Feast Your Eyes on Google’s Food Skins

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

(Image: Google)

Foodie web surfers got an early Christmas present last month with the release of iGoogle’s decorative food themes.

The sustenance-based background designs are quite obviously just another attempt at omnipresent brand building. But we must admit, some of the pictures sure are purty.

But which of the 25 virtua-wall papers to pick?

We poked around and uncovered the following trends:

* Most users:  Paula Deen’s Holiday Treats (21K+)

* Least popular: the Food Network’s Claire Robinson (110)

* Most discussed: Carl Warner’s Foodscapes (positive); Alton Brown’s Good Eats (negative)

*Most active themes: Paula Deen (3)

While I dig Carl Warner’s stuff, I’d say James Parker’s Veggy Art is perhaps the most compelling of the bunch.

Meanwhile, the painfully generic efforts put forth by Jamie Oliver and Alain Ducasse puts the two in a dead heat for the least inventive chef of the year award.

–Warren

Tags: Alain Ducasse, Celebrity chefs, food themes, google, Gut Check, Jamie Oliver, Northern Virginia Magazine, Paula Deen, Warren Rojas