Recently found out this foodies message board. Some pretty interesting recommendations there for different types of foods in different parts of the world. Something like our very own FT Dining, but a lot more active.

egullet, chowhound all good

The thing to know about both places is that they are heavily policed, and censor people on a regular basis. In my case, eGullet "banned" (or "legacied," as they put it) me for publicly disagreeing with policies.

Chowhound, too, regularly pulls posts with no valid reason, all based on admin whims.

There is no sense of transparency or accountability in either forum: I say this as an ex-member of eGullet (often referred to as eGullag) and former member at Chowhound. You have to toe the party line or face the shooting squad. Many, many people of good faith, incredible generosity of spirit, and who are keenly sensitive to, and educated about, good food have simply withdrawn, leaving both places much weakened versions of their original robustness.

In eGullet's case in particular, the Sandra Lee/Paula Dean/Rachael Ray mindset (food in a box? Quick, good? Instant, better!) has replaced most of the once intelligent type of posting. There are TWELVE PAGES of topics on "Ready to Eat" foods, including a six-page thread on potato chips.

If you can stand the Orwellian politics at either place, you might glean some usefulness. The best thing about eGullet is that Jason Perlow was given his walking papers: his little reign of terror is permanently ended. (He was a power abuser, and I was directly affected by it�he censored me and finally had me banned. I've got ample proof of it all, including a list of against-the-eG-Laws violations of power by a former admin who did Perlow's bidding.)

If I sound bitter, I am always unhappy about injustice and deceit. And I am always unhappy when corrupt powerholders lie and abuse their power, and when they censor people who blow the whistle.

Anthony Bourdain and Michael Ruhlman post at eG, though. That's always fun.