why does soy's ubiquity get so little attention? More »

Up Now

UP NOW A relentlessly experimental chef needs to know what he's doing, a Fat Duck-veteran was telling me last night... More »

The Allergy Watch: A Good Cocoa Glaze, At Least

ALLERGIES Vegans may not be the most beloved in the food world, but their discoveries in eggless baking are amazing. More »

Up Now

UP NOW Peter Smith brings news of an exciting elixir: sap soda, which now I look at it ought to be called sapsarilla... More »

Up Now

UP NOW If you always confuse Burgundy with Bordeaux, you can't be friends with a Frenchman -- but come sit with me. More »

Up Now

UP NOW It takes slight courage to admit you like, say, whoopie pies. It takes real courage to write about this experience... More »

Alice W, Michelle O, and Wall-E

Alice W, Michelle O, and Wall-E

I WONDERED how happy Alice Waters would be seeing Michelle Obama dig up the White House Lawn. So I called her up. More »

The Biggest Story in Photos

2013 National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

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