7 Food And Drink
A virtual feast awaits you on the Internet, a delicious array of sites that will tempt your taste buds and set your mouth watering. Of thousands of baking, cooking, and recipe sites, this chapter lists some of the very best. You’ll also find sites for wine and beer lovers, restaurants and bakeries, gourmet food, and groceries. Special diets are also covered. Bon appétit!
BAKERIES
WEBSITES 
1-800-Bakery.com
Order baked goods online and have them delivered from the bakery straight to your door. Offers cakes, pies and tarts, cookies, confections, breads, products for special diets (kosher, gluten-free, sugar-free, and the like). Also has gift baskets and suggestions for special occasions.
Bakery Quest
Search for a bricks-and-mortar bakery by service type (café bakery, wedding bakery, Italian bakery, and so on) and/or U.S. location. Your search returns a list of bakeries; click one to get basic info and, if available, a link to its site.
Black Hound New York
This bakery, located in Brooklyn, New York, ships its goodies—chocolates, cookies, confections, cakes, pastries, and more—across the country.
Collin Street Bakery
Started in 1896, this Texas bakery offers a variety of products for sale online: pecan pies and cakes, deluxe fruitcake, cheesecakes and other cakes, breads and muffins, and more.
Mrs. Fields
Mrs. Fields is known for decadent gourmet cookies, and that’s what you’ll find on this site. You can shop by gift occasion, product, or price.
Stony Brook Cookie Company
Stony Brook’s bakers craft their cookies by hand in small batches using only the finest ingredients—no preservatives, trans fats, artificial flavors, or artificial colors. (You can read their ingredient lists on the site.) Order cookies by the dozen, in two-cookie party favor packs, in gift boxes, or in party trays.
BAKING
WEBSITES
About.com: Desserts/Baking
Since 1997, Guide Carroll Pellegrinelli has shared her favorite recipes and baking tips in this well-organized site that covers everything from the top 10 brownie recipes to baking with kids to how to send baked goods through the mail.
BetterBaking.com
This online magazine from cookbook author Marcy Goldman covers baking and more: other recipes, product reviews, and reviews of books, music, and fragrances. You need to subscribe to receive full access to the site (including a database of more than 2,500 recipes), or you can buy individual recipes for $1.99 each. Free content includes reviews and a few classic recipes.
Betty Crocker Baking Recipes, Tips, and Ideas
This site has lots of baking recipes, most featuring Betty Crocker products, as well as videos that demonstrate baking tips. When you sign up for a free account, you also get your own personal recipe box to save your favorites, grocery lists, online coupons, recipe reviews, the ability to participate in the site’s forums, and other perks.
CookingBread.com
There’s nothing like the heavenly aroma of baking bread. This site specializes in bread recipes: classic bread, cheese breads, quick breads, high-fiber, gluten-free, and lots more. Find a recipe or take a bread class, which has step-by-step directions, complete with photos, for perfect results. You can submit your favorite recipes to share with other bakers. This site has a blog.
Home Baking Association
The Home Baking Association’s mission is to “promote home baking by providing educators [with] tools and knowledge to perpetuate future generations of home bakers.” The site has recipes, baking tips, a glossary, and educator resources.
JoyofBaking.com 
The recipes on this scrumptious site feature mouth-watering photos of the final result. See what’s new, browse the recipe index, or look for a specific kind of baked good, from biscotti and cookies to pies, tarts, and cakes. There are also recipes for various holidays. Each recipe has interesting commentary and helpful tips, and there are sections on substitutions, ingredients, conversions, and baking terms.
Nestle VeryBestBaking.com
Get recipes and baking tips, learn about Nestle products and promotions, register for a free account, and participate in the site’s Baker-to-Baker community.
Pillsbury Baking
A site for bakers that features Pillsbury products. Here you’ll find recipes, baking basics, tips, and ideas; products and promotions; and information about the Pillsbury company, including its history. Sign up for a free account to keep recipes in your recipe box, get grocery lists, find products, and receive the Pillsbury newsletter.
Your Baking Story
All bakers have stories—whether it’s remembering the cake you made for your child’s first birthday or the smell of cinnamon as you baked oatmeal cookies with your mom. And that’s the idea behind this site, which serves up favorite recipes along with stories and remembrances. You can submit your own stories and recipes or get scrapbooking tips for preserving those stories.
BLOGS 
Baking Bites
Nicole Weston writes about food news, gives baking tips and advice, reviews products, and offers lots of yummy recipes.
Nosh with Me
Nominated for Best Food Blog in the 2007 Blogger’s Choice awards, Nosh with Me documents “one girl’s love affair with her KitchenAid mixer.” Tons of recipes with plenty of commentary.
Real Baking with Rose Levy Beranbaum
Internationally renowned cookbook writer and baking expert Rose Levy Beranbaum writes about baking in this blog sponsored by Gold Medal flour. In addition to Rose’s blog, there are reader forums and a newsletter.
VIDEOS 
Betty Crocker Baking Videos
www.bettycrocker.com/baking/baking-videos
Learn baking techniques by watching this site’s professionally produced, easy-to-follow videos.
Breadtopia
“For the love of bread,” this site has a great range of videos for making all kinds of bread and pizza dough. Sign up for notification of new videos.
FoodNetwork.com Cooking Demos: Baking
www.foodnetwork.com/food/ck_dm_baking
It’s not surprising that the Food Network has lots of great videos to help you master baking techniques.
MyRecipes.com Baking Videos
www.myrecipes.com/recipes/howto/
Watch-and-learn videos demonstrate basic baking techniques. Requires Flash.
SOCIAL NETWORKING 
Bake Space
“Come for the food, stay for the conversation” invites this social network for bakers. When you join, you create your own virtual kitchen on the site and can swap recipes, create a blog, upload videos, join in forum discussions, and make friends with others who love good food as much as you do.
FORUMS/DISCUSSIONS 
Real Baking with Rose Discussion Forums
www.realbakingwithrose.com/forums
These forums host active discussions about baking: bread, cakes, cookies, pies and pastry, equipment, and more. You can post photos of your creations in the Show and Tell forum.
VeryBestBaking.com Message Boards
http://community.verybestbaking.com/groupee
After you’ve registered (it’s free), you can jump in and discuss all aspects of baking and entertaining.
BEER
WEBSITES
All About Beer
The companion website to All About Beer magazine features articles, reviews, interviews, beer news, a travel section, and more. Use its Brew Pub finder to locate a brew pub near home or when you’re traveling; there’s also a beer store finder and beer events calendar. You can subscribe to the magazine online.
Beer Advocate
This popular and comprehensive beer-lovers’ site is a good place to go to learn about beer: its Beer 101 section explains the basics of beer, its varieties, beer history, home brewing, and more. Beer aficionados will appreciate the database of more than 40,000 beers, complete with 600,000+ reviews submitted by the site’s users. Has beer news; tips on how to taste beer; a travel section so you can find great breweries, beer stores, and brew pubs on the road; events listings; and a community of more than 150,000 beer enthusiasts to connect with.
Beer Me!
The ultimate guide to breweries all over the world—more than 10,000 of them. You can check out the latest listings on the What’s New? page or use the Regional Guide to find breweries in a specific location. Check out the Beer List or Hall of Fame to find great beers.
Brew Pub Zone
This directory will help you find not only brew pubs but also microbreweries, craft beers, homebrewing supplies, and beer festivals and other events. You can browse by state or search for brew pubs and microbreweries in a specific city.
Brew Your Own (BYO)
Brew Your Own is a magazine dedicated to homebrewing beer. The website has featured stories from the magazine, step-by-step recipes, a homebrewing reference guide, an introduction to homebrewing for first-timers, podcasts, and a blog. You can order back issues, request a free trial issue, or subscribe.
Brewers Association
If you like craft beers, you should know about this organization, which aims to “promote and protect American craft beer and American craft brewers and the community of brewing enthusiasts.” The site explains what the Brewers Association does and offers resources for learning about beer (styles, history, matching beer with food, and more), homebrewing, craft brewing, and beer-related events. The online store sells beer-related merchandise such as books, pint glasses, and beer-themed clothing.
Budweiser.com
If this Bud’s for you, so is this site (as long as you’re 21 or older). Watch Budweiser commercials and learn fun facts; read about the famous Clydesdale horses; download ringtones, wallpaper, and graphics; and trace the history of Budweiser from its beginnings in 1852 to the present. The Bud Shop sells beer-related and Budweiser-themed gear.
Dogfish Head
Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats, Delaware’s first brewpub, opened in 1995. Since then, Dogfish Head has grown into a popular brewery offering 18 styles of beer (as well as a few varieties of distilled spirits). This site tells you about current releases and where you can find a distributor, as well as the brewpub in Rehoboth Beach and brewery tours. The online store has hats, tees, books, glasses, and more.
Guinness
Learn where and how Guinness stout is brewed, read about the company’s history; watch commercials or view Guinness ads going back to the 1930s; download wallpaper, screensavers, and posters; send an ecard. Has an online store. You must be 21 or older to enter the site.
HomeBrew Zone
This site tells you what you need to know to get started with homebrewing: equipment, how to choose hops and malt, brewing tips, and more. There’s even a page that helps you diagnose what went wrong when your homebrewed beer tastes funny.
Magic Hat Brewing Company
The South Burlington, Vermont–based brewery has put together a colorful and imaginative website where you can read about the brewery’s beers (or “elixirs” as the site calls them), find a place to buy Magic Hat beers, read the Grog Blog, or plan a visit to the brewery.
MoreBeer
If you need homebrew supplies, take a look at this site. Product categories are helpfully organized: New to Brewing, All Ingredients, Brew Day Equipment, Fermentation Equipment, Bottling & Kegging, Draft Beer Dispensing, All Grain & Hardware, Cleaning & Sanitizing, and BrewWear & Fun Items. Has a lot of free info and instructions, including podcasts, to help you brew right.
Mountain Homebrew & Wine Supply
Sells supplies for making beer and wine at home, from starter kits and books to ingredients and equipment.
RateBeer
RateBeer features consumer-supplied beer ratings, as well as articles on beer culture and events, weekly beer-related editorials, and a semi-annual RateBeer Best competition. The site has thousands of members from more than 60 countries who have rated tens of thousands of beers from around the world. Find the world’s best beers, as well as beer events, places, and references. Has information on homebrewing, as well as resources for professional brewers and beer retailers. A great site for serious beer lovers.
Realbeer.com
A wonderful resource for beer lovers, Realbeer.com features news about beer and the brewing industry, links to retail sites, a searchable directory of breweries and pubs, city and regional guides with a focus on beer, other beer-related links, and events. Its Beer.edu section contains a staggering amount of information about beer: cooking with beer, beer and health, beer guides for many countries, homebrewing, and just about anything else you might want to know. Check out the forums for lively conversation.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
This popular California brewery introduces you to its beers with descriptions, an online brewery tour, information about its restaurant and music venue, and information about how the company works to minimize its impact on the environment. There’s an online gift shop, too. Before you can enter the site, you must agree that you’re of legal drinking age in your area.
BLOGS
Brew Blog
Keep up with beer industry news with this blog, which is sponsored by the Miller Brewing Company.
The Brew Site
This blog features beer news, reviews, gear, and gadgets.
Hail the Ale!
A blog about the pleasures of beer.
VIDEOS
Funny Beer Videos & TV Commercials
http://kburgin.typepad.com/funny_beer_videos_and_tv
Although this is a blog, it’s all about videos related to beer—more than 200 of them.
PODCASTS 
Basic Brewing
Basic Brewing offers audio and video podcasts about homebrewing, including interviews, stories, and advice.
Beer Safari
This site lists podcasts that feature beer. Listen or download podcasts right from the site. (Some of the shows may be on the rude side, so use some discretion about which ones you choose to listen to.)
Craft Beer Radio
Craft Beer Radio is an Internet talk show about craft and microbrewed beers. There’s also a forum and a wiki.
SOCIAL NETWORKING
Coastr
This community aims to connect beer lovers from around the world, so you can make friends and discover new beers. It’s free to join. When you do, you can create a list of your favorite beers and places to drink beer and Coastr finds others who share your tastes. The longer your list, the more people you’ll hook up with.
FORUMS/DISCUSSIONS
Beer Advocate Beer Forum
If you’re a beer lover, what could be better than discussing your favorite beverage with like-minded people around the world? Lots of discussions take place on this lively board.
Realbeer.com Beer Community
www.realbeer.com/discussions/index.php
Here you’ll find discussions of everything related to beer: tasting notes, beer and food, beer and travel, homebrewing—dozens of topics in all.
BEVERAGES
WEBSITES
BevNET.com
BevNET reviews ready-to-drink, nonalcoholic beverages. Here you’ll find all kinds of information about the beverage industry, including companies, news, job posts, and classifieds. Those who work in the industry can subscribe to Beverage Spectrum magazine.
Coca-Cola
The website of this popular soft-drink company features music, sports, and “The Coke Side of Life,” where you can create Coca-Cola-themed artwork, watch commercials, and download goodies like screensavers and wallpaper. There’s information about the company, an online store, and a rewards program where you can enter codes found on Coke products for points that can be redeemed for merchandise.
Dr. Pepper
Learn about Dr. Pepper products and history, and find out about the Dr. Pepper Museum (yep, there is one—it’s in Waco, Texas). Here you’ll also find ads to watch, games and downloads, promotions, and a Dr. Pepper store.
Jones Soda
Jones Soda is known for its far-out flavors (like Fufu Berry and Blue Bubblegum) and the ever-changing photos on its labels, and this site reflects the company’s fun attitude. Here you can learn more about the company, see current and retired flavors, play games and get downloads, view a photo gallery of labels, listen to music, watch videos, and participate in the community forum.
KOOLSPACE
www.kraftfoods.com/koolaid/koolspace/
This colorful site, hosted by Kool-Aid Man, has loads of fun stuff for kids. Download music and graphics, watch videos, and make Kool-Aid Man dance.
Pepsi
This is the place to go to learn about Pepsi products, the company, and some of the causes it supports. For your entertainment, there’s music, sports, games, commercials, downloads, and a shop to buy Pepsi stuff.
Perrier
The site for this fizzy French mineral water tells you all about Perrier and where it comes from. You’ll also find drink recipes, party planning advice, a newsletter sign-up, and photos of celebrities drinking Perrier.
Snapple
Snapple makes iced teas, juice drinks, and “enhanced water beverages.” On this site you can read about Snapple beverages and their health benefits, find stores that sell Snapple, check out current promotions and fun facts, and subscribe to the Snapple newsletter.
BEVERAGES: ALCOHOLIC
WEBSITES
Absolut
The website of this popular vodka features an archive of ad campaigns, drink recipes, company information, and a blog. Visitors must be at least 21 years old to enter.
Bacardi
After you’ve entered your date of birth (to prove you’re 21 or older), you can get cocktail recipes that feature Bacardi rums, watch music videos and get downloads, and listen to Bacardi Internet radio. There’s even a Bacardi Widget you can download to your cell phone to find the nearest bar, club, liquor store, hotel, or taxi based on ZIP code.
Bar None Drinks
This site is all about cocktails, with drink recipes, drinking games, news from the alcoholic beverage industry, bartending tips, a drinks dictionary, a newsletter, and forums. There’s also a store so you can stock your bar with supplies.
Bombay Sapphire
This top-shelf gin has an attractive and highly interactive website that’s organized into three main sections: Inspired Drinks (recipes for gin-based cocktails), Inspired Design (advertising and the Bombay Sapphire Foundation), and Inspired Taste (tasting notes and more). For visitors who are 21 or older.
Drink Street
Drink Street has more than 1,500 cocktail recipes in its Drink Library. You can find a recipe by searching or by category (classic drinks, martinis, layered drinks, and so on). If you’re in the mood to try something new, check out the featured drink or click Random Drink. Recipes are rated by the site’s readers. You can take a free online bartending course, get tips on home bartending and equipping your bar, or submit your own favorite recipe to the site.
Drinks Mixer
With more than 16,200 drink recipes, this site will help you find just about any drink you want—and a whole bunch you’ve probably never heard of, like Motor Oil or Bacon and Tomato Sandwich. Recipes are organized by categories—cocktails, shots, punches, nonalcoholic, coffee and tea, beer and ale, and liqueurs—and you can rate and comment on any recipe. There’s also a forum, a glossary and bartender guide, and drinking games.
Intoximeters Drink Wheel
www.intox.com/wheel/drinkwheel.asp
This site is hosted by Intoximeters, Inc., which makes breath alcohol analyzers. To encourage responsible drinking, the Drink Wheel helps you find out how much is too much for your gender and body weight. Enter the number of drinks, type of drink, time period, gender, body weight, and find the blood/breath alcohol concentration for that data. The results page also tells you legal levels for more states. There’s even HTML code you can copy and paste to add the Drink Wheel to your own website.
Jack Daniels
Take a virtual tour of the Tennessee distillery and learn how this famous whisky is crafted. Learn about the history of Jack Daniels, including the man himself. Try cocktail and food recipes, download wallpaper and screensavers, and find Jack Daniels–sponsored events. You need to enter your date of birth before you can view the site—under 21s need not apply.
Jose Cuervo
People of legal drinking age who enjoy tequila can visit this site to learn about Jose Cuervo products and history, find out how tequila is made, and try food and drink recipes. The Virtual Blender lets you drag-and-drop ingredients into a blender, blend them, and get a cocktail recipe.
Malt Madness
This encyclopedic site contains hundreds of pages about single-malt whisky, and whether you’re new to single malts or a connoisseur, you’ll find interesting information here. There’s a Beginner’s Guide, information about distilleries, a Hit List of favorites, tasting notes, and a blog.
Webtender
The Webtender is your online bartender, with tons of drink recipes, lists of the most popular drinks, active forums, a bartender’s handbook, and stores where you can buy books and supplies. Want to try a new cocktail but not sure what to make? Try the “In My Bar” section, where you specify the supplies you have on hand and get drink recipes that use those ingredients.
World’s Best Bars
The mission of this site is to discover and review the greatest bars on the planet. When you join the site, you can post reviews of the bars you’ve visited. Bars that receive enough positive reviews appear on the Top 100 Bars list. Read reviews to find the hotspots that everyone’s buzzing about, or try a cocktail recipe at home. Just like a real bar, this site “cards” you to make sure you’re 21 or older.
BLOGS
Drinkhacker.com
Lifestyle, entertainment, and tech writer Christopher Null reviews and rates cocktails, wine, and beer.
WIKIS
The Webtender Wiki
http://wiki.webtender.com/wiki/Home
Any bartender (professional or at-home) can contribute to this wiki, a collaborative resource about alcoholic drinks, cocktails, bars, and bartending.
BEVERAGES: COFFEE AND TEA
WEBSITES
CafeSpot
If you want an independent, local coffee shop, rather than a national chain store, CafeSpot can steer you to just the place you’re looking for. This directory lists independent cafés, coffee shops, and restaurants, submitted and rated by the site’s registered members. Search for a specific café, by geographic location, or by tags (such as espresso or wi-fi). You can locate the place on a map or (if available) click a link to its website.
Coffee @ NationalGeographic.com
www.nationalgeographic.com/coffee/
From bean to brew, National Geographic explores the history, production, and varieties of coffee on this educational site.
Coffee Review
If you’re on a quest to find the perfect cup of coffee, take some time to explore this informative site, which reviews all kinds of coffee and rates them on a 100-point scale. The Coffee Reference section covers the basics of coffee: varieties, history, production, regions, a glossary, coffee and health, and coffee culture. You can subscribe to the site’s free newsletter or shop for its top-rated coffees.
Oregon Chai
Chai is a creamy blend of tea, honey, vanilla, spices, and milk. This site gives news and information about Oregon Chai products and recipes for lots of chai-based drinks, such as Caramel Chai Latte and Raspberry Chai Mocha. Café owners will find information about how to order Oregon Chai products for their business.
Peets Coffee & Tea
Peets hand-roasts coffee in small batches and delivers it fresh to you. On this site, you can take an online tour of the company’s artisan roastery and learn how it’s made. You can also shop in the online store (coffees, teas, samplers, equipment, gifts, and other products), find a physical store, sign up for Peetniks to have Peets coffee delivered on a regular schedule, or send an ecup (an email gift certificate for one beverage redeemable at any Peets store).
The Republic of Tea
This site sells hundreds of premium teas and blends: black, green, white, herbal, organic, decaf, and many more. Read about the company’s many products, see what’s new, and check out special offers.
Starbucks
Starbucks fans can learn all about the company on this site. Read about featured coffees and other Starbucks products, find a store, purchase or reload a Starbucks card, and shop online.
Stash Tea
Begun in 1972, Stash Tea sells all kinds of specialty teas, offering more than 200 blends, as well as teapots, tea accessories, gifts, and baked goods and other food items. This website answers all your questions about tea, from varieties of tea to the history of the teapot, and offers recipes, a print catalog, and products for sale. Watch tea-related videos and read customer-submitted recipes, quotes, beauty secrets, and other tips.
BLOGS
Brewed Coffee
News, opinions, and musings about coffee.
COOKING AND RECIPES
WEBSITES
All Recipes
As its name suggests, this site is all about recipes. Find yummy recipes by type of food (appetizers and snacks, main dishes, desserts, and so on), ingredients/cooking method (such as pasta or barbeque), or occasion/cooking style (such as holidays or world cuisine). Of course, you can also search for a particular dish. There’s a featured recipe each day, lots of food photos to whet your appetite, and plenty of tips and product reviews.
ChefTalk
Billing itself as “a food lover’s link to professional chefs,” ChefTalk features discussion forums where you can interact with chefs and ask advice on food-related matters, as well as read cookbook reviews and view a food photo gallery. Here you’ll find chef-created recipes, cooking articles, and a glossary of cooking terms. Professional chefs can check out job opportunities on the job board.
Chile Pepper Magazine
Some like it hot—and if that’s you, check out this site’s chili pepper recipes and articles. You can subscribe online.
Cook’s Illustrated
This site has some free recipes and product reviews, but most of its content is for members who pay a subscription fee. Subscribers get access to 15 years’ worth of recipes from Cook’s Illustrated magazine, cooking videos, menus and shopping lists, full access to the Tasting Lab (which rates different brands of food products) and Equipment reviews, Quick Tips, and forums. With a 14-day free trial membership, you can look around before you decide to subscribe.
Related Site
Cookbooks On/Line
Need an idea for dinner? Take a minute to register for a free account, and then search this site’s massive database of more than one million recipes. You’re sure to find something you can cook tonight.
The Cooking Couple
Coauthors of a cookbook that focuses on “recipes for romance, love, and lust,” Ellen and Michael Albertson’s site has recipes, restaurant reviews, food-related news, and an Ask the Dietician section. For romantically minded foodies, there’s even a section on aphrodisiacs.
Cooking Light
Cooking Light is the biggest food magazine in the United States, and its companion website shows how to make meals both light and delicious. Sections include Food, Menus & Planning, Cooking 101, Healthy Life, and Community.
Cooks Recipes
Thousands of free recipes (including video recipes), reviews, tons of tips, a cooking dictionary, and lots more make this site well worth a visit.
Epicurious
If you love to eat, this site is for you. You’ll find delicious recipes, including some from the pages of Gourmet, Bon Appétit, and SELF magazines; video instruction; articles and guides; a blog; podcasts; and a community area with forums, user pages, a chat area, and user-submitted recipes and videos. The site is well designed and full of recipes and tips.
Fabulous Foods
Here you’ll find thousands of recipes, covering everything from soup to nuts. There are tips, seasonal features, recipes for campers, tutorials from guest chefs, a cooking school to teach the basics, cookbook reviews, a section to help you stay fit while you’re eating all that fabulous food, and more.
Food Network
All your favorite Food Network shows are here, with videos, recipes, and advice. Check out the tips for holidays and parties, quick and easy cooking, and healthy eating, as well as the current Top 10 recipes. The Video Center has streaming broadband channels such as Daily Menu Ideas and Bobby Flay.
The Italian Chef
Italy is home to some of the world’s greatest cuisine, and this site helps you cook it like a pro. The site has the recipes, features, and cookbook reviews you’d expect; it also has restaurant reviews and advice about traveling to Italy. Mangia!
MyRecipes.com
MyRecipes.com features thousands of recipes in 150 categories, as well as menus from magazines such as Cooking Light, Southern Living, Sunset, Coastal Living, Cottage Living, Real Simple, and Health. When you create an account, you can create a recipe file to save your favorite recipes and menus and generate shopping lists.
Recipe Source
This site has 70,000 recipes in two main sections: international cuisine is organized by region and ethnic group; other recipes are organized by kind of dish, from soups and appetizers to sweets and desserts.
RecipeZaar
RecipeZaar members have shared nearly 300,000 recipes on this site, so you’ll find lots of yummy ideas here. You’ll also find cookbooks, menus, community forums, and the Eater’s Digest blog. Premium membership, available for $24.95/year, lets you personalize recipes and create your own custom cookbook, build shopping lists, and contact other members individually.
Top Secret Recipes
Cookbook author Todd Wilbur specializes in “cloning” recipes for some of the most popular foods in the United States, from supermarket products to restaurant chain favorites. Most of the recipes are for sale, but many are available free. Site visitors can rate and comment on recipes, so you know whether others thought Wilbur got a recipe right before you buy or try it.
Weight Watchers Food and Recipes
www.weightwatchers.com/food/index.aspx
Watching your weight is no reason to give up great food, and the Food & Recipes area of the Weight Watchers website has plenty of suggestions for delicious meals. Learn how the Weight Watchers food plan works and get recipes and ideas for healthy eating (at home or at a restaurant). Find out about joining a support group, either in your area or online (online support is available by subscription).
World Hearth Circle of International Cooking
This site has more than 3,000 recipes from cuisines around the world. Each recipe is linked to the cookbook it comes from, so if you like the recipe you can buy the cookbook.
BLOGS
Chef Tom Cooks
Chef Tom blogs from New York City, sharing great recipes.
Emily’s Food and Recipe Blog
http://moderndaygourmet.wordpress.com/
This blog is all about food: cooking tips, recipes, menus, and restaurant reviews.
The Secret Recipe Blog
If you’ve ever wished you could make your favorite restaurant dish at home, check out this blog, which specializes in copycat recipes. Recipes are rated by the blog’s readers.
VIDEOS
FoodNetwork.com Video Center
www.foodnetwork.com/food/video_guide
A great resource for learning great new recipes by watching them prepared, this site offers daily menu ideas, seasonal specials, cooking tips, and more.
iFoods.tv
Watch and learn with free online recipe videos and cooking tutorials. When you register, you can upload your own videos and recipes, rate and comment on videos, and participate in the forum. The site awards “brownie points” for participating. You get 10 points, for example, when you upload a video recipe and 5 points for every text recipe. Each month, the five members with the most brownie points win prizes.
WIKIS
Recipes Wiki
With nearly 50,000 entries about recipes, cooking, and ingredients, this wiki is a foodie’s paradise. Contribute, edit, and discuss food-related articles here.
Social Networking
FoodPals
When you join this free site, you can create your own profile page and blog, start or participate in a group, contribute recipes and videos, and connect with others who love good food as much as you do.
FORUMS/DISCUSSIONS
Cooking 101
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-fdpantry
The iVillage cooking forum has lively discussions about recipes and cooking basics. A good place to get menu ideas and make friends.
Discuss Cooking
This site has dozens of forums for discussing all aspects of cooking: get tips, post and find recipes, and discuss your favorites.
FOOD: GENERAL
WEBSITES
Constitution Seafoods
If you love New England–style seafood, take a look at the online store of this Boston-based company, which sells live lobsters, clambake supplies, and seafood and surf and turf dinners—shipped right to your door. Also has lobster recipes and advice on cooking lobsters.
Global Gourmet
This site’s motto is “We bring you the world on a plate,” and there’s lots of info here about delicious food from around the world. Departments include Kate’s Global Kitchen, Cookbook Profiles, Holiday & Party Recipes, I Love Desserts, On Wine, Green Basics, Cooking with Kids, and more.
Gourmet Food Mall
This site offers a directory of online stores where you can buy gourmet and specialty food items, gift baskets, and cooking accessories, as well as everyday favorites.
GourmetStore.com
In addition to products such as herbs, spices, chili pastes, sun-dried tomatoes, and more, this site offers recipes to try.
Harry & David
For delicious gourmet gifts—fresh fruits, decadent chocolates, yummy desserts, Harry & David’s famous Moose Munch, and more—visit this site. Shop by occasion, price, or customer favorites. You can also join the Fruit-of-the-Month Club.
Hickory Farms
Shop here for sausages, cheese, fruit, nuts, and other snacks, meats and seafood, and desserts/sweets. If you’re looking for a gift, check out the gift baskets, boxes, and towers.
Omaha Steaks
Omaha Steaks sells steaks, of course, but also other meats and side dishes, pasta, appetizers, desserts, complete meals, and more. Check out current specials and best sellers, try recipes, shop for gifts, or find a bricks-and-mortar store near you.
The Savory Pantry
The Savory Pantry sells delicious foods to fill your pantry: beverages, condiments, desserts/sweets, dry goods, honey, jams and preserves, meats, oils, vinegars, salsa and dips, snacks, sauces and spreads, as well as gifts and accessories. Hungry yet?
SeventyPercent.com
The name of this chocolate-lovers’ site refers to cocoa content: the site specializes in reviews and ratings of dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa. The Chocopaedia section has reviews and a list of the top 10 chocolate bars. There’s also a blog, forums, and an online store.
Sushi Guide
Paradise for sushi lovers, this site tells you about sushi history and offers a glossary and guidelines for making sushi at home. There’s a blog and message boards, as well as a sushi bar finder.
BLOGS
Amateur Gourmet
Author Adam D. Roberts provides food news, recipes, restaurant reviews, how-to tips, and other writings on this fun, well-written blog.
Foodies!
Food-related news and articles from worldwide sources.
Slashfood
Multiple bloggers talk about food—from cooking it to eating it—along with food-related news.
SOCIAL NETWORKING
FriendsEAT.com
A social network for those who are passionate about food. After you join, you become a “Foodie” and can create a profile and blog; upload recipes, restaurant reviews, and videos; and interact with other Foodies.
GROCERIES
WEBSITES
Amazon.com
Is there anything this online mega-retailer doesn’t sell? Amazon.com lists more than 22,000 nonperishable grocery items, including natural and organic items, delivered straight to your door. Orders may qualify for free Super Saver or Amazon Prime shipping.
Coupon Mom
The Coupon Mom presents a directory of coupons you can print out and take to the store. You’ll also find grocery deals by state, a database of coupons, restaurant coupons, free samples and offers, a blog, and more. When you join the site, you get a free ebook that gives strategies for cutting your grocery bill in half.
EthnicGrocer
EthnicGrocer has an impressive collection of foods from around the world, including hard-to-find items. You can shop by product, by country, or take a look at the current specials. The site includes pantry essentials for a variety of cuisines. The Cooking School area lists recipes by course (appetizers, breads, entrees) or by country.
Groceries Express
When you visit this site, enter your ZIP code so that Groceries Express can fill its virtual aisles with the products, specials, and delivery options available for your area. As you select products, they appear in your shopping cart on the right side of the screen, which keeps a running total of your purchase (including shipping).
Kroger
The Kroger Company owns over a dozen supermarket chains and other stores throughout the United States. This site offers recipes and party planning tips, ideas for healthy living, gift suggestions, and the like. You can find a store near you, order a prescription refill, and view weekly specials.
NetGrocer
NetGrocer offers all the grocery items you’d find at your local supermarket, including deli, dairy, kosher, and organic products, as well as health and beauty products. The company has more than 3,500 refrigerated, frozen, and perishable items that it can ship right to your door.
Peapod
Choose the products what you want on this site; Peapod does your shopping for you and, within hours, delivers them straight to your home or business.
Piggly Wiggly
Piggly Wiggly was the first self-service grocery store in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1916. Today, it has stores in 16 states. Its website provides kitchen tips, menu suggestions, recipes, and printable shopping lists. You can also shop for Piggly Wiggly collectibles and find store locations.
Safeway
With 1,775 stores across the United States and Canada, Safeway is one of the largest supermarket chains in North America. In certain areas, you can shop online and have your groceries delivered to you at home (enter your ZIP code to learn whether this service is available in your area). The website also has information about Safeway stores, a Wellness Center (articles about health and nutrition), and a Recipe Center.
Trader Joe’s
This fun, funky chain features gourmet, organic, vegetarian, and unusual foods. The website has the company’s history, store locations, product info (including lists of gluten-free, low-sodium, and vegan foods), recipes, and more.
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods has more than 270 locations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Its focus is on natural and organic foods. Here you can learn about the company, its stores, and its products; find nutrition and health information; and try out some delicious recipes. Has blogs and a podcast.
ORGANIC FOODS
WEBSITES
Eden Foods
This family-owned natural food company, begun in 1968, aims to bring clean, natural, organic food to its customers. It offers food-related articles and recipes, as well as a wide range of organic food for purchase.
Local Harvest
As Local Harvest points out, “The best organic food is what’s grown closest to you.” This website offers a directory of farmers’ markets, farms, and restaurants, so you can find an organic food source that’s close to home. There’s an online store for products you can’t find elsewhere.
Organic Authority
“Get hip, go organic!” proclaims this site’s motto, and here you’ll find everything you need to do just that: information about organic food, organic recipes, tips on organic living and gardening, feature articles, a blog, and more. Has an online store.
Organic Consumers Association
The OCA estimates that 50 million American consumers buy organic products, and the group’s focus includes food safety, industrial agriculture, and genetic engineering, among other issues. Visit this website to learn about the group’s work and current issues, as well as find trusted sources of organic food.
Organic Kitchen
This directory offers links to organic sites in these categories: Food A–Z, Restaurants, Farms, Markets, Vineyards, Cooking, Gardening, and Living. For most linked sites, you can buy products online or by phone.
Organic Mall: Food
www.organicmall.com/categories/78
The Organic Mall is a retail site that combines a directory of organic suppliers (retail and wholesale) with its own store. Also has a complete range of organic products beyond food (bedding, clothing, pet products, and so on).
Organic To Go
Organic To Go cafés are located in California and Washington. The company also does corporate catering. Check out the current menu and find a location.
Organic Trade Association
The mission of this business association is to “promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public, and the economy.” Organic businesses and farmers can join the OTA; consumers can find educational materials and directories of organic businesses.
Organic.org
Organic.org promotes organic agriculture, food, and other products. Visit this site to learn what “organic” really means and how organic products benefit you and the Earth. The Product Reviews section has reviews of organic food, as well as other products.
BLOGS
The Daily Table
http://sustainabletable.org/blog/
With a focus on organic food and sustainable agriculture, this blog is of interest to those who want to eat healthier and protect the planet.
Organic Food Blog
This blog presents posts about organic foods, organic news, and alternative farming techniques.
Tiny Farm Blog
Get a day-to-day peek into life on an organic microfarm (just two acres) in southern Ontario, Canada.
DISCUSSIONS/FORUMS
Organic Food Forum
www.topix.com/forum/food/organic
Here you can discuss any topic related to organic food.
RESTAURANTS
WEBSITES
A&W Restaurants
Applebee’s
Arby’s
Bahama Breeze
Benihana
Bennigan’s
Black Angus Steakhouse
Black-Eyed Pea
Blimpie Subs and Salads
Bob Evans
Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits
Bonefish Grill
Border Café
Boston Market
Bugaboo Creek Steak House
Burger King
Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Cheesecake Factory
Chevy’s Fresh Mex
Chick-fil-A
Chili’s Grill & Bar
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store & Restaurant
Dairy Queen
Denny’s
Friendly’s
Fuddruckers
Godfather’s Pizza
The Ground Round
Happy Chef Family Restaurants
Hard Rock Café
Hops Grill and Brewery
Houlihan’s
IHOP
KFC
Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon
Long John Silver’s
McDonald’s
Moe’s Southwest Grill
O’Charleys
Old Country Buffet
The Old Spaghetti Factory
Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
On The Border
Outback Steakhouse
Panera Bread
Paradise Bakery & Café
Perkins Restaurant and Bakery
Pizza Hut
Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits
Quiznos Sub Sandwich Shop
Rainforest Cafe
Red Lobster Seafood Restaurants
Red Robin
Romano’s Macaroni Grill
Roy Rogers Restaurants
Ruby Tuesday
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Schlotzsky’s
Señor Frog’s Restaurant and Bar
Shoney’s Restaurant
Sizzler USA
Sonic
Souplantation & Sweet Tomatoes
Steak & Ale Restaurant
Steak ‘n Shake
Subway
T.G.I. Friday’s Worldwide
Taco Bell
Tony Roma’s
Trader Vic’s
Uno Chicago Grill
Waffle House
Wendy’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers
White Castle
SPECIAL DIETS: GLUTEN FREE
WEBSITES
Celiac Sprue Association
The motto of this site is “celiacs helping celiacs,” and it aims to educate about celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformism, as well as to help individuals who have these conditions. The site’s In the Kitchen section provides recipes, advice from an executive chef, gluten-free flour formulas, a glossary, and links to cooking contests.
Celiac.com
This site provides information about celiac disease and gluten-free eating. It’s packed with information and resources, from news and articles to blogs and a podcast. There’s a forum where members can talk to each other about coping with this disease in all aspects of their lives.
Gluten Solutions
Shoppers who suffer from gluten intolerance or full-blown celiac disease will find gluten-free and wheat-free products in this online store.
The Gluten-Free Mall
An online store with a wide selection of gluten-free, wheat-free, and casein-free foods.
GlutenFree.com
This site sells gluten-free products and provides free recipes, information, and resources related to celiac disease and autism.
Tom Sawyer Gluten-Free Products
Tom Sawyer has developed a gluten-free flour that the company claims can be substituted for regular flour in your favorite recipes, no adjustments needed. On this site you can learn about and buy Tom Sawyer products, get baking hints and recipes, and find information about gluten intolerance and celiac disease.
BLOGS
Gluten Free Mommy
Natalie Naramor offers gluten-free recipes the whole family will love, as well as tips on gluten-free living and eating.
Gluten-Free Girl
http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/
Shauna James Ahern, an author who has celiac disease, blogs about gluten-free living and cooking. Lots of yummy recipes.
Karina’s Kitchen
http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/
Cookbook author and artist Karina Allrich offers a kitchenful of delicious gluten-free, casein-free, soy-free recipes, accompanied by mouth-watering photos.
SPECIAL DIETS: KOSHER
WEBSITES
Jewish Recipes
This recipe site includes plenty of kosher recipes and Jewish cooking news, as well as an online store for kosher products. There are also sections on kosher dieting, kitchenware, Judaica, and more.
Kosher Delight
This online Jewish magazine has an extensive kosher section: find a kosher restaurant, hotel, or product or try kosher recipes.
Kosher Express Kitchen
Here you’ll find an abundance of kosher recipes for holidays and every day. There are also links to other recipe sites and Judaic resources.
Kosher.com
“Your one-stop kosher superstore” sells kosher foods (including gluten-free and organic) and Judaica. You’ll also find free recipes, articles, cartoons, and a blog.
KosherRecipe.org
Search the recipe index to find a particular dish, or browse by categories such as Kids Corner, Shabbat, Jewish Holidays, Quick & Easy, Pareve, and more. There’s a forum and a section on keeping kosher.
My Kosher Market
The online store of South Florida Kosher Meats offers a variety of kosher foods, wines, and products that ship straight to your home (U.S. only). There’s a minimum order requirement of $50.
OU (Orthodox Union)
The Orthodox Union certifies more than 400,000 products using strict standards of kosher supervision. Its site provides educational resources, a restaurant locator, and more than 2,300 recipes.
Shamash’s Kosher Restaurant Database
Shamash is a Jewish network that provides news, information, and discussion. Its searchable kosher restaurant database lists more than 2,700 restaurants in 50 countries.
BLOGS
The Jew and the Carrot
This blog’s name was inspired by these words of artist Paul Cézanne: “There will come a day when a carrot, freshly observed, will spark a revolution.” Here, several writers blog about the Jewish community, food, and contemporary issues.
Kosher Soul Food
http://koshersoulfood.blogspot.com/
Yolanda Shoshana, known as Shoshi, gives recipes for kosher “food with chutzpah” and talks about food and cooking.
SPECIAL DIETS:LOW CARB
WEBSITES
The Low Carb Café
Whether you’re trying out a low-carb lifestyle or you’ve been living low carb for years, this site offers information, recipes (more than 1,200 of them), and support. If you can’t find a low-carb version of a recipe you want, you can request it. Site members can rate and comment on recipes.
Low Carb Cooking
This site is all about recipes, and with nearly 2,600 recipes to choose from, you’re sure to find low-carb dishes you’ll love. You can add your favorite recipes or join the Recipe Club to get low-carb ideas delivered to your inbox.
Low Carb Friends
This comprehensive site is overflowing with low-carb information and support. There’s a Newbie FAQ for getting started, forums and chat rooms for ongoing support, thousands of free low-carb recipes, product reviews, cartoons and eCards, and more.
Low Carb Luxury
Here you’ll find a beginner’s guide; recipes, tips, hints, and ideas; product reviews; and an online store. Some areas of the site are out of date, but you’ll still find lots of good information.
Netrition: Low Carb Foods
www26.netrition.com/low_carb_products_page.html
This online nutrition store has an excellent selection of low-carb foods, nutrition bars, mixes, and products. Registered shoppers can read and submit ratings and reviews for individual products.
BLOGS
Big Daddy D’s Lowcarbohydrate.BlogSpot.com
http://lowcarbohydrate.blogspot.com/
Recipes and thoughts on living a low-carb lifestyle.
Healthy Low-Carb Living
http://lovinglowcarblife.blogspot.com/
Amy Dungan has been living low-carb since 2001 and posting about it on this blog since 2006.
Jimmy Moore’s Livin’ la Vida Low-Carb
http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/
Blogger Jimmy Moore says that he lost 180 pounds in his first year of low-carb eating. Now he writes about his low-carb lifestyle, reviews products, and interviews people on health and weight-loss topics. He also does a podcast.
SPECIAL DIETS: VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN
WEBSITES
GoVeg.com
Sponsored by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), this site promotes vegetarianism and anticruelty activism. Main sections of the site include Vegetarian 101, Recipes, Videos, and Vegetarian Starter Kit. Because much of the focus of this site is spotlighting cruelty to animals in the food industry, it has some images and information that kids and sensitive people may find disturbing.
International Vegetarian Union
The International Vegetarian Union (IVU) was formed in 1908 to promote vegetarianism around the world. Its international database includes information about vegetarian eating and restaurants, vegetarian-friendly accommodations, shopping, animal rights, and more. You’ll also find recipes, famous vegetarians, and a virtual “vegetarian museum” that traces the history of vegetarianism from ancient times to today.
Vegan Outreach
This nonprofit organization describes its mission as being “dedicated to reducing animal suffering by promoting informed, ethical eating.” It aims to educate consumers about food industry practices and promote vegan-style eating. Its Vegan Starter Guide tells you what vegans eat and offers recipes, a glossary, and featured products. Some of the images and text on the site may be upsetting to children and others.
VeganFood
With more than 1,400 well-organized vegan recipes, this site is a great resource for vegans and vegetarians alike. It also features a blog that answers visitors’ questions and talks about vegan products, recipes, and lifestyle.
VegCooking
This PETA-sponsored site features vegetarian menus and recipes, cookbook reviews and cooking tips, a guide for eating out and buying vegan products, and an introduction to vegetarianism.
Vegetarian and Vegan Information
This encyclopedic site gives information about vegetarianism and veganism, from defining terms to nutrition information to recipes and resources.
Vegetarian Resource Group
The website of the nonprofit Vegetarian Resource Group, publisher of Vegetarian Journal, features online articles from the magazine. You’ll also find a restaurant guide; information about veganism, nutrition, and food ingredients; lots of recipes; and more.
VegWeb.com
This site offers vegetarian recipes and articles, a shopping directory, a directory of links to other vegetarian resources, and a social area called VegFriends. When you register, you can create a profile, connect with other vegetarians, write your own blog, participate in chats and forum discussions, and create recipe and grocery lists.
BLOGS
Groovy Vegetarian
This vegetarian lifestyle blog highlights news and items of interest to vegetarians.
SOCIAL NETWORKING
Vegetarian Passions
http://vegetarianpassions.com/
Single vegetarians can sign up at this free online dating and social networking site to find others who share their lifestyle. The site offers photo personals, chat, forums, email, and more.
WINE
WEBSITES
Ambrosia Wine
This online retailer says it sells “only memorable wines.” You can shop by type of wine, browse weekly specials, or find bargain-priced wines under $20. Each wine has a full description (often with tasting notes). You can join a wine club and try a new wine each month, plus receive discounts on your purchases on the site. Ambrosia Wine can ship only to certain states, so check to make sure yours is one of them.
Bordeaux
This site tells you all about the wines produced in the Bordeaux region of France: varieties, vintages, classifications, how wines are made, and how to taste wine and pair it with food. You can also take a virtual tour of Bordeaux, “the wine capital of the world.”
CorkSavvy
Get savvy about wine at this site, which features news and reviews, a wine of the week, searchable wine and vineyard lists, interviews, advice about matching wine to food, and other wine resources.
E. & J. Gallo Winery
The largest wine producer in the United States (and second largest in the world), Gallo has made wine for 75 years. On this site you’ll find information about the Gallo family and the winery’s history, how the wines are made, and the varieties available. Use the wine pairing tool to find the perfect wine to complement a particular food. There’s also a wine store and wine clubs you can join. You must be of legal drinking age to enter some areas of the site.
Fetzer Vineyards
After you’ve entered your birth date (to prove you’re 21 or older), you can enter the site to learn about this northern California vineyard and its wines. Use the wine compass to match your taste preferences to a type of a wine. Find recipes and wine–food pairing suggestions.
Food and Wine Access
Find out about upcoming wine festivals and events around the world, learn about past events, and read wine and restaurant reviews.
Food & Wine Magazine
Food & Wine magazine’s companion website is full of features that highlight good food and good wine. You’ll find plenty of recipes, advice on finding a great wine, entertaining tips, as well as news, videos, and more. The site’s wine blog is called The Tasting Room.
Geerlings & Wade
This wine merchant ships fine wines to 32 states. You can browse by price range, region, type of wine, or food pairing. You can also buy wine accessories, such as bottle openers and chillers. There are also free recipes and articles about different wine-making regions.
International Wine Review
Subscribers to this site receive bimonthly reports that focus on a particular wine region, with tasting notes and ratings of hundreds of wines and suggestions for matching wine with food. Subscribers also have access to previous reports and the site’s archive of wine notes and ratings. Nonsubscribers can read the free articles in the site’s Education area and blog.
Internet Guide to Wine
This online wine guide explains all about wine, from how it’s made and aged to how to buy, store, taste, and enjoy it. Has a table of contents and an index, making it easy to find the topic you’re looking for.
Italian Wines
www.italianmade.com/wines/home.cfm
Learn all about the wines of Italy on this site. There’s a wine primer and information about the different kinds of Italian wines (by region and by appellation). The Wine & Foods section offers recipes, from bread and appetizers through to desserts, with wine suggestions to accompany each one.
K&L Wine Merchants
Recently named one of the top 10 online wine shops by Food & Wine magazine, K&L features both new and vintage wines from all over the world. Check out the staff’s current top picks or find a great wine for less than $25. You’ll find lots of information about wine-making regions, varieties, vintages, and individual wines. Also sells distilled spirits, accessories, gift certificates, and wine club memberships. There’s a blog and a free newsletter.
Kendall Jackson Vineyards
Learn about the wines made by this California winery, including the foods they best complement. Here you’ll find advice on serving wine and entertaining and upcoming events featuring Kendall Jackson wines. Join a wine club for monthly wine shipments, buy gifts, or plan a visit to the winery.
Le Champagne
www.champagne.com/en_indx.html
Dedicated to the sparkling wines produced in the Champagne region of France, this site has these main sections: Discover (about the Champagne region), Select (learn how to match a champagne to food or an occasion), Tasting, and Explore.
NapaValley.com
If you’re planning a visit to the Napa Valley, or just want to learn more about the wines made there, take some time to explore this site. There’s lots of information about tours, lodging, restaurants, and attractions for visitors. Click Wineries to check out featured wineries or get a complete A–Z list.
Robert Mondavi Winery
Pay a virtual visit to this California winery and read about its history, vineyards, winemaking, and wines. See the winery’s art collection and learn about upcoming events and concerts. Shop in the wine shop or join a wine club to receive a shipment of wine each month.
Robert Parker Online
Robert Parker, founder of The Wine Advocate, has created “the independent consumer’s guide to fine wines” in this site. Most of the site’s content is reserved for paying subscribers, but there’s plenty of free information, too, such as a wine glossary and a retailer search engine. Subscribers get access to a huge database with more than 100,000 Wine Advocate tasting notes, wine and food reviews, an archive of articles from the magazine, and more.
Spanish Wines Online
Explore the wines of Spain, which has more than 50 recognized wine regions. Here you’ll find clear information about Spanish wine styles and vintages. The site’s shop can ship only within the U.K.
Vinfolio
Vinfolio believes in “fine wine, finer service.” Its site offers a wine shop, a virtual wine cellar, services for the wine collector, as well as blogs and forums for wine lovers.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine
The online home of Wine Enthusiast has featured articles from the magazine, as well as its own unique content. Check out the wine and spirits ratings and database of award-winning restaurants.
Related Site
Wine Spectator
The website of this respected wine magazine offers wine news and ratings, educational resources, blogs, videos, and forums. There are also sections on wine collecting, food and travel, and wine-trade news. Much of the site is available only to paying subscribers, but free content includes a daily wine pick, wine basics, and the most recent Top 100 list.
Wine.com
Wine.com is primarily an online store where you can search for and buy wine, as well as gift baskets and other wine-related gifts, or join a monthly wine club. The site’s other resources include a Wine Basics section, where you can learn about wine by type or region and get advice about food pairings, serving wine, and entertaining. There’s also a Community section where wine lovers can publish reviews and create their own wine lists.
WineEducation.com
If you want to learn the basics about wine, this site is a great place to begin. From how to taste and talk about wine to buying and serving tips to building your wine collection, certified wine educator Stephen Reiss helps you get the most out of wine. You can sign up for Juice, a free newsletter, or read the site’s blog.
WineLoversPage.com
The Wine Lover’s Page is all about wine appreciation. There’s a self-paced wine-tasting course, hundreds of tasting notes, and the 30-Second Wine Advisor, a free newsletter. Here you’ll also find podcasts, forums, and videos.
Wines of Germany
This site, maintained by the U.S. office of the Deutsches Weininstitut, aims to promote and educate about German wines. Basics include information about the kinds of grapes grown in Germany, how to read a wine label, tasting, wine and health, and so on. There’s also travel information, including visiting German wineries and wine festivals.
BLOGS
Into Wine
Here, “wine experts and enthusiasts share their unique wine experiences.” A variety of bloggers write about regions, kinds of wine, food and wine pairing, storing wine, and more. Into Wine TV presents video wine tastings.
Vinography
Founded by Alder Yarrow in 2003, this blog now features several contributors who write about wine and food, offering wine-related news and reviews from around the world. Received a 2008 American Wine Blog Award for best overall blog.
PODCASTS
Wine for Newbies
A series of more than 75 audio lessons that compose a complete course in wine: tasting, varieties and regions, and other info for anyone who wants to learn how to appreciate wine. There’s also a wine blog, a directory of other wine education sites, and a bookstore.
Winecast
A podcast and blog featuring wine notes, quick picks, wine-related news, and more.
WIKIS
EncycloWine
More than 630 articles about all aspects of wine, with more being added daily. Join the community and edit or contribute articles.
SOCIAL NETWORKING
Wine Societies
This site combines a wine marketplace (where you can auction or sell wine to wholesale or retail buyers) with a social network that lets you connect with other wine lovers; create a profile; post reviews, wine lists, photos, and videos; set up groups; and more.
WineZap
This site says its purpose is to help you “find, price, and compare wines.” And that’s true. But WineZap is also a place to connect with other wine enthusiasts. When you join, you can create a profile; make friends and send them messages; post reviews, photos, and videos; leave comments on others’ posts; join or create a group; and stock your virtual wine cellar.
FORUMS/DISCUSSIONS
West Coast Wine Network
Here, a community of wine enthusiasts discuss their passion: good wine. Whether you’re a newbie or a connoisseur, you’re welcome to join the conversation.