Epicurious

For the ancient Greek philosopher, see Epicurus. For the temple dedicated to Apollo Epicurius, see Bassae.
Epicurious
Type of site
 Food writing
Owner Condé Nast Publications
Website epicurious.com
Alexa rank Negative increase 4,678 (April 2014)[1]
Commercial Yes
Registration Optional
Launched 1995
Current status Active

Epicurious is a digital brand for consumers interested in food and cooking-related topics. The website was created by Condé Nast in 1995 and is now part of the publisher’s Food Innovation Group.[2] Epicurious also serves mobile content through apps available across multiple platforms, including Android, Windows, and iOS phones and tablets, as well as the Apple Watch.[3][4]

Launch: 1995

Epicurious launched on August 18, 1995 as part of CondeNet, a subsidiary of Condé Nast that was created to develop content specifically for the Internet. Under the direction of CondeNet president Rochelle Udell and editor-in-chief Joan Feeney, former executive editor of Mademoiselle, Epicurious offered recipes, cooking tips and general information on food, wine, and dining out. The site also covered travel at launch[5] and drew from existing content found in Condé Nast properties Gourmet, Bon Appétit, and Condé Nast Traveler.[6]

Early Growth: 1996 - 2004

From 1996 to 1997, Epicurious grew to include special initiatives like full Thanksgiving meal recipes lists,[7] and entered into a deal with CNET to provide content for Snap! Online – a website and CD-ROM service designed to introduce specific resources to new Web users.[8] Additionally, the site developed a partnership with Discovery Channel for a 26-episode cable television program titled ‘Epicurious.’[9] The program debuted in 1998 on the Discovery Channel and was hosted by Jonathan Karsh.[10]

Also in 1998, Epicurious partnered with the InfoGear Technology Corporation, enabling access to more than 7,600 recipes via the CIDCO iPhone and other InfoGear products.[11] Epicurious entered into an ecommerce deal with Williams-Sonoma that would allow sales of cookware through the site.[12] That same year, major changes to content were implemented, with the launch of Epicurious TV - a collection of food videos - as well as the spinoff of travel content into the newly formed Concierge.com.[13]

Rochelle Udell left Condé Nast in 1999,[14] and Elizabeth Shepard was named editor-in-chief of Epicurious the following year.[15] The site grew to include 16,000 recipes by 2003.[16]

Ten-Year Anniversary, Smartphone Era Begins: 2005 - 2014

At the time of the site’s ten-year anniversary in 2005, Epicurious had amassed a repository of 20,000 recipes and had added a mobile service called “Epi to Go”, which enabled users to download recipes to their phones and PDAs.[17] Tanya Steel joined as editor-in-chief and under her direction in 2007, Epicurious partnered with The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to produce “Inside the CIA,” a video series that took viewers inside the Culinary Institute of America.[18] In addition, the site partnered with Ofoto founder Kamran Mohsenin to create Tastebook, an online tool that allowed users to create their own customizable, hardbound cookbooks using Epicurious’ collection of recipes, then up to 25,000.[19] The site also expanded content to YouTube, producing a series of two-minute tutorial videos.[20] In April 2009, Epicurious launched its mobile app for the Apple iPhone,[21] which included search functionality for all recipes on the site, as well as the ability to create custom shopping lists. The app was first available through the iOS App Store, and versions for Android, Windows Phone 7 followed.[22] The Epicurious app was featured in Apple commercials[23] and was named a New York Times “App of the Week” on April 27.[24]

Together with Michelle Obama, Epicurious launched the "Chefs Move to Schools" campaign in the summer of 2010. Chefs Move to Schools enlisted more than 1,000 local chefs to educate students and staff in local schools across the nation about healthy eating practices.[25]

Early in 2011, the Epicurious iPhone app was named as one of TIME Magazine’s 50 Best Phone Apps.[26] In September of that same year, Epicurious announced a partnership with Cooking.com to create an online store that allowed consumers to purchase kitchenware and specialty food items tied to Epicurious recipes and content.[27] In December 2011, the site made 75 Random House eCookbooks available for sale from authors including Tom Colicchio, Bobby Flay, Martha Stewart, and Alice Waters.[28]

In 2012 Epicurious released its own print cookbook; a 400-page print edition that offered more than 250 recipes organized by season, with meal categories including breakfast, starters, mains, and sides.[29] The cookbook debuted on the best-seller list.[30]

Condé Nast announced on May 9, 2012 that it had bought the digital mobile shopping list and recipe service, ZipList. Epicurious became the first Condé Nast site on the platform, enabling users of shopping list and recipe box tools to save content from anywhere on the Internet.[31]

Epicurious launched the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge in 2012,[32] a nationwide contest that was created through another partnership with Michelle Obama, as well as the US Departments of Education and Agriculture. The Healthy Lunchtime Challenge attracted 1,300 entrants in 2013.[33][34] The contest continued annually into 2014 and 2015.[35][36]

In June 2013, Carolyn Kremins, VP and Publisher of Condé Nast Traveler moved over to Epicurious as SVP and GM.[37] Nilou Motamed was named Editor-in-Chief and began working on a redesign with an eye towards highlighting non-recipe content, like restaurants and travel coverage.[38]

By January 2014, Epicurious had developed new versions of its iPad and iPhone apps. Dubbed the ‘Epicurious Recipe & Shopping List,’ these effectively replaced the 2009 release, which had seen 7.5 million downloads to that point. The app launches were part of a larger rebranding strategy aimed at positioning Epicurious as a complete lifestyle brand as well as a destination for recipes.[39]

Rebrand, Relaunch, 20th Anniversary: 2015 - Present

Epicurious app as viewed on the Apple Watch Home screen

In August 2014, Condé Nast combined Bon Appétit and Epicurious into a single digital food platform led by Pamela Drucker Mann, Bon Appétit Senior Vice President and Publisher. Bon Appétit Editor-in-Chief Adam Rapoport was named Editorial Director of Epicurious. Kremins left Condé Nast and Motamed, who had remained as Editor-in-Chief at Epicurious, was let go a month later.[40][41] The site’s Director of Product Eric Gillin was named Executive Director, managing both product and editorial.[42]

Under Gillin’s direction, the Epicurious brand was relaunched on February 3, 2015, with a new logo and new content strategy, focusing on recipe curation and helping home cooks. The new design combined the existing recipe curation with new technology and content aimed at enticing and guiding home cooks. Two new tools were introduced: the algorithm-based ‘Cook It,’ which suggested dishes based on answers provided by the user; and ‘Food Forecast,’ which suggested recipes based on current weather conditions in the area.[43] The mobile apps for Windows and IOS were redesigned as well.[44]

Coinciding with the public availability of the Apple Watch in April 2015, Epicurious offered its own Apple Watch ‘Smart Timer’ app; geared toward helping home cooks time their food preparations based on existing recipes. The app launched with options for cooking five cuts of steak, six seafood preparations, 17 vegetables, and a total of 11 chicken and pork portions.[45]

On August 18, 2015, Epicurious celebrated the 20th anniversary of its launch by publishing an oral history of the early days of the site. The piece features commentary from Rochelle Udell and Joan Feeney, among others.[46]

Awards

2000

2002

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2015

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Epicurious.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  2. ↑ "Conde Nast's The Food Innovation Group Launches The First Native Private Marketplace Powered By TripleLift". Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  3. ↑ Hebbard, D.B. "Conde Nast's Epicurious revamps iOS and Windows apps following unveiling of redesigned website". Talking New Media. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  4. ↑ Ha, Anthony. "Epicurious Brings Cooking Instructions To The Apple Watch With New Smart Timer App". TechCrunch. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  5. ↑ Sacharow, Anya. "IQ News: Condenet Goes Offline to Plug Its Four Online Properties.". AdWeek. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  6. ↑ Carmody, Deirdre. "THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Conde Nast to Jump Into Cyberspace". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  7. ↑ Sreenivasan, Sreenath. "Turkey via E-Mail? Is Nothing Spared?". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "CNET's Snap! Online Launches Today". The Free Library. PR Newswire. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  9. ↑ Ross, Chuck. "Conde Nast, Discovery Channel Eye New Show: 'Epicurious' on Cable would Tap Material from Food, Travel Titles". Advertising Age. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  10. ↑ Rubin, Sylvia. ""Evening" Star / Jonathan Karsh explores Bay Area life for revived KPIX magazine program". SF Gate. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  11. ↑ "InfoGear Makes The Phone Cook!". PR Newswire. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  12. ↑ Robson, Douglas. "Williams-Sonoma stakes out new HQ". Biz Journals. Business Times. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  13. ↑ Miller, Bryan. "A Food Site for Every Appetite, With Cookware to Boot". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  14. ↑ Bounds, Wendy. "Conde Nast's Udell to Step Down As Self Magazine's Editor in Fall". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  15. ↑ "CondeNet Names Elizabeth Shepard Editor in Chief of Epicurious". PR Newswire. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  16. ↑ Chang, Stephanie. "http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1337896,00.asp". PC Magazine. Retrieved 13 May 2015. External link in |title= (help)
  17. ↑ "Epicurious' recipes go mobile". Textually.org. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  18. ↑ Moniz, Karletta. "Inside the CIA". Culinary Muse. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  19. ↑ Kaufman, Joanne. "A Cookbook of One's Own From the Internet". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  20. ↑ Wharton, Rachel. "A click of the mousse". The New York Daily News. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  21. ↑ Judge, Jackie. "Epicurious". AppStruck. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  22. ↑ "Official Epicurious App for Windows Phone". 1800 Pocket PC. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  23. ↑ Bryson York, Emily. "How To Get Into An Apple iPhone Commercial". Business Insider. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  24. ↑ Furchgott, Roy. "App of the Week: An App for the Appetite". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  25. ↑ Goldman, Jessica. "Epicurious comes to San Francisco for a Farmers' Market tour and a White House initiative". lcsc Books. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  26. ↑ Castillo, Michelle. "50 Best iPhone Apps 2011". Time. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  27. ↑ "Cooking.com and Epicurious Launch One-Stop Shopping Experience". PR Newswire. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  28. ↑ Fabricant, Florence. "Epicurious Offers 75 Random House Cookbooks Online". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  29. ↑ Garbee, Jenn. "The End of Cookbooks? Consider the Epicurious Cookbook". LA Weekly. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  30. ↑ Stock, Juliana. "One For Them, One For You: Book Gifts". The Gifting Whisperer. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  31. ↑ Vega, Tanzina. "Condé Nast Acquires Online Recipe Service". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  32. ↑ Curtis, Colleen. "First Look: Delicious Recipes from the Healthy Lunchtime Challenge". LetsMove.gov. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  33. ↑ Anderson, Stacy. "Healthy Lunchtime Challenge, In Partnership With Michelle Obama And Epicurious, Back For Second Year". HuffingtonPost. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  34. ↑ "First Lady Michelle Obama and Epicurious Announce Winning Recipes in Nationwide "healthy Lunchtime Challenge"". WhiteHouse.gov. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  35. ↑ Miterko, Kelly. "Calling All Young Chefs: The 2014 Healthy Lunchtime Challenge is Here". LetsMove.gov. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  36. ↑ Miterko, Kelly. "Kid Chefs: Join the Fourth Annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge!". LetsMove.goc. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  37. ↑ Baziian, Emma. "Condé Nast Traveler Publisher Carolyn Kremins Moves to Epicurious". AdWeek. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  38. ↑ Bazilian, Emma. "New Editor Reveals Epicurious' 2014 Growth Strategy". AdWeek. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  39. ↑ Bazilian, Emma. "Epicurious Rebrands, Launches New App". AdWeek. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  40. ↑ "Condé Nast Brings Together Bon Appétit and Epicurious to Create One of the World's Largest Digital Food Advertising Platforms". CondeNast.com (press release). Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  41. ↑ Bazilian, Emma. "Nilou Motamed Is Out as Epicurious Editor in Chief". AdWeek. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  42. ↑ Bazilian, Emma. "Epicurious Hires New Executive Director". AdWeek. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  43. ↑ Bazilian, Emma. "Condé Nast's Epicurious Gets a Tech-Savvy Makeover". AdWeek. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  44. ↑ Hebbard, D.B. "Conde Nast's Epicurious revamps iOS and Windows apps following unveiling of redesigned website". Talking New Media. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  45. ↑ Ha, Anthony. "Epicurious Brings Cooking Instructions To The Apple Watch With New Smart Timer App". TechCrunch. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  46. ↑ Gillin, Eric. "The Oral History of the Launch of Epicurious". Epicurious.com. Conde Nast. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  47. ↑ "2000 Web, Living". Webby Awards. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  48. ↑ "2000 JBF Awards". James Beard Foundation. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  49. ↑ "2002 Web, Living". Webby Awards. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  50. ↑ "min's Best of Web Winners and Honorable Mentions". MIN Online. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  51. ↑ "MPA Digital Awards: 'F'ing Awesome!'". FishbowlNY. AdWeek. Retrieved 24 May 2015. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  52. ↑ "2008 JBF Awards". James Beard Foundation. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  53. ↑ "2008 Lifestyle". Webby Awards. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  54. ↑ "OMMA Awards Finalists". Media Post. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  55. ↑ "2009 JBF Awards". James Beard Foundation. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  56. 1 2 "Winners of 3rd Annual MPA Digital Awards". MPA - Association of Magazine Media. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  57. ↑ "52nd Annual New York Emmy Awards" (PDF). nyemmys.org. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  58. ↑ "2010 National Magazine Awards for Digital Media". ASME. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  59. ↑ "Tanya Steel inducted into Digital Hall of Fame". MIN Best of the Web. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  60. ↑ "2010 People's Voice, Lifestyle". Webby Awards. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  61. ↑ "2010 Website, Food/Beverage". Webby Awards. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  62. ↑ "2011 Website, Food/Beverage". Webby Awards. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  63. ↑ "2011 People's Voice, Food/Beverage". Webby Awards. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  64. 1 2 "National Magazine Awards for Digital Media Winners Announced". ASME. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  65. ↑ "2012 Web, Lifestyle". Webby Awards. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  66. ↑ "2012 People's Voice, LIfestyle". Webby Awards. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  67. ↑ "2012 Mobile Sites & Apps, Lifestyle (Handheld Devices)". Webby Awards. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  68. ↑ "2013 Food & Drink". Webby Awards. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  69. ↑ "MIN Best of the Web 2013". MIN Online. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  70. ↑ "Food & Drink 2015". Webby Awards. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  71. ↑ "The Webby 50". Webby Awards. Retrieved 19 May 2015.

External links

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