Epicurious enthusiastically accepts pitches from writers, recipe developers, illustrators, and other creators. The most successful pitches will fit Epi’s mission and be sent to the right editor—two things these guidelines will help you achieve.
What is Epicurious?
Epicurious is a trusted and authoritative resource for all home cooks. We launched in 1995 as the online hub for Bon Appetit and Gourmet’s recipes; today, we still house those recipes, but we also develop original recipes, and publish stories about cooking better, faster, and more creatively, sustainably, and affordably.
Epi is also home to Well Equipped, a vertical dedicated to helping home cooks stock their kitchen with the best tools, appliances, furnishings, and ingredients. The core of Well Equipped is our product reviews, which are rounded out with articles about the beautiful things we dress our tables with for dinner parties, and, um, our favorite candy.
How should I pitch Epicurious?
First, find the right editor to pitch to.
Pitches about cooking techniques, ingredients, trends, cocktails, profiles of cooks or cookbook authors, and original recipe pitches may be sent to Epi’s Senior Editor, Matthew Zuras, matthew_zuras@condenast.com, or Epi's Digital Director, Maggie Hoffman, maggie_hoffman@condenast.com.
Pitches for Well Equipped—that is, any pitch that is about a specific product, tool, tabletop item, designer, or specific ingredient (i.e. Diaspora Co. turmeric, not turmeric in general)—may be sent to Epi’s Commerce Editor, Emily Johnson, emily_johnson@condenast.com.
When emailing your pitch, please adhere to the following guidelines:
1. Put the word “PITCH” at the beginning of your subject line, i.e. “PITCH: It’s not eggnog, it’s Ponche a Crème” (This is important—it will ensure we see your pitch in a timely manner!)
2. Suggest a headline for your story that clarifies your angle.
3. Write a short paragraph (three to five sentences) explaining your pitch. Write the pitch in the voice you intend to use when writing the article. Note that we’re looking for specific stories and recipes with hooks, not general topics. (“How to grill eggplant” is a topic. “This one move makes your grilled eggplant better” is a story.) Tell us why the story matters, and why now is the right time to tell it. (If you’re pitching a recipe, tell us what makes this recipe stand out—is there something new about it? Does it fill a gap in Epi’s coverage?)
4. Include some information about how you would go about writing the story. Have you done preliminary research that gets you excited to write this story and would get us excited to read it? Who would you interview for the story?
5. Finally, give us a little more information about you. Why are you the right person to tell this story? Links to specific pieces of previously published work are very helpful, as is the link to your website, blog, or portfolio (Muck Rack or Contently works!).
What kind of stories is Epicurious looking for?
Cooking Tips and Techniques
These articles introduce game-changing moves to make your cooking better. Everyone can level up with tips like making your own oil blend for cooking, shaking your espresso, and really caramelizing that tomato paste. Send your pitch to: matthew_zuras@condenast.com or maggie_hoffman@condenast.com
Recipes
Epicurious encourages recipe developers and chefs to pitch original recipes. In your pitch, describe the recipe including any crucial techniques and ingredients. If a similar dish is already on Epicurious, tell us why it deserves an update from you now. Some recipes have technique explainers attached, like this example—would your recipe benefit from a similar treatment?
Note that we can only run a limited number of new recipes every month. We plan those recipes several months out, and put them through a rigorous testing and editing process. (In other words, Valentine’s Day recipes should be pitched around Thanksgiving.) Ideas for desserts and sides are welcome, but most of our recipes aspire to be a complete meal—something you can put together with minimal stress on a Thursday night. Send your recipe pitches to: matthew_zuras@condenast.com or maggie_hoffman@condenast.com. Please describe past development experience, and include links to previously published recipes if available.
Affordable Cooking (The Smart Cook)
Epi’s Smart Cook initiative helps home cooks get smart about their food budgeting. What are the moves that can help reduce waste and make the most of every grocery you’ve got? This section includes both original recipes and more general cooking techniques. Examples: Turn an Empty Peanut Butter Jar Into Dinner; Kale Stems Aren’t Trash; They’re Your New Favorite Dip, This Potato-Packed Frittata Is the Perfect Affordable Dinner (and Breakfast) (and Lunch). Send your pitch to: matthew_zuras@condenast.com or maggie_hoffman@condenast.com
Sustainability
Epicurious is dedicated to sustainable cooking practices, and aims to help lower the carbon footprint of all home cooks. What does it mean to eat more sustainably today, and how can we do that better? Examples: Why My Instant Pot Is My Low-Waste Secret Weapon; Sustainability in the Time of Coronavirus; Everything You’ve Ever Wondered About Meatless Meat, Explained; Every Question About Sustainable Cooking, Answered By an Expert. Send your pitch to: matthew_zuras@condenast.com or maggie_hoffman@condenast.com
Cooking and Equipment Trends
Every once in a while, a technique, recipe, or appliance gets big. Think of the Instant Pot when it first came out, or, uh, those focaccia gardens everybody was making for a minute there. If you think you’ve discovered the next big trend in cooking before we have, by all means, let us pay you to write about it. (Some signs pointing to said thing actually getting big will be required.) Example: Can the Always Pan Replace All of Your Cookware? Send your pitch to: maggie_hoffman@condenast.com; if pitching an appliance, send to: emily_johnson@condenast.com
I Love This Thing: Ingredients
Is there a special seasoning blend you use to transform sheet-pan broccoli into something transcendent? Is there a simmer sauce you stir into everything? Is there a particular brand of fish sauce you think everyone should know about? What about the snacks you love, or the tea you sip to settle down at night? Well Equipped seeks 300–500 word love letters to our favorite ingredients, snacks, and beverages—the ones that haven’t received enough recognition or that not everyone sees on their supermarket shelf. They should be voicey—but, crucially, they should make a serious case for the practical ways these ingredients can be incorporated into your home cooking routine. Examples: Why I Use Red Boat Anchovy Salt on (Almost) Everything, Puffed Quinoa Is My Sprinkle of Choice, Roasted Dandelion Root Is My Bitter Beverage Obsession. Send your pitch to: emily_johnson@condenast.com
I Love This Thing: Tools
We want to hear about your must-have kitchen tools, the ones that you use every night for myriad purposes, or the ones that have a specific, dedicated purpose that no other tool can match. Like the love letters to ingredients (above), these run 300–500 words, have an emphasis on voice, and make a strong case for acquiring the tool today. The weirder the tool, the better! Examples: Get a Mini Silicone Spatula, Your Almost-Empty Jars Are Begging You, My Rice Cooker Isn’t Fancy, But It’s Perfect, This Giant Saute Pan Is Saving Me From Endless Dishes, A Mini Slow Cooker Is the Key to Weeknight Cooking For One. Send your pitch to: emily_johnson@condenast.com
Tabletop/Design
Well Equipped seeks 500-800 word roundups of beautiful (and useful!) things for your tabletop or home. Our focus is on lasting products that elevate the dining experience, with limited impact on the environment—think glass, metal, or natural fibers over anything plastic or single use. Do you know the best outdoor lanterns for backyard dinners? Want to tell us about the handwoven tabletop textiles you adore? We’d love to hear about them. Examples: Lasting Pieces for a Well-Set Table, Delicate Drinkware to Brighten Up Your Desk, Build a Bold Tabletop to Beat the Winter Blues. Send your pitch to: emily_johnson@condenast.com
What shouldn’t I pitch to Epicurious?
Epicurious and Well-Equipped are not looking for:
- Stories about restaurants (though we are open to lessons from chefs that would be useful to home cooks)—try pitching our sister publication, Bon Appétit!
- Pitches related to travel, or any press trips you’ve been on
- Stories that focus on you planning to explore/learn something that you’re not expert in yet
- Stories about dieting or weight loss
Please do not send resumes, photos, or any other attachments in your pitch email.
Finally, please note that we are a small team and receive a high volume of pitches. We do our best to respond to everyone, and encourage you to send a follow-up if you don’t hear from us for two weeks. And if we reject your pitch? Please try again with another idea.
