The March edition of Stack dropped through the door this week, with content that couldn't be more appealing. Ever since the demise of the tragically short-lived men's food magazine EatSoup I've hankered for something to fill the gap. So the Manzine/Fire & Knives-combo speaks to me loudly and clearly.
Fire & Knives is beautifully design by Anorak's Rob Lowe and edited by food journo' and broadcaster Tim Hayward. With writers that have been published in the likes of GQ, the Guardian and The Telegraph it's not surprising that it's top-quality nosh writing inside, "The freedom given to the writers shines through as they are allowed to elaborate on any theme or subject that interests them…", says Stack's Steve Watson.
What Manzine lacks in beauty it makes up for with a print of Ralph Steadman's "Grumpy Festival Man", an article on the World Dryer Model A, Design Classic No.3: The Tree and an infographic illustrating the spread of facial hair amongst current world leaders. It's a self-consciously crap piece of magazine design and all the better for it. Contributers are of a similar standard to F&K, with pedigrees in Esquire, GQ, Wired and Arena. And again, freedom reigns with subjects leaning towards the politically inappropriate. (When I say "leaning", I really mean, "had a skinful, fell over and landed squarely on the side of modern maledom").
"Fire & Knives" looks great. Glad to see you remember "Eat Soup" too. I was surprised (and disappointed) that it failed. Didn't the first edition have Michael Caine on the cover?
Posted by: Johnny | 30 March 2010 at 12:16 PM
Yes, Caine on the cover. My favourite bit of Caine/Deighton/IPCRESS File trivia was from that edition. There's a scene where Palmer makes an omlet and cracks the eggs with one hand. Caine couldn't do it so Deighton, who was an ace chef, had to do it. It's his hand in the shot.
Posted by: Richard | 30 March 2010 at 12:23 PM
That is excellent Caine/Deighton/IPCRESS trivia. The opening credits of the film are wonderful. Palmer groping for his glasses, making real coffee - all the time looking the part. Great stuff.
Posted by: Johnny | 30 March 2010 at 02:05 PM