Reader’s Digestif is a new series of GOOD Food articles focusing on the changing landscape of food media.
Our first edition features Gather Journal, a brilliant and beautiful print magazine that recently caught our eye on the magazine stand. A few pages into Gather’s latest—the Seven Deadly Sins Issue—and we were salivating at the luxurious pictures, devouring the excellent articles, and dreaming of trying our hand at the recipes. Some examples: the Gluttony section features a Swineapple with Ginger Fried Rice, perfect for “piggin’ out,” and the Greek section has a Baklava that calls for edible gold leaf.
Started in 2012, the magazine is niche, but it’s no secret—they even won a James Beard Award for Visual Storytelling in 2013. We got the scoop from Gather Journal’s editor Fiorella Valdesolo.
Describe Gather Journal. What makes Gather different from other food magazines?
We are a biannual, recipe-driven independent publication with each issue’s content driven by a specific theme. Each edition is designed to be evergreen, so it’s something you can keep and refer back to again and again for inspiration. I think Gather’s out-of-the-box visuals and voice really set it apart, and also our unexpected themes. We love the challenge of figuring out how to make topics like natural history or the 1970s relate to food.
How do you see media about food having changed so that Gather is relevent?
I think food media has become infinitely more diverse, giving rise to many incredible niche publications. Gather resonates with readers who are looking for content in the niche media world that feels more authentic and personal; we use food as a vehicle to tell stories and people respond to that.
What is your favorite story Gather has published?
It’s so hard to play favorites, but it’s been a dream of mine—since we launched—to do a foodie centerfold, so I'm pretty damn proud of our giant banana from the 1970s issue. I also have to shout out the “Leftovers” essay in our current Sin edition, which frames food waste as our eighth deadliest sin.
What is something you would never publish in Gather?
You won’t see the trend-based stories, restaurant reviews, or new product news typical of more mainstream magazines.
What's your favorite thing about working in food media?
I love to cook and eat and drink and talk about all of the above, so it’s a pretty great fit. Food is a universal language, and an incredible way of recounting a person, place, or experience.
[quote position="full" is_quote="true"]Our main goal with Gather is to inspire people to cook![/quote]
I love the Winter 2017 issue: the Seven Deadly Sins. Can you tell me a little bit about how the issue came together?
The seven sins touch on so many facets of human behavior so it felt like something that would make a really juicy theme. For every edition we will go down a rabbit hole researching the theme, looking at art, watching movies, and listening to music to help inspire ideas for the content.
Your recipes are so inventive. How are they developed?
We have two phenomenal recipe developers, Maggie Ruggiero and Katy Peetz, who are always up to the challenge of working with us to find creative ways to channel the theme into recipes people will want to cook—because our main goal with Gather is to inspire people to cook!
What do you have coming up in the future?
We are about to start working on our next edition, which will come out at the end of May, plus we have some dinner events and parties in the works for this year.
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.