I personally appreciate the first few pages that highlight new cookware and supplements such as organic ingredients, new kitchen tools, cookbooks, and blurbs on restaurants and chefs.

Occasionally, however, I find that the issue is a little elementary (such as baking with pre-packaged mixes, ice cream, broken up candy bars, etc). I don't find this particularly challenging, and I don't like the idea of finding commercially identifiable items in my creations, but I'm sure that less accomplished cooks appreciate the short-cuts. Also, I can see how this type of issue could be useful to cook with a child or someone who is just starting out and might feel more secure with a "complete" and already purchased ingredient.

Because the issues arrive every second month, their arrival can be something less than timely -- and it is the kind of magazine that one anticipates, so this can be frustrating. However, mind have always arrived, eventually.

I don't have many chances to love it though, because their distribution is appalling. I have to call every few months to make sure that yes, I still have a subscription, and yes, my current issue is just a few weeks or months late. Again. They claim to publish against a schedule, but the schedule seems to be "when we feel like it." They sent me a notice every month for the first year warning me that my subscription was about to run out, and they did in fact cut my subscription off about 8 months into it. The next year, my subscription DID run out, and no one notified me. I found out because I called to ask why I hadn't received anything from them in six months.

I also once requested a back issue, gave my credit card information, and was told I'd receive it within the month. Two years later, I haven't given up hope. You never know with these guys.

However, given how insanely bad their service is, it says something about the content that I am still willing to subscribe. If you're willing to do the work, this is a great dessert magazine to get.