Why is Magnolia Table being overlooked?

February 12, 2019 by
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As we reported in our list of the bestselling cookbooks of 2018, Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines had a superb 2018, smashing through the million-books-sold mark like a rocket. Despite these blockbuster sales, the book did not make the “best of the best” list we assembled, nor did it register on most year-end lists published by well-known cooking sites like The Kitchn or large publications like The New York Times. You might wonder how this oversight occurred. So did Bonnie Benwick of The Washington Post, so she attempted to determine why Magnolia Table got overlooked.

Magnolia Table

Part of the reason is that the Gaines didn’t register on the radar of food writers. There is no denying that Joanna and Chip Gaines are superstars, however, they are known for their home renovations, not their cooking. As Raquel Pelzel, editorial director of cookbooks at Clarkson Potter, succinctly put it: “The food media was not paying attention.”

Most food writers who looked at the book probably put it aside due its reliance on canned soups and copious amounts of butter (“heyday Paula Deen amounts” is how Benwick describes it). But Benwick confronted her own bias to wonder if she was just being a food snob, so she set about to test the recipes. Wapo staff members made over 20 of the recipes to find out if the book was being unfairly ignored. 

The results of this thorough testing? Let’s just say no one’s socks were knocked off. Smoke detectors were set off, ovens needed to be cleaned, and for the most part, no one was clamoring for seconds. There was one dish that tasters did enjoy (Baked chicken with bacon bottom & wild rice). Head over to The Washington Post for the assessment of the recipes that were tested, and to see more theories as to why this book appealed to so many readers. Don’t forget to read the comments. 

Category: Book News

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4 Comments

  • Lem9579  on  February 13, 2019

    Exactly. When I hear about a new cookbook by Donna Hay, Diana Henry, Ottolenghi, Anna Jones, Ina Garten, etc. I immediately get excited thinking about all the good and interesting recipes coming my way. I want exactly that, my socks knocked off. When I saw this one at a bookstore I didn't think that. To be honest, didn't even glance at it.

  • Ginnytad  on  February 13, 2019

    I think the Gaines are a 'religion' with their adherents not unlike the Duggars. Did you know she also 'wrote' a book on child rearing? There are those who have to check to see 'what would Joanna do' before discipling their children. I get they made their celebrity entrance flipping/fixing up houses…..but she should leave telling us 'to cook like me' or 'raise your child' like me and stick to floor stripping advice. What's next? A FoodTV 'Flipping in the Kitchen' show with this woman?

  • sir_ken_g  on  February 13, 2019

    Sounds kind of like redneck Pioneer Woman food.
    We live 20 miles from her shop/restaurant so we went there once.
    The food was Cracker Barrel quality. The shop was neah unless you are into country kitch.

  • beanwean  on  February 28, 2019

    "Joanna Gaines’s recipe partner was Marah Stets, known for her work on the 1997 edition “Joy of Cooking,”"… that explains a lot right there.

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