You’ve probably seen the first issue of Edible Austin, available at foodie locations all over town. Austin’s own Marla Camp, the editor and publisher, is quoted in today’s NYT. Somehow, I had overlooked the small print on the Edible Austin Web site. Edible Austin is just one of over thirty similar publications, each individual and local, all published under the umbrella of Edible Communications, Inc. The article provides details on the business aspects of the affiliated local and regional publications around the nation: “How to Eat (and Read) Close to Home,” byline Marian Burros (sign-in may be required). The feature implies that the quality of these publications is uneven, saying “Some of the magazines still have plenty of kinks to work out.” I wouldn’t say that the Austin version is one of them. There are even new discoveries to be found among local businesses taking out ads in the first issue. Each one of the articles contains at least one factoid that’s a revelation, and the opinions of the informed writers are entertaining, too. If all the Edible magazines were in a survival contest, I’d be willing to bet that Edible Austin would be the last one standing. It’s that good.