After five years it looks as though George Hirsch has had his fill at La Cucina Italiana.  Tanzina Vega writes that the 76-year-old print veteran is stepping down as chairman of the board and publishing director at the food mag after joining as a consultant in 2006.  Hirsch, who is known best in the industry as the founding publisher of New York, said he is prepared to make his exit once the company finds a suitable replacement:

I wasn’t looking for a full time job.  We need a full time publisher who’s going to take it to the next level and who, frankly, knows a lot more about the digital world than I do.

While La Cucina Italiana seeks out an individual to oversee their digital agenda, Hirsch was glad to report that since 2008 the title has witnessed double-digit gains in print advertising revenue.  Print circulation in the U.S. has improved from 75,000 to  135,000 in the past three years — a growth pattern Hirsch attributes to the rising appeal of Italian cuisine and cooking shows headlined by celebrity Italian chefs such as Mario Batali.

Hirsch said the magazine will begin interviewing candidates to replace him this week.  La Cucina Italiana releases eight issues each year and costs $6 on newsstands.

It looks like there is at least one magazine in New York that is not cutting back staff. In fact, new magazine Food Network Magazine is actually promoting current staff and bringing on new hires.

Despite being introduced in the midst of the great magazine die off last year with two newsstand-only test issues in October 2008 and January 2009, Food Network is thriving. The magazine, which recently announced a huge rate base increase, revealed some staff promotions and new hires today on both the edit and business sides.

Editor-in-chief Maile Carpenter is promoting features editor Tracy Saelinger to deputy editor and moving senior editor Liz Sgroi up to food editor. In addition, two new senior editors are being brought on board: Mary Kate McGrath — former design market editor at InStyle — and Jonathan Stern – formerly of Joshspear.com, Stuff magazine and Penthouse.

Read on to learn more about Food Network‘s staffing changes and the state of some other culinary magazines.

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