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as most of us know , Christopher Kimball has a new venture : Milk Street : http://www.177milkstreet.com and there is a new magazine Milk Street Magazine. the initial issue was free ( November ) I received mine as have others for me this is an improvement over CI. there is a more international flavor to it , and the stock is heavier with color pictures. CK is as pedantic as ever , and it seems certain business practices have carried over : should you subscribe , probably w a credit card , its for an ongoing yearly subscription which you have to actively opt-out of if you don't want to continue. this may be standard industry practice , I can't say. Im thinking of subscribing for one year. $ 19. they say 6 issues they don't say if the free Nov issue is one of the 6 . Probably not. the subscription seems to start in early 2017. however , Im fairly allergic to CK etc etc. if you've gotten the issue do you plan to subscribe ? my back-up plan is hoping my library system will subscribe at some point , and I can go from there. a P.S.: one of the reasons Im thinking of a one year sub. is that I double the CK / ATK churn machine is geared up in year one.

As a search on "Kimball" will reveal, @btbyrd, you're far from the only one! https://forums.egullet.org/search/?q=Kimball&quick=1

And the hits keep coming! I know that C. Kimball and Milk Street triggers strong reactions amongst some of our membership, but at $1.99 this one looks good enough for me to take a flyer on it. Milk Street Vegetables: 250 Bold, Simple Recipes for Every Season Kindle Edition (eG-friendly Amazon.com link) $1.99

I loathe Chris Kimball. Christ, does this man ever miss an opportunity to talk about himself or his famous food companions or his worldly travels or that time he had that one dish with that one famous chef on that one worldly travel where he gave an amusing anecdote about dining with Julia Child? Yeah, no. I can't freaking stand that dude. Still, I loved Cook's Illustrated and ATK, and Milk Street seems fine and all. But the one thing that I most hate about CK (and, again, there are many) is the amount of ads on his podcast. The most recent Milk Street doesn't start until 6 minutes into the podcast. it doesn't help that most of that 6 minutes is filled with Kimball's disaffected, impersonal, contractional, transactional verbiages about the latest frozen box meal or nutritional slurm that he's become desperate to hawk. He is the most charmless pitchman for a product I've ever imagined, and that includes his own brands. But I get extra vomit-y when I hear how much he loves the latest powdered superfood nutritional powerhouse powder "and, oh by the way, my favorite flavor is vanilla". No shit, you spineless, characterless, milquetoast, ex-hippie-with-no-courage-to-actually-be-a-hippie (which isn't much), Vermonter (no offense) who just can't wait to talk about himself and would be an insufferable host *OR* guest at any dinner party. "Why do I listen," I hear you asking? Good freaking question. It seems as though he just follows the standard podcast rule of being popular and then just scheduling whatever publicist thought it was convenient to have on that week. And a lot of the guests are quality. But it all feels rote. CK is a terrible interviewer, so self-assured, dogmatic, and unresponsive. He sounds like a person just waiting his turn to ask the next question (which he is). Sara Moulon, his interlocutor for call in questions, is a much better personality (and that's saying something, even though I love Sara [bless her heart]). All that's to say, I really loathe Chris Kimball. That's all I ever really wanted to say here.

I was feeling pretty good while typing, actually. I'd had four-ish strong craft gin and tonics of my own creation, and it was probably the ethanol doing the talking. What can I say? The spirits moved me. The thing was that I was doing the evening's dishes after a wonderful night and threw on a random podcast to help pass the time. And the intro was 6 irritating minutes of Chris Kimball. All I'm saying is, don't start an episode of Milk Street Radio and then immediately cover your hands with water and dish soap so you can't easily control a capacitive touch screen.

Bratwurst, potato pancakes, and a new recipe for braised red cabbage with juniper, caraway, apples, and apple cider that Christopher Kimball published in my local newspaper last week. We all really liked the cabbage, and it used up two small heads from my CSA box. I think I am down to only five heads of cabbage now 🤣

Im a fan of TestKitchen and CC videos. I capture them in HD over the air on my computer and watch them from time to time I broke down and got the Complete test kitchen book from PBS ( cheaper than Amazon " and even succumbed to the 2015 annual. my usual plan is to not further inflate Kimballs wallet ao I use the library for all their pubs. how ever, i have yet to find a simple and reliable way to find which episode a particular recipe is in ( video Rx, not print ) the TK web site always wants my email address and probably a trip into my wallet to study my credit cards anyone have a good way to look up a Rx and then tell what video demonstrates it ? ive been trying to find the video that goes w the Brown Rice Salad, where they boil the B.R. the Rx is in the 2015 annual, but no further ref its not in the complete test TV cookbook I swear I did see this on TV did they do it on Cook's Country ? many thanks BTW the brown rice rx is on pp 18 +

I get the magazine. Oftentimes it seems their hacks are really not necessary but I often find inspiration from their equipment tests and the occasional recipe. Mr Kimball's foreword never really seems relevant to the the particular issue it's in but more of an issue of ego...

Chris Kimball was a great host, and ATK is my favorite cooking show. The show and CI magazine have taught me so much. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to have as much spring in his step as he used to. When I heard that he'd been ousted, I vowed to never watch the show again. However, choosing the two ladies, Bridget and Julia, was an inspired choice IMO. I'm sure they will continue to do the excellent job they've been doing.

I wouldn't say I actually like Chris Kimball, but I have a high tolerance level for him,except when he goes all Vermont folksy.

this is a PR email sent to a friend : Dear Viewer, Because you are a loyal fan, I wanted to make sure you had an inside scoop on the news and were the first to hear it from me. As you might know, Chris Kimball has recently departed Americas Test Kitchen. This marks the end of Chris tenure as a contributor to the TV shows Americas Test Kitchen and Cooks Country as well as to the magazines Cooks Illustrated and Cooks Country. Chris vision and leadership have been an important part of our success since we first launched Cooks Illustrated together in 1992. On behalf of the entire Americas Test Kitchen family, we wish Chris all the best. I'm pleased to announce the new hosts of America's Test Kitchen will be Julia Collin Davison and Bridget Lancaster. They have been fixtures on the show since that first episode aired back in 2001. You know their cooking skills (they have prepared hundreds of recipes on air) as well as their deep knowledge of food. They are both so funny, smart, and passionate about our mission, which is to help you become a better cook. Im excited to see Bridget and Julia in their roles. You will continue to see Chris in episodes of Americas Test Kitchen and Cooks Country already filmed and distributed to your local public television station. Julia and Bridget will make their appearance as co-hosts on brand-new episodes of Americas Test Kitchen starting in 2017. Check local public television station listings for the schedule of season 17 episodes. Chris will continue to host Americas Test Kitchen Radio. And stay tuned for upcoming news about Cooks Country hosts; well let you know as soon as we have news to share! I want to thank our fans for sending along thoughts and messages over the past three months, as we embarked on the search for our new hosts. We couldn't be happier with the outcome. Our staff and those of us on-air, including Bridget and Julia, are dedicated to helping home cooks like you, and that will never change. We will continue to bring you more of what you expect: unbiased equipment reviews, taste tests, and foolproof recipes from our test kitchen. With this exciting announcement, please join us in congratulating our new hosts at ShareYourFeedback@americastestkitchen.com. Thank you for your continued support. Sincerely, Jack Bishop Chief Creative Officer

I shudder trying to defend the Imperium of Imperator Kimball. however to be a bit fair, they use much of the stuff their sponsors give them ( to show off ) on their show.. What happens to this surf at night ........ one of their major sponsors is KitchenAid. they did not like the most recent KA food processor. they do not use it on their show. they did review this and stated their reasons in a coda somewhere a bit obscure on the pub. CI no matter. Why kick the Golden Bull in the 'Las Bolas ? ' [ed.: Bolas is feminine ? ] well the Imperator is now gone, having had to subdivide his Imperium by 1/2, then 1/2 again, and again, ad nauseum. if there was a fault in their Oil review is was perhaps not mentioning that most of the olive oil you find, might be refined in Italy Tunisian Crank Case Oil. may they did mention this?

IMO, Christopher Kimball is very 2005. The show needs to be refreshed or die.

I received an email from ATK/CI this morning regarding the changing of the guard, so to speak, at their headquarters as they bid adieu to Chris Kimball and his bow ties. The email states they wish him the best and announced that the new hosts of "ATK" will be Julia Collin Davison and Bridget Lancaster, who were the main test chefs featured on the show for years. The email mentioned that there were "ATK" shows in the can with Chris hosting which will air during the rest of this year and that the new hosts will takeover starting in the 2017 season. It also said there will be new hosts for "Cook's Country" but that there was no news on that front at the moment. The email also mentioned that Chris will continue hosting the ATK Radio show (which I had no idea that it even existed)..

Last Sunday he read a viewer letter that someone had wrote, who told him that "Chris Kimball shouldnt be on the show, cause he does nothing" And it was odd how he didnt really respond with anything, and it cut to the credits.... Very odd

I can't imagine ATK without Kimball, In my mind, having followed him since the beginning, the guy is a genius. Listening to him on his ATK podcasts, my opinion in reinforced regularly.

I wish I knew more about the finances of PBS Cooking shows. they seem to be very lucrative, have lots of ads etc I wish I knew the history of the Kimball Empire : a really good idea : no ads, testing R's then expansion, investing, a questionable business model ( re-publishing w no ref to earlier works, beyond aggressive marketing ) , vast wealth, etc indeed the TV show had two episodes on a butterflied pork loin roast at one point that only differed a tiny bit on the salt, and how you 'opened-up' the loin. how did this guy ever lose control of the company ?

https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/11/16/chris-kimball-leave-america-test-kitchen-after-contract-dispute/wd7vooqjnDgqNq0qnlmXCO/story.html

nice comments "" he expects more from PBS "" i also expect a lot more for PBS but PBS now is not Julia's PBS in the days of the French Chef, after she introduced her self there was a 5 - 10 second blurb " brought to you by Polaroid " now day, PBS is an extraordinary money maker for whom ever they choose to pick up Martha Fellon has shows before the Noon, and as i recall and may not be up to date were 'donated Free' after all can a Fellon Still cook ? all yuks aside, there is more commercial activity now on PBS than on lets say the Food Network. that Ive studied some time ago, after capping show, and indeed, back then when the FN has cooking more there then than PBS PBS is a cash cow that might be funded not just by " viewer like You " but the Hogs on the Trough in washingtom maybe. but Phils show it ok as it tax free smoozing for him and his family and the etc.s as ive said: who pays his bills certainly not him that is not a criticism Why not get stuffing etc etc and not pay for it ? BTW the LA show was a bit too much Smooze this is a very good show that says I can work the system. I can show you stuff you will never experience Ive enjoyed my self and my family did too [ ed: i like the family in the back ground BTW ] but this is not a cooking show its a Food p0rn show, very well done, that suggests to you well, you are not me Id be intrigued by its finacials at least Phil did genuinely enjoy himslef why he and to Skype his parents ? did that add anything ? are they paid actors ? the good new Pill stopped at less than 13 shows. good for him why push it ? PBS now is not Julia's PBS its a cash cow for those who have shows books ? DVD's? etc that being said the greater after noon cooking show are nice. if they become wealthy ? not just not Kimball good show, bad buiness. at least, there is this No Felons in the after noon. that something , no ?

Ha ha! There is no cumin in the printed recipe! Perhaps Chris Kimball left too soon. Anyhow, better than it ought to have been. Accompanied by broccolini, a bottle of Altano Douro, and some pretty decent bread.

Story in today's NYT on Kimball's next venture.

Just got an email, Mr. Kimball is doing a live show. He will be at the Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ Thursday September 22. Tickets are $100 each, which is pretty high for this venue. IIRC, Alton Brown was $35 per person in the same theater earlier this year.

Christopher Kimball is nothing but a memory. Got a recent email from ATK titled "In the kitchen with Jack: The latest news from America's Test Kitchen". Jack Bishop (the taste test guy) is being promoted as the new leader in the ATK. The email was the usual "Here's all the stuff we're up doing and the stuff we're trying to sell". (their product store must be someone's idea of a joke...super expensive everything). From the email:

She was interviewed by C. Kimball on his NPR show (which is pretty listenable). Apparently she has the idea that cooking without a recipe is somehow more elevated than using instructions. I can see her point, that when you really know what you are doing you don't need an explicit recipe. But at the same time the years of experience that got you to that point serve as a de facto recipe. The instructions are in your head. I think we settled this on eG years ago.

More info on the continuing saga of ATK v. Chris Kimball: "Chris Kimball pushes back at America’s Test Kitchen, claims he was forced out"