The New Issue of Lucky Peach Is Here!
Photo: Samantha Bolton/Yahoo Food
The latest issue of Lucky Peach, with its lushly illustrated and verdant cover, just hit our mailbox at Yahoo Food. The theme: The Plant Kingdom, which explains all the greenery on the front and back of the magazine.
“I think it was Rachel Khong, our senior editor, who first suggested years ago that we make a vegetarian issue, way back when we had just started Lucky Peach and everyone was labeling us a punk ‘zine about pork or whatever,” said editor-in-chief Chris Ying.
But this isn’t a vegetarian issue. “We decided that plants are a part of everyone’s diet, vegetarian or not — but we do talk about some fascinating vegetarians,” he noted. “There’s also a real focus on home cooking and making use of the leaves and fronds and gourds and seeds and fruits that we love so dear. I would say it’s one of our more complete explorations of a topic.”
Magazine highlights include the story on giant vegetable enthusiasts, the feature on “Queen of Greens” Deborah Madison, and the vegetable-inspired ice cream recipes from Sam Mason, co-founder of Oddfellows Ice Cream Co. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Caramelized Onion Ice Cream with Raisin Caramel and Walnuts and Baked Bean Ice Cream has us intrigued.
Regarding the cover, it was illustrated by L.A.-based Stacey Rozich, an “artist who has made a career out of painting creepy-but-beautiful scenes,” explained Lucky Peach art director Walter Green. “Commissioning her was a no-brainer. She was onboard with the idea immediately, and brought her own inspirational images that she’d been looking at as well. She took our kind of vague direction and brought it to life in an incredible (and menacing) way.”
Lucky Peach’s “The Plant Kingdom” issue is on newsstands now.
Love vegetables? Check out these veg-forward recipes:
Grilled Zucchini and Green Onions with Hazelnuts from “My New Roots”
