Source: Jane Marshall, jpm2@k-state.edu
Website: http://www.KansasFoodJournal.com
Note to editor: Thomas Theis is a graduate of Olathe Northwest High School.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

LATEST ISSUE OF K-STATE'S KANSAS FOOD JOURNAL WEBZINE NOW AVAILABLE

MANHATTAN -- Students in Kansas State University's Food Writing course have published their newest edition of the Kansas Food Journal, a Webzine devoted to stories on food production, preparation and consumption in the state.

This is the third edition of the KansasFoodJournal.com and the largest yet. Students produced nearly 50 stories in topics ranging from 1950s drive-in restaurants in Topeka and Oakley to eating disorders among college students, from a Wichita chocolatier to an Olsburg couple whose meat from purebred Duroc hogs is wowing chefs nationwide.

The site, http://www.KansasFoodJournal.com, is the only one of its kind in the state and one of the first class-produced Webzines at K-State. Jane P. Marshall teaches the course in the College of Human Ecology's department of hospitality management and dietetics.

The Webzine also includes family recipes and the stories that go with them, book reviews and commentaries.

Five students reported and wrote blogs. For "Tea Time," Laura Parente, May 2010 bachelor's graduate in dietetics, Overland Park, visited tearooms and tea shops around the state. In "Far From Oz," Ely Behrhorst, senior in hotel and restaurant management, Winfield, took a road trip to the East Coast and reported on his culinary adventures. Dustin Nelson, May 2010 bachelor's graduate in human nutrition, Hutchinson, researched food science questions for his blog "Mixing Molecules."

Along with Parente, Behrhorst and Nelson, Kansas Food Journal student staff members and contributors included:

Lindsay Creviston, May 2010 bachelor's graduate in dietetics, Auburn; Melissa Taylor, May 2010 bachelor's graduate in human nutrition, Chanute; Katie George, junior in dietetics, Clyde; Matt Zerr, senior in nutrition and exercise science, Grainfield.

From Greater Kansas City: Simone Dorsey, junior in dietetics, Kansas City, Kan.; Katharine Barkman, May 2010 bachelor's graduate in public health nutrition, Leawood; Tommy Theis, junior in information systems, Olathe, shot some of the Webzine's images; and Elizabeth Gittemeier, sophomore in kinesiology, Katelyn Travers, junior in public health nutrition and dietetics, and Eryn Woofter, May 2010 bachelor's graduate in hotel and restaurant management, all from Overland Park.

Michele Espinosa, senior in public health nutrition, and Carolyn Hollis, sophomore in life sciences, both from Junction City; Casey McCaw, junior in dietetics and public health nutrition, and Danielle Dirks, senior in hotel and restaurant management, both from Manhattan; Shareika Jones, sophomore in public health nutrition, Salina; Rachel Semjenow, May 2010 bachelor's graduate in public health nutrition, Topeka; Claire Armstrong, May 2010 bachelor's graduate in public health nutrition, Wamego.

From Wichita: Betsy Erickson, senior in dietetics; Grant Guggisberg, May 2010 bachelor's graduate in mass communications; Collin Hayes, senior in hotel and restaurant management; Tanner Randall, junior in kinesiology; and Beth Troutt, senior in dietetics.

From out of state: Catherine Metzgar, May 2010 bachelor's graduate in dietetics and kinesiology, Mound City, Mo.

Cory Duke Designs, Houston, Texas, did the design work for the Webzine.

"I think it's cool that we have an actual web designer for it, which makes it feel a little more professional," McCaw said.

Many of the students enjoyed seeing all of their work throughout the semester appear in a tangible form that could benefit others.

"What made this project cool was knowing that at the end of the day, people would be able to see my work from this class and get actual enjoyment from it," Guggisberg said. "That makes the work more fun to do."

"This is such an exciting project that shares important information about Kansas and its food/foods, provides a wonderful learning experience for our students to understand how a website works and showcases the writing of our students," said Deb Canter, head of K-State's department of hospitality management and dietetics.

Marshall, who edits Kansas Food Journal, is a food journalist and culinary historian who was features editor at major newspapers around the country for more than 25 years. She also teaches Development of American Cuisine each fall.

The department of hospitality management and dietetics offers Food Writing every spring semester. It also is available online in the fall.