#MagLoveTop10: Best food magazine covers of 2014 •

by MediaSlut (@MediaSlut) Just as with food, covers for foodie magazines may be off-beat, arty and/or just plain smart. This week, we conclude our #MagLoveTop10 series by looking at the Best Food Covers of 2014, both local and international.

Our #MagLoveTop10 magazine cover series include:

Friday, 5 December 2014: Best South African magazine covers of 2014
Friday, 12 December 2014: Best international magazine covers of 2014
Friday, 9 January 2015: Worst magazine covers of 2014
Friday, 16 January 2015: Sexiest magazine covers of 2014
Friday, 23 January 2015: Best food magazine covers of 2014

10. Esquire (Philippines), July 2014

For its Food and Drink issue, Esquire Philippines took a bold and risky move by turning the tables and still staying fashionable while looking like a pig (and having one on your head…).

9. MAD, October 2014

A firm childhood favourite of mine, MAD still knows how to surprise and delight! Its fictional mascot, Alfred E. Neuman — and his infamous gap — puts a delightful spin on this cover (and watermelon).

8. Los Angeles, November 2014

For its “Food Lovers Guide” issue, Los Angeles created a three-way-split cover which I find beautifully styled and executed, and just so striking, especially when all three are placed next to each other.

I may not necessarily like all the food items on the cover but, as a collection, I think it’s great.

7. Food & Home (various)

Food & Home Entertaining magazine has really had a great transformation since its relaunch in 2013, and it keeps going from strength to strength. With its January and August 2014 covers, it illustrates its renewed creativity perfectly.

6. Lucky Peach, Spring 2014

A fun, creative twist to an “all you can eat” buffet, and, of course, in true Lucky Peach style.

5. Crumbs (various)

Crumbs just has that special touch to make even the simplest item look absolutely delicious, whether it’s a melting scoop of ice cream, or even three simple blueberries! Definitely not your normal type of food styling, but still amazing.

4. Woolworths TASTE (various)

Woolworths TASTE’s covers are amazingly styled and photographed, month after month! But, as an added bonus, its main cover lines are also constantly setting the tone for what to expect of the issue!

Cafélicious, Lip-lickingly lekker and Buon Appetito, married with the delicious cover images, are just three examples.

3. The New York Times, 12 October 2014

So simple and striking, getting the (foodie) message across loud and clear, big and beautiful.

2. Fricote, Issue 14

We’ve been spotting amazing paper art sculptures on covers for a while (remember British Airways High Life’s amazing lion cover?!), but this food-inspired paper sculpture is just too freaking funky and fab!

1. Orlando, February 2014

The best food cover for 2014 comes from quite an unsuspecting source: Orlando, The City’s Magazine.

This “Chocholate Unwrapped” cover is an absolute winner when you look at the thought and planning that went into it, and the amazing detail! The perfect dessert-cover to end off the food-feast in this Top 10 list!

Find a cover we should know about? Tweet us at @Marklives and @MediaSlut.
Want to view all the covers at a glance?
See our MagLove Pinterest board!

MagLove by @MediaSlut is a regular slot featuring the best local and international magazine covers every week, recognising well thought-out, powerful and interesting (and hopefully all three-in-one) covers and celebrating the mix of pragmatism, creativity and personal taste that created each of them. The (for now anonymous) blogger behind MediaSlut knows way too much for his own good about media in South Africa, magazines in particular. His mission is to show when SA magazines fail but, most importantly, also when they succeed. If you’re looking for a library about SA magazines and news, this is your one-stop pitstop.

— MarkLives’ round-up of top ad and media industry news and opinion in your mailbox every Monday and Thursday. Sign up here!