Browsing for tonight’s dinner inspiration, the perfect addition to next weekend’s potluck, or just a little distraction at work? Look no further than your Twitter feed.
We’ve filtered through the foodies and graded the gourmands to bring you 13 gastronomic blogs (and accompanying Twitter handles) that will expand your culinary skills, recipe box, and your appetite, too.
General Food Blogs
1. @TestKitchen
I first fell in love with the wonderfully wacky America's Test Kitchen through its PBS cooking show (catch it on Saturday afternoons), but got in deep with its Tweets that encompass #QuickTips on everything from new ways to cook old favorites to gadget rankings and reviews to fool-proof recipes.
2. @EatLiveRun
Whether you want to indulge in a peanut butter cake with vegan salted chocolate ganache or keep it lean with black bean, quinoa, and citrus salad (my favorite), Eat Live Run blogger Jenna Weber will not steer you wrong. Her Twitter handle provides insight into the woman behind the recipes, but don’t forget to check out the blog for its beautiful imagery and delightful recipe commentary.
Jaden Hair, the genius behind Steamy Kitchen, consistently delivers on her promise of “fast, fresh, and simple” recipes with brilliant combinations you’ll want to knit into your kitchen repertoire. In addition to her (surprisingly effortless) Indian, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, and Korean dishes, Hair has seriously awesome ideas for fruits and veggies. (Think: Baked crispy kale. Roasted brussels sprouts with cranberry pistachio pesto. Yum.)
4. @kickpleat
The award-winning food blog Everybody Likes Sandwiches is actually more than just a collection of bread-and-filling concoctions—blogger Jeannette Ordas provides crisp commentary on the entire eating process, from craving to consumption. Check out her recipes tagged “retro” for a blast from the past and upgrade your taco night with her outstanding recipe for lamb tacos. And the sandwiches? More choices than you could take to work for a year.
No matter where you are in life, odds are good you’ve identified with Kimberly Morales’ Poor Girl Eats Well philosophy at some point. Eating “ridiculously well on a minuscule budget” never seemed so doable, and her clever take on blogger transparency—posting her $25 shopping cart hauls and all the recipes she can make from the contents—will inspire you to be more budget-friendly.
(Bitter-) Sweet Stuff
6. @CakeWrecks
For anyone who has lost an afternoon to watching competitive cake shows on Food Network, or is still held captive by the cake catalogs in the grocery store, Cake Wrecks is a must-follow. Full of photos (and witty commentary) of hilariously awful professional cakes, this site will make you laugh until your face hurts. While there’s no recipes here, Cake Wrecks serves as a warning of what not to order when you’re splurging on a pro dessert.
“Restricted” Diet
Calling all dietary-restricted foodies! The Sensitive Pantry provides indulgent recipes that will make you forget gluten, dairy, and non-vegan food ever existed. The roasted butternut squash soup is perfect for fall, the gluten free cornbread belongs at every potluck ever, and the lemon-basil ice cream could win over even the most devout dairy-lover.
8. @KarinaAllrich
The Gluten Free Goddess is just that, transforming the concept of gluten-free from a dietary restriction to an invitation for scientific creativity. As more people adopt a wheat-free lifestyle, Allrich’s blog and recipe collection gives options for keeping variations of classics in your recipe box. For example, don’t sweat Thanksgiving dessert—just serve her gluten-free pumpkin pie with praline and coconut-pecan crust instead.
Location-Specific
9. @BrunchGirl
Claudia Holwill, the blogger behind Brunch and the City, gives long-overdue attention to one of our favorite meals. Her DC-based restaurant reviews and recommendations are fun to read for Washingtonians past and present, as well as travelers and anyone who likes to brunch vicariously. Her comprehensive page on Bottomless Brunch Drinks is a must-bookmark for anyone in (or ever planning to visit) the capital region.
10. @clotildenet
Chocolate and Zucchini, born of Clotilde Dusoulier’s Parisian brain, is a French-foodie wonderland. In addition to her recipe posts, Dusoulier shares gadget and restaurant reviews, glorious food photography and desktop backgrounds (in case you weren’t hungry already), and insightful tidbits on French travel and culture. Next time you’re hosting girls’ night, bring out some C&Z “peacomole” (green pea cilantro spread) and a bowl of French meringues. Bon appétit!
Liquid Interests
11. @GoodWineList
Check out Good Cheap Wine List every week for new quality vino at very reasonable prices—all presented in a snazzy mouse-over interface. The site offers succinct, useful info on wine types for wine newbies and casual drinkers everywhere.
12. @imbibe
Imbibe Magazine is a giant in the liquid-o-sphere—with good reason. An exhaustive list of cocktails, beverage industry news, and instructional videos makes this a go-to source for the discerning drinkophile. Plus, the collection of cakes, biscuits, and milkshakes containing alcoholic ingredients is a must-see if you’re trying to use up clearance wine or disappointing brewskies.
13. @TheLiquidMuse
The Liquid Muse is the cocktail blog to end all cocktail blogs, containing bar reviews from around the globe, informative “drinkable” articles, and signature recipes for every occasion. Plus, a little time in front of the video gallery will render you quite the mixology master. Don’t drink? Don’t worry. Blogger Natalie Bovis, author of The Bubbly Bride and Preggatinis, also provides tantalizing non-alcoholic drink concoctions.
What are you waiting for? Start populating your recipe box with these bloggers’ creations and enjoy the fruits (and vegetables, and gluten-free cakes) of their labor!