Side Dish for Jan. 19, 2012

Changes happen, but food still fun

My first byline as a staff member of The Advocate’s Food section appeared Oct. 3, 1991, the day after our afternoon newspaper, the State-Times, closed. While a “hard news” reporter for the State-Times, I had occasionally reviewed cookbooks for the Food section, so that first story, a cookbook review, didn’t cause me any trepidation. But, my first food assignment did.

I was to interview a dessert caterer who was putting together a croquembouche, the French pyramid-shaped dessert made with tiny cream puffs and spun sugar, for a fundraiser gala. How, I wondered, was I to write a coherent story when I didn’t have an extensive food background? Plus, that was the first time I had even heard of the elaborate dessert.

Tommy Simmons, who retired as Food editor a year ago, reassured me. Writing about food and Baton Rouge’s culinary tradition is fun, she said. Plus, she added, everyone likes to talk about cooking, entertaining and favorite recipes. Well, she was right!

So, as the Food staff transitions from one editor to another, we are counting on our readers to continue to offer us suggestions for interesting food stories.

Our wonderful Food columnists and copy editors — Corinne Cook, a home economist who has been with the food section since its inception in January 1975; slow cooker expert Julie Kay; Tracey Koch, a professionally trained chef; Helana Brigman, a graduate student and blogger; Terry Robinson and Leila Pitchford-English — will continue to work their magic. Although she was with The Advocate a short time, my predecessor, Stephanie Riegel, left her enthusiasm and interest in healthful cooking with those of us who produce the Food section.

Beth Colvin, an outgoing young mother and enthusiastic cook, will move from the newsroom’s copy desk to join the Food staff as assistant editor, and we welcome her.

We plan to keep the best features of the Food section, revive some popular ones and develop new ideas. And we need your help. We are reaching out to our readers, asking that you offer us names of good cooks for the In Louisiana Kitchens column. Also, we need recommendations for the I Like It! column, which spotlights a food product that is neat, delicious or interesting. It doesn’t have to be new.

We invite readers to send in their favorite recipes for our Recipe Swap. E-mail us at [e-mail]; write Food, The Advocate, 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810 or call [phone].

Speaking of sharing recipes, Tommy, who has retired to live near family in Georgia, arrived at the 2011 Association of Food Journalists conference in Charleston, S.C., with a bag full of delicious cookies she had baked.

She shared both the cookies and her recipe with Corinne and me. See the recipe on Page 1E.