Photos by K.C. © 2010 Kristin Conroy

In my post 9 Food Blogs You Must Visit, I shared the amazing people and sites from which I gained inspiration for Words Are Food when I was putting it together.  With the gazillion or so blogs out there dedicated to the love of food, there are certainly more websites with which a food-lover must be familiar than the 9 I listed!  Here are more of my top picks….

No Recipes

There actually are recipes on this blog, tons of them.  The title No Recipes refers to Marc’s approach to food:  He rarely follows a recipe in the kitchen, and encourages his readers to use his recipes as a point of inspiration instead of as a formula that you need to follow.  I really enjoy the background, history, and tips he includes in his posts related to the featured dishes.  It’s one thing to cook up a delicious recipe.  It’s another thing entirely to know from what country the dish originated, how people eat it there, how it fits into their culture, and multiple ways to enjoy the recipe at home.  I’ve had the pleasure of corresponding with Marc a bit, and I hope to join the Forage and Feast festivities next year!

Gourmet Fury

Melody Fury has got it goin’ on.   This Vancouver-based food fanatic is a writer, photographer, host, reporter, social media personality, the founder of Vancouver Food Tour, and probably some other things too.  Where does she find the time?  I don’t know if her name is the one given to her at birth, but she certainly lives up to it!  Her posts are lively, entertaining, witty, snappy, and full of such tasty offerings as food recipes, videos, interviews, and reviews.  So pretty much whatever you can do related to food.  Get caught up in the food fury!

Wrightfood

I recently happened upon Matt’s blog via Gourmet Fury.  This exceptional British photographer living in Seattle has an equally exceptional array of local, sustainable, healthy recipes focusing on seafood and charcuterie.  Yeah, I was impressed too.  I imagine myself in one of those comical scenes from Julie & Julia if I were to attempt to recreate some of his dishes, but I doubt that would deter me from having a go at them.  Because his whimsically alluring photographs create a gravitational pull toward the kitchen.

Sassy Radish

I had “heard” the name Sassy Radish mentioned in my wanderings in the food blogosphere, but hadn’t made it over there until recently.  Boy, was I missing out.  The lovely Olga, a self-proclaimed finance geek by day, manages to find time to craft and share healthful recipes that simply showcase the fresh ingredients’ flavors.  Her photographs are lovely, her writing is friendly and sweet, and her food is delish.  What more could you ask for?

La Tartine Gourmande

This crush-worthy food blog by Béa reminds me of another charming French food photographer/stylist, Helen of Tartelette (featured in my post 9 Food Blogs You Must Visit).  It’s not because of their shared country of origin or career choice.  It’s the light-infused, jaw-dropping photos and effortlessly brilliant food styling. The lyrical, conversational tone of their posts.  The impulse to carve out an entire day to delve into their recipe archives.  Not bad traits to share, n’est–ce pas?

Cannelle et Vanille

If you’re a lover of sweets (whether eating, just looking at, or both) and you’re not yet familiar with Aran’s blog, get acquainted this very second!  Her stunning photography will make you gasp, as will her food creations.  Although her recipes are a bit intricate and time-consuming for someone like me–a novice maker/baker of pastries and sweets–I can’t help but dream that one day, I will be whipping up Aran’s sigh-worthy delicacies with ease.

Smitten Kitchen

There are many reasons to be smitten with Deb’s blog. The remarkable food portraits. The “comfort food” recipes elevated to suit royalty.  The unfussy ingredients.  The closed eyelids and audible sigh that escapes from one’s quivering mouth after the first taste of her finished creations.  Really? Yes, really.  Make one of her recipes and see if you can resist Smitten Kitchen‘s spell.

Kiss My Spatula

If you couldn’t guess from her blog’s title, Giao likes to have some fun.  And that’s just what this site is, full of fun and zest for food and life. Her writing is honest, poetic, and brimming with beauty; her posts read like short stories, life and food intertwined as they so often are in life. Her photography is fresh, inspirational, and creative; a bright, clear sky with just the tail of a passing bird and a smidgen of red rock, a collage of both muted and color-saturated images, a winsome photo laid out side-by-side in triplicate.  Her recipes are edible art; wholesome ingredients crafted into tasty dishes, each recipe accompanied by a music pairing.  Yes, you read correctly, a music pairing.  Like I said, this lady knows how to have some fun.

I’d love to hear what your favorite food blogs and websites are, please share with us!