Jeff Houck

The Tampa Tribune’s food writer since 2005, Jeff Houck covers the way people live through their food. He also hosts the Table Conversations food podcast and believes that everything crunchy is good.

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A Day Without Flavor [Things Change]

Posted Oct 9, 2008 by Jeff Houck

Updated Oct 9, 2008 at 07:38 AM

So, yesterday was a little weird for me. It was the first day in more than six years that I didn’t run to the curb to see how the Flavor section I worked on looked in print. (Okay, I didn’t always run. Most weeks, it was more of a series of pre-dawn, non-linear stumbling. At that hour, I have all the agility of a drunken baboon. But I digress.)

That said, apparently Wednesday was a little odd for you as well. We got lots of calls and e-mails yesterday from readers who were fans of the section. They didn’t see the column I wrote explaining the new changes in print for The Stew and other features in the section.

WHAT?!?!?!? PEOPLE DON’T READ THE ENTIRE NEWSPAPER?!?!?!? AREN’T MY WORDS GOLDEN AND PRECIOUS ENOUGH TO DEMAND TOTAL ATTENTION?!?!?!?!? Color me gobsmacked.

Seriously, I understand. Not everyone got the message that the Flavor content has moved to our new Baylife Magazine on Sundays. We all lead busy lives. Especially those in the banking and investment industries the past two weeks.

Anyway, I thought I’d share some of the letters I received.

Hi Jeff,

I left a message on your blog last week and e-mailed the editor too about the lack of “Flavor” the WednesdayTribune will contain. Oh well, things change and life goes on. I saved the new Sunday Baylife “Flavor” until today to read, because ... well because I could, I guess. You kept some of the good parts, but I will miss the Culinary Sherpas. I’ve made several of their recipes and my next adventure will be the pork tenderloin baked in the baguette. Sounds yummy. The Shrimp and Chorizo Poblano was excellent and I told them so. I hope these changes to the Tribune don’t go any further or there will be no food to explore and it is the highlight of my week. (Well, maybe not ... but you get my drift.)  I hope you stay put. Thanks for the memories.

Gail Ellis

Good news, Gail. The Sherpas are coming back to the paper every week instead of every other week. We missed them, too.

We’ll be bringing back more features as space and money permit. Emphasis on money.

Hey Jeff -

Just wanted to tell you that I was sad this morning when I got the paper and remembered that “Flavor” was discontinued. First it was the Pasco section getting cut, then Baylife and now my favorite section of all gets the boot. I realize that we’ll get a mini-version in the Sunday paper but it won’t be the same. 

Because of these changes, I am cancelling my subscription to the Trib and will just read it online for free.  I miss our old daily paper!

See ya on your blog!

Monica Woods

Actually, Monica, you’ll be getting everything on Sundays that was in the Flavor section, except for the Divas of Dish.

I miss our old daily paper, too. I also miss my white 1976 Buick Skylark with the half-vinyl roof, blood-red interior, white bucket seats and cassette player with AC/DC’s “Back in Black” blaring through the speakers. That baby was sweet. But things change.

Plus, if you cancel the paper, that’s less money the company will have to pay me to write your free Web site. I know it’s a Faustian bargain, but it is what it is. I hope you change your mind.

See ya on my blog!

Hi Jeff,

I am sorry the Mother Trib took your flavor and put it into the Sunday BayLife.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading your Flavor on hump day. I have canceled my subscribtion. 

Good Luck.

Gary Krotz

Gary, two things.

First, the Trib is not my mother. Kitty is my mother. The Trib is more like an uncool uncle who collects swords with wizards on them and who hasn’t had a date since 1983.

Second, please come back. We only moved some stuff around. Please tell me you’re more flexible in your reading habits that that. I always think of newspaper readers as being made of sturdier stuff. Not like those wilting pansies who read magazines.

Wait. Our stuff runs in a magazine now.

Nevermind.

I am CRUSHED, CRUSHED I tell you! I just wrote to the Trib editor last week telling him how much I love the new Flavor ... too little too late ... how will I plan my week!  our whole family food budget is linked to Flavor! We have continued to subscribe to the Tribune on week days because of Flavor. Surely this is a just a hiatus ... Flavor will be back right?

Suzann Corral

Suzann,

Thanks for being such an ardent follower of Flavor. I’ve always been honored by the way readers have loved on the section. We’re just giving you a different place to love on it. And a different day. And a different name to love it under. But that’s it. Those are the only changes. For the moment. Until next time.

I better stop now.

What a shame! A part of the paper I truly enjoy. Since the Trib started turning further to the left, it was pleasant to read a section where there was no left bias, only a friendly gathering of people who enjoy nice things in life, like food and good conversation. You and the section will be missed. 

Paul Frappollo

Paul,

Left bias ... You’re sure this the Tribune we’re talking about?

I like to think that Flavor had no political bias because, well, it had no politics. Only it did. We were decidedly in support of an anti-Brussels Sprouts campaign. Our country cannot afford four more years of that disgusting vegetable.

Dear Jeff,

When I was a working woman, my “hump day” joy was knowing that when I got home that evening, I had all the time I needed to sit down and enjoy my “Flavor” food section.

Over the years I have saved many an entire section, with dreams of one day sitting down with my cache and a pair of scissors and clipping away, saving the recipes I wanted and making an album for quick reference and use in my kitchen. I have also included in that dream, one day having the time to try all of them out.

You have truly made “Flavor” come alive with your interesting and varied topics, your humor, and your obvious expertise in the culinary arts.  You have had an “eye” for a good story, which has added to the enjoyment of this food section.

It has always appeared to me that you considered your readers to be your good friends. I say that by the way you respond to their requests for Recipes Lost and Found, and as for me, you have always answered my e-mails with kindness.

After many years in education, experiencing too much “change for the sake of change” to suit my tastes, I have grown to feel very strongly that if it “ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. I am not so naïve to believe that things can always remain the same, but the Tribune has had an excellent thing going in that wonderful section called “Flavor,” with your presence largely contributing to that reputation. I have faith that the new approach and location will continue to showcase your talents.

It has always been my hope that the Tribune would publish an annual recipe hardback of the previous year’s recipes and consumer tips. Not only would it be a source of revenue, it would save me, personally, from worrying about cutting all of those old editions to shreds as I search thru for the recipes. I would want to be on a list to receive the new book every year, as I feel many of your readers and their friends would feel when word got around. If the paper was to be concerned that they might be criticized for not testing all of the recipes in the book, a simple disclaimer in the preface to that effect would satisfy that concern. I am being totally selfish in this desire.

Sorry this is so long, but you and “Flavor” have been my friends for a long time, and I hate to see you go, even if you are showing up in a new suit, on a new day, in a different pew.  I wish you well, and I will be there looking for you. 

Sincerely, 

Melinda Brett
St. Petersburg  

Melinda,

Heh. You said “hump.” And “pew.”

On a more sober note, thank you. And thanks to everyone who took time to write. It means more than you’ll ever know.