Look no further for groundbreaking scholarship, throught-provking book reviews, and stirring art from emerging scholars. The third issue of the Graduate Journal of Food Studies (volume 2, no. 2) is now live online.

The issue starts with editor-in-chief Carla Cevasco’s insightful letter, “I hate food puns,” which urges us all to refrain from foodie figurative language in an effort to bolster the intellectual foundations and popular perceptions of our field. Gone be the “food fights,” “seats at the table,” and, sigh, “food for thought.” I especially love her assertion that these phrases make food studies appear “fun” and approachable, but in the end, “Food studies should not be easy.” Our topics may be quotidian. That’s what makes them powerful and meaningful. Our conferences and events may consider eating and drinking primary. That’s experiential learning and intellectual embodiment, purposeful commensality and mindful consumption. Our work speaks to students and the public. That’s how our field will continue to expand and survive. Food studies is not a passing fad nor a field of inquiry with soft edges. As Carla argues so well, its acuity deserves accurate representation and rigorous contemplation.

This third issue of the journal answers this call, as it takes food seriously with articles addressing the 2013 EU meat scandal through analysis of the spectacular, the emergence of budget cookbooks in America, and Vermont’s alternative food systems. The issue also includes gorgeous meat landscape paintings by Eliza Murphy and ten book reviews, including mine (!) of A Cultural History of Food History in the Modern Age, edited by Amy Bentley with eleven essays from a truly all-star cast of contributors. It and this entire issue are worthy of a deep read, and we, the editorial team, hope you enjoy it.