Who else has done more in the past 25 years to promote good foods and good wines than Marvin Shanken with his two terrific publications - Food Arts and Wine Spectator? Both are amazing.

Very Well Done.

For a long time.

We've said it before, but the fine folks over at Food Arts magazine do an incredible job! This publication has been going strong for a lot of years and hats of to Marvin Shanken for providing  Ariane and Michael the freedom and the support to make this industry publication thrive. Of course, the writers are pretty darn good and the photography ain't bad either!

The current version of Food Arts has a great article on how ribs are no longer just casual chow, served at barbecue cookouts. Check it out and read how top chef Gray Kunz may have been one of those who first realized the strong culinary appeal of short ribs nearly 20 years back in that hotspot of rib recipes - New York City!

Plate magazine was given to me by a friend (hey, what are friends for?) and it is one very impressive magazine for creative chefs!

Food Arts has always been the "gold standard" by which others are measured and it still is. But, I can tell you that Plate is up to the measure. Beautifully laid out, with spectacular pictures, recipes, and solutions for today's chefs, Plate is put out by a number of the former talented Restaurants & Institutions magazine folks. They are definitely hitting a home run with Plate.

Why choose.....read them both. They are both terrific  magazines - and little wonder - as they both have such talented people putting them together! And, be sure to check out their online editions - www.plateonline.com and www.foodarts.com

Now.....if we can just get Plate to include a section for tabletop....