BA FOOD WRITING 2019 PA

This will be the last time I purchase this anthology. Sad because I’ve purchased every one for as long as they’ve been published.What used to be an enjoyable read about food and food traditions is now just another collection of politically motivated essays usually about how the rich are evil, the American dream is dead, white people are bad, etc. etc.If I wanted this type of biased journalism I would listen to NPR, read the New York Slimes or watch Morning Joke.Liberals have ruined The Best American series. Count me out!

Easily the worst of the entire series. I can't understand the glowing reviews when this book seems to be the political agenda of the collector, falsely advertised as the best food writing of 2019. Almost 25% of the book is one article about nut an fruit growers in California. Not saying these aren't important issues but this is definitely NOT food writing. I feel that I really lost my money on this one, and I have enjoyed every other book in the series.

Samin Nosrat is a master of bringing her own joy into her writing, and she has used her gift to create the most enjoyable lineup of talented and diverse voices. Prepare to be fascinated, to laugh, and to be deeply challenged. This is a must-read for eaters and food enthusiasts everywhere.

I wish that this once great series would go back to focusing on the joy around food and beverages, people, and places. This used to be a nice escape, a chance to read about interesting chefs, unique restaurants and food, an opportunity to laugh and smile. Those opportunities are few and far between in the 2019 edition (much like 2018, which I also returned). "The Best American Food Writing" has turned into a series of pet causes and political agendas. After buying the latest edition and thumbing through it last night, I returned it this morning, using "other" for my reason. There are plenty of things to be depressed about these days (COVID-19, nasty politics, etc.), and I certainly don't want to immerse in negativity when it comes to one of my favorite topics/escapes on our troubled planet. Please return to sharing the joys of food, beer, wine etc., the people who make them special, and well-crafted word pictures of places that take us away on a special journey. Bring back something we can enjoy in 2020, and maybe you will sell more books and win back some of your former fans.

I have great respect for Samin Nosrat. I own her book "Salt Fat Acid Heat" and enjoyed the Netflix series of the same name. She has a lovely outlook on good food and good cooking. And she speaks Italian. What more could you ask for?But I opened up this collection and read her introduction. Then I looked over the table of contents. This isn't about food. It's about politics, which happen to be marginally related to food. When pieces are chosen on the basis of the writer's sex, race, or orientation, and not on the value or interest of food or wine or fine dining, then you've lost me. The pieces, according to her own admission, were chosen first on the basis of the identity of the writer, not the quality of the content. Straight, white men need not apply. That's racist, sexist. That's crap.Last year's collection, edited by Ruth Reichl, was no different. A recent Travel Writing anthology - same thing. I suspect the entire "Best ____ Writing of 20_" series has gone off the woke cliff. I'm done with all of them.