I really don't like Boston all that much, or much of Massachusetts, for that matter. I lived all over the state for several years, and it took me all that time to realize I just didn't like it very much. So snooty. And Boston's so small. And school-oriented. And, the worst, Red Sox fans. Red Sox fans are horrible. So imagine my surprise when I realize my very very favorite magazine of all time is developed right in Brookline, Mass! Right smack in the center of all that snootery! Fine Cooking, Bon Appetite, Saveur, whatever. Throw them all AWAY. Ignore them forever. When you see them at the news stand in Grand Central, roll your eyes at them. Find yourself a Cook's Illustrated. If you like to cook and are always striving to be a better cook, this is the one magazine that is essential. Why? Because they tell you how and why recipes work. The science of it. And that's how you become a better cook. Makes me want to go to Brookline. KIND OF. read more

Boston Common Press - Print Media Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

I was a long time fan of Cook's Illustrated with Christopher Kimball at the helm. I ventured fearlessly into recipes that I had no knowledge of. But now I find their recipes in the print magazine frustrating and have not had much success making them. Just tried the pasta frittata from the Egg Issue out in August 2017. Pasta ferociously stuck to the pan. And how am I supposed to flip the frittata when the eggs haven't set on the top? I have put the whole thing in the oven to cook and heaven only knows how I'm going to scrap it out of the pan when it sets.... read more

Cook's Illustrated's Publisher and Editor, Chris Kimball, is MY HERO!! This is the publishing company that brings you the MOST USEFUL cookbooks and magazines EVER published. HOW did my mother live on 'The Joy of Cooking'... oh so not Joyous to be cooking with that ancient publication! Cook's Illustrated is a journal-style magazine (NO ADS!) that features the 'best' recipes that they have tried out... for example, they make over 100 Flan recipes to come up with 'the best one'... America's Test Kitchen is the PBS TV show that accompanies the magazine, and it is my favorite 30 minute cooking show to watch- I actually MAKE stuff from these shows, rather than just watch and drool. Sure, their recipes might take more than just 30 Minute Meals, but they sure are tasty!! And that's *key* in our kitchen!!! Their Classic Mac n Cheese recipe is Superduper Good--- it takes forever to grate that much cheese, and I don't really want to know the nutrition info on that particular recipe, thank you... read more

Hurray for America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Illustrated! I love watching the show and also pick up the magazine often. Why do I enjoy these forms of media? They have awesome amounts of innovative ideas to take your cooking to a new level. I probably would have never brined anything if I wouldn't have read how to do so in Cook's Illustrated. They also test a variety of cooking and baking essentials and rate them, ranging from olive oils to knives. These people love their food, and how can they go wrong with an editor who wears a bow tie? I don't think you can. read more

The Good: Excellent recipes from ATK. The Bad: Any order from their company will result in unsolicited books being continually sent. While legally these are 'gifts' as they were not ordered the company will send out dunning mail trying to force the receiver to pay. It is a very old scam, totally illegal and unrepentantly done by this company. So yeah, great food but I will never order one of their products again and will tell everyone I know not to as well. read more

Absolutely great recipes, well researched and clearly explained. We have and continue to use what we've bought. However... Their marketing is unbelievable. They repackage the same things with very, very slight changes and try to keep selling you the same stuff you've already bought. If you buy one book you end up on an auto-renewal unless you cancel it, then need to return books you have not ordered. I was a subscriber to the magazine for over 6 years. When I started to see repeats I felt it was not worth the money any longer. Most magazines give you iPad access with a print subscription, but not ATK/Cooks Illustrated/Cooks Country. Even web access is extra. They auto renewed my online access without warning, then when I cancelled they sent a confirmation that my subscription would not renew NEXT YEAR. They're now trying to keep the charge I didn't agree to for another year. Best way to manage this is to buy the thing off a newstand or at the grocery store when checking out. read more

I'm a big fan of the Cook's Illustrated but thoroughly disappointed in your business practices, I ordered an annual from last year and had this year's turn up in my mailbox with a bill for $30. I did not order it, so I now need to go through the trouble of sending it back. Just because I bought something from you in the past doesn't give you the right to send me something and demand payment. Your yelp reviews reflect this, why pull such a shady stunt with a quality product? read more

Disgusting scammers. Avoid Cooks Illustrated, they are crooks. I received an invoice for them in October for a book I never ordered, nor ever received. I wrote back to them with the invoice as I was sure there had been an error. Silly me. I assumed that this was an honest company. I received no response other than another invoice. And another. Today I received the 5th threatening me with a collection agency. I've just filed a complaint with the E. Mass. Better Business Bureau and will also file a complaint with the Mass. Attorney General's office. What I want to know is why does NPR and TV carry this disreputable company? Also one would assume they make plenty of money without having to be dishonest? *** And what's the bet that the "positive" reviews for them are paid reviews and not at all authentic. read more

I sadly agree with the negative reviews here: sad because the recipes are good, but the company is so focused on monetizing everything in every possible way that it gets very obnoxious to be on the receiving end. It should be added that their website (to which I am a subscriber for ATK) often functions poorly and their customer support, though pleasant enough to take to, gets zero promised follow through from the technical support side. However, I wouldn't hope for better from Milk Street. Their operation is a carbon copy of this one (hence the lawsuit) with the same intense focus on making a LOT of money. read more

Was with America's Test Kitchen, Cooks Country & etc from the beginning. Certainly admired Christopher Kimball's drive. Starting at age 29 he created quite the empire. I enjoyed the shows with him. His homey attitude was refreshing. I was sorry to see Boston Common Publications force him out. Needless to say the shows and magazines are not the same. Brigit and Julia were tolerable when paired independently with Chris. Together I can barely watch them and in fact, don't. I miss Chris' editorial notes in the magazines too. His stories from times past were enjoyable and relatable. Milk Street was a refreshing find. Why companies mess with success I don't know. The resulting changes more times than not alienate fans. read more

Cook's Illustrated is my favorite culinary magazine. I have so much respect and admiration for the people who work for this amazing publication. All of their testing and attention to every detail make each recipe foolproof. As someone else already mentioned, the absence of advertising is truly a breath of fresh air. The magazine is thin, but that's because it's actually full of worthwhile recipes, information and fabulous illustrations, with no fluff. I am so excited to have received a subscription again this year as a gift (thanks dad!) and just so you know, you can even put it on your amazon wish list. If you love cooking, want to be inspired or try something new, and are fascinated with the science of why great recipes taste great, this is the magazine for you. read more

I got a free trial issue from them, and apparently because I didn't reject it from the mailman, they decided I must be a subscriber. I'm no chump so I called their service number and got them to stop bullying me with fake bills (big giveaway: the bills weren't in my real name, but a name-like avatar of mine that I only use online). I'd normally call that done, but these types of scams aren't meant to work on me, they're meant to work on the elderly. That's something I can't shrug off. I'm glad they're local, in case I need to spit. read more

Another poor business tactic: They offer you a free gift with your magazine subscription to Cook's Illustrated, and say that it will ship in 4-6 weeks. But you strangely never get it. When you call and complain, they claim that the gift was "lost in the mail", and they will ship you "another" copy. Of course, the postal service strangely never loses the mail that is actually sent! You only get the free gift if you call and complain about not getting it because they only send it if you remind them about it. This is a dishonest business practice. It greatly turns me off to buying any of their other products. Sadly so, because Cook's Illustrated itself is a very nice magazine. read more

Don't sign up or order anything from America's Test Kitchen, otherwise they will obtain your address and info and then send you a lot of unwanted solicitations, even after you send an unsubscribe request. read more

I am having subscription problems. I did subscribe and I received my first 2 issues and THEN a letter saying I had not paid for my subscription----which I have. I see from all the comments on the web that I am not alone. No wonder you could not retain Chris Kimbal ! A man whose editorials (in Cooks Illustrated) are so great would not want to be associated with these business practices. Boston Common, I am not sending you any more money and I HOPE Chris does start a new company so you can.......fill in the blanks. read more

I have watched cooks illustrated on tV and occasionally purchase the magazine. I have signed up for trial membership on cooksillustrated.com and decided it was not for me and cancelled. however they still billed me and I am still trying to get a refund. After researching the issue on the web I found that many other people are facing same problems. These guys really act like scammers of the biggest order read more

Love watching them on TV, but ordered a book once and they just sent me other books then harassed me over payment. US law is quite clear that you do NOT have to pay for unsolicited things sent to you, but now being threatened with a collection agency? wtf? read more

Beware of Cooks Illustrated by Boston Common Press. The magazine and TV show are good but Google " Cooks Illustrated Scam" to see the deceptive, unethical way they bill you for books that you never order .There are 194 complaints and they just keep doing it. Chris Kimball comes on like" Mr Niceguy" but his name is on the shingle of this company and their disgraceful marketing scheme. read more

We have struggled with this dreadful company for over 5 years to stop sending their unordered publications and threatening invoices therefore. Fine publications, of course, but the sleaziest business practices I've ever seen regarding customers. I would NEVER buy one of their products! read more

Said they were selling us a subscription to their magizine. Sold us a subscription to their web site. I have been fighting with their customer dis-service telling them we haven't gotten the mag nor have we ever used their web site. Still they will only refund part of our money. BBB has hundreds of complaints. Their yelp score is dropping. In short they are a shit organization. read more

Along with most of the people posting here, I agree that the content of the books, websites, tv programs, and radio programs are all great. But the business practices are unethical, unacceptable, and illegal. Although not a victim of the book scam as others are, I have been over charged for my renewal. My emails are ignored, and nobody answers their phone. When you call the support number, they actually have an automated system that tells you they are unable to handle the amount of calls at the moment, and then they just hang up on you. I've been trying to call for two months, always the same. After seeing all the BBB and web complaints against this organization and all their product names, I am convinced that they are purposely scamming their customers. I'll be cancelling my membership asap. Beware. read more