Pick of the blogs: Chocolate&Zucchini

By Darren Waters
BBC News entertainment reporter

Blogs and blogging have become buzzwords in the last 18 months, with millions of people setting up their own web logs to record their lives, comment on world events or share news.

There are almost as many different types of blogs as there are bloggers. Some are highly professional while others are simple online diaries. We pick out six of the best.

Please note that some blogs can contain strongly-worded language and highly-personal views.

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Boing Boing The self-styled directory of wonderful things - from technology to popular culture Underground An insightful take on daily use of London's Tube system written by a harassed commuter Tokyo Times A quirky viewpoint on life in Japan's capital city from a UK perspective

360 degrees Tales from the African bush in the middle of rural Zambia written by a British charity worker Dooce Uncensored views on motherhood, marriage and life in Utah from a blog celebrity Zucchini Not all blogs are personal diaries - this one is devoted to food and cooking

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CHOCOLATE&ZUCCHINI

WHO WRITES IT?

Paris-based Clotilde is a software engineer with a love of food and aspirations to become a food writer.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

Food and eating. Many blogs are confessional diaries but Chocolate&Zucchini is one of a number of blogs devoted to food in all its forms.

Clotilde wrote on her blog: "I love food. The shopping, the looking, the talking, the reading, the thinking, the planning, the preparing, the cooking, the baking, the tasting, the plating, the serving, the sharing, and of course, the eating."

The blog is a mix of stories about food experiences - from cooking to eating out and shopping - different recipes, and discussions about food and eating in general.

"I started my food blog, almost two years ago, because I really wanted/needed an outlet to express and share this passion I had for all things edible," the writer told the BBC News website.

"The "day-to-day kitchen journal" format is just perfect to share the everydayness of cooking, eating and dining out," she said.

"What's interesting is to see how the same simple concept of 'a blog about food' can translate into very different things, depending on the personality and interests of each blogger."

It also includes postings on trips to other countries and cities and an overview of its food offerings.

A recent trip to New York gave the writer plenty of material to talk about restaurants, food shopping and food culture in general.

HOW OFTEN IS IT UPDATED?

The blog has regular postings, usually every few days.

Readers who want to follow the blog can use RSS to stay up to date.

BBC News website guide to RSS

IN WHAT STYLE IS IT WRITTEN?

The blog is lively, accessible and informative. The writer's clear and undiluted passion for food shines through.

SHOW ME AN EXAMPLE POSTING

Besides eating out at restaurants, what is the other capital dimension through which to explore a city and its food scene? Food shopping! Show me your grocery stores, and I'll try to guess how you eat at home when no one's looking, how you cook and how you feed your friends.

Read the posting in full