A Hard Goodbye

By Jennie

Food Lush was created over two years ago, as a spin-off to Style Lush. We thought food deserved its own space and we sure filled this space with some delicious dishes, didn't we? What I have always loved most about Food Lush is that the food feels real. It's not too fancy, and it's made up of recipes, snacks, products, etc., that an actual person can incorporate into their life and kitchen. 

We launched in October of 2010 and I wondered how turning one site into two would go, but Food Lush is the little website that could. It's grown and grown and made me so proud. It far surpassed my expectations and while it's part of a family, it has its own success story.

Turns out people really like food. My kind of people, that is.

See, without you reading, there would be no reason for this site to have kept on going. So, I can't possibly thank you enough for visiting, for pinning, for making our dishes and reporting back to us how they turned out. Every time someone mentioned they found a recipe on Food Lush, I would smile. I really would. It made me beside myself with happiness and gratitude.

It's with that gratitude that I must share the sad news that Food Lush is closing its metaphorical doors for the indefinite future. Our last day of new posts will be February 1st (next Friday) and while our archives will live for the foreseeable future (please visit and search often; it will bring us a lot of comfort to know we might continue to serve your kitchens in some small way), our days of bringing you new (and delicious) posts are ending.

Unfortunately, managing both sites has become something I can no longer do. It's hard when your desire doesn't match your resources, when the ideas flow freely but the time falls short. My offline life has been calling me to give it more attention, and it's a good life. It deserves to be heard.

I've been part of the blogging community for almost six years and the gifts it has given me are countless and deep and beautiful. Nothing more so than this site (and Style Lush), and the sites' writers and readers. Thank you for reading, commenting, and supporting us over the years. It feels so small, so tiny, in comparison to how I feel, but thank you all the same. Thank you.

I ask that you continue to support the writers, as they start new online adventures. They are gifted and talented and funny and worthy of getting to know better, if you don't know them already. You can find them here: Jess, Nora, Katie, Elissa, Jen, Slynnro, Elsha, Julie, Ariel, Dani, Caitlin, Tara, Tara, Erica, Maura, Jess, and Sarah Anne.

Again, there will be new posts next week (and a few of those posts will be a fun look back at the past two years) so please stop in during our last full week.

After that, please accept our most heartfelt and grateful goodbye.

(If you know me aside from the Lush sites, I have written another goodye on my personal blog.)

Comments

[H]

I'll miss both! Best wishes to you and the rest of the team.

[J]

Sad news :( I really liked this blog!

[Sharon]

Thanks for all the wonderful articles! I've made some great restaurant and recipe discoveries here over the years. I totally understand your decision, and will miss this site greatly.

[Erica]

I will always remember my time as a Food Lush writer with fondness. I got recipes pinned on Pinterest from my postings here! Food Lush made me internet famous for like 5 minutes. I am grateful to have be a very small part of something so wonderful. Thank you, Jennie.

[Caitlin]

I have so loved writing here and being part of this community. I've met so many wonderful people, and was happily surprised to connect with others I already knew over food.

Thank you, Jennie, for creating these sites and inviting us all along. The sites may be over as we know them, but the friendships and memories created here are not. And I love that they'll live on for people to search and enjoy. I'm proud of you for making a hard but necessary decision, and remember: Always better to end things when they're still bittersweet. Love you, lady!

[Randi Ann Bjerke]

I say hang on a little longer... I just found you through Pinterest, which linked me straight here. Your recipes are being spread all over that site... I just, this morning, made your cream cheese Crescents (which are delicious by the way) and am now checking out your others. I understand the reasons you want to move on to other things but I sure wouldn't shut this down completely, you have lots of great ideas to share!

[Jesabes]

How sad! I completely understand, though, and admire the courage it takes to move on.

[Jess M.]

I have been honored to write for Food Lush and I am sad to see it close. It has been my favorite internet food site, mainly because it always felt like a bunch of friends sharing recipes and things. xo