The hottest Food & Drink Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Food & Drink Topics

Girlfood

Close-reading the reruns with Phoebe Maltz Bovy • 235 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🍲 Food & Drink Trends Eating Habits Social norms Gender Roles Cooking
  1. The trend of 'girl dinner' involves young women making meals out of snacks, sparking discussions on social media.
  2. Having simple snack meals every night can feel tedious, especially when lacking a kitchen for an extended period.
  3. Eating styles can be influenced by gender dynamics, with certain meal types being associated more with specific social situations or relationships.
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How Pie and Mash Killed Itself

Vittles • 361 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary History Food culture Restaurant Industry Food Critique
  1. Pie and mash shops in London are losing customers because their old traditions don't appeal to many people anymore. This dish has remained mostly unchanged, making it feel outdated to newer generations.
  2. There's a common belief that outside factors like gentrification are causing the decline of pie and mash, but the real issue is that the food hasn't adapted or modernized to attract a wider audience.
  3. Instead of trying to preserve pie and mash as it was, shops should evolve to include new flavors and ideas. This could help keep the tradition alive while appealing to a changing population.

Vittles Kids: A Sunday Supplement

Vittles • 100 implied HN points • 27 Jul 25
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Parenting Health Nutrition Dining
  1. Feeding kids is not just about what they eat but also about their fun and discovery. It's a mix of play and learning, which can be surprising and messy.
  2. Parents share different experiences and advice about cooking for kids, like dealing with allergies or mixing cultural foods, which can be both challenging and rewarding.
  3. Finding good restaurant options for families with kids is important, and having recommendations can help parents enjoy meals out while introducing their children to new flavors.

When Food Doesn’t Taste Like Home

Vittles • 395 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary History Cultural Identity Political Impact Food security Resilience
  1. Food is deeply tied to personal history and culture, especially in communities like Gaza. For many, the memories of eating fresh, home-grown food evoke feelings of love and connection to the land.
  2. War and occupation have drastically changed how Palestinians experience food. What was once nourishing and comforting has become a reminder of suffering, scarcity, and loss.
  3. Survival has forced people in Gaza to adapt and eat whatever they can find, sometimes even dangerous or inedible plants. This struggle highlights their resilience amid desperate circumstances.

Ómós Digest #83: Fulgurances, Giving Youth a Voice.

Ómós Digest • 216 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
🍲 Food & Drink
  1. The concept of pop-up dining events can be rewarding but also a challenging and unconventional way to showcase creativity and cuisine.
  2. Fulgurances restaurant in Paris provides a platform for sous chefs to shine and lead, allowing them to express their creativity and gain vital experience.
  3. Fulgurances' innovative model of supporting and showcasing emerging culinary talent has led to the establishment of multiple successful restaurants and ventures.

Is Rotisserie Chicken the Solution?

Vittles • 125 implied HN points • 20 Jun 25
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Cuisine Food Trends Dining Culture
  1. There's a growing trend for chefs to open rotisserie chicken restaurants as a way to adapt to tough economic times. It's not just because they love cooking chicken, but it's a strategy for survival in the restaurant industry.
  2. Successful rotisserie chicken places focus on serving a simple, enjoyable meal rather than getting bogged down by chef ego. It's important for chefs to prioritize the eating experience over trying to impress with complex dishes.
  3. Norbert's, a new rotisserie chicken shop, showcases how experienced chefs can thrive in a small, focused environment. This shows a shift in dining from elaborate meals to more straightforward comfort food.

Vertical farming: a local solution for greens, but not feeding the world any time soon

Sustainability by numbers • 339 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability Farming Agriculture Food security Energy Use
  1. Vertical farming can grow greens indoors, but it won't solve global food issues soon. It's too energy-intensive and often expensive.
  2. Growing leafy greens like lettuce can work if electricity costs are low. However, for staple crops like wheat, vertical farming is not a practical option right now.
  3. While vertical farms might use less land, they can have a bigger carbon footprint than traditional farming, depending on the energy source used.

World’s First Approval for Cultivated Beef, Chocolate Made From Air, and Jackfruit-Based Meat

Better Bioeconomy • 117 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Investments
  1. First approval for cultivated beef given in Israel, using a unique hybrid meat approach.
  2. Multus opens facility for affordable serum-free growth media for cultivated meat industry, easing industry progress.
  3. Imagindairy enhances dairy production with AI-led fermentation, aiming for cost-competitive animal-free products.

"In Scotland, we don't go in for that lazy criticism, not even in an ironic way"

Vittles • 238 implied HN points • 21 Feb 25
🍲 Food & Drink Local Cuisine Culinary Trends Food culture
  1. Scottish cuisine has changed a lot in recent years and is no longer mocked for its food. Instead, people see Scotland as having amazing ingredients and chefs.
  2. There is a focus on using local Scottish produce and cooking techniques like preservation that are gaining popularity. This keeps the food scene exciting and innovative.
  3. Chitra Ramaswamy, a restaurant critic, brings a unique perspective as the only critic dedicated to Scotland's food culture. Her reviews reflect a deep appreciation for the country and its evolving culinary identity.

Rukmini Iyer’s Magical Children’s Party Recipes

Vittles • 94 implied HN points • 27 Jul 25
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking Kids Parties
  1. It's important to keep kids engaged at parties with fun food and activities. Simple things like balloons and pizza can grab their attention quickly.
  2. Make sure to include allergy-friendly food options in your party menu. Recipes that are easy to make and can be shared help everyone enjoy the celebration.
  3. Don't stress too much about the food preparations. Just focus on a couple of simple recipes and ask for help from friends or family to manage the workload.

A correction and an update

Close-reading the reruns with Phoebe Maltz Bovy • 117 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food culture Cooking
  1. The author corrected their claim about inventing intuitive shopping, crediting Isabel Slone for introducing the concept.
  2. The author shared an update on their quest to find anchovies in olive oil in Canada, discussing the disappointing taste of a purchase from a nearby store.
  3. Despite challenges, the author remains determined in their pursuit of the desired anchovies, navigating through various stores and asking for assistance.

Stress ReLeith: Chicken in Tarragon and Cream Sauce

Vittles • 133 implied HN points • 02 Jun 25
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Recipes Nutrition Culinary Arts Mental health
  1. Cooking can be a fun and therapeutic way to deal with anxiety. It helped someone overcome stress and improve their mental health during tough times.
  2. Taking an online cooking course can boost your skills and confidence in the kitchen. It can be a challenging yet rewarding experience, even if it's not all fun.
  3. You can make tasty meals quickly with fewer ingredients. Learning how to simplify recipes can make cooking enjoyable and efficient.

Eating King Can

Bird History • 99 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Cuisine Conservation History Species
  1. Canvasbacks were once America's most famous and exclusive dish, known for their unique appearance and diet.
  2. The demand for canvasbacks led to fraudulent sales, with some buyers being tricked by vendors substituting them with similar-looking but cheaper ducks.
  3. Conservation efforts have helped stabilize the canvasback population, but threats like habitat loss still pose risks to these birds in the present day.

sixth slice

let them eat cake • 199 implied HN points • 13 Aug 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Baking Recipes Food Trends
  1. Experimentation in food presentation is key - avoid common approaches and strive for something unique.
  2. Working in unfavorable conditions can be tough, but can also lead to surprising results.
  3. Don't be afraid to learn from mistakes and try again to improve - persistence is crucial in culinary endeavors.

Summer is the explosion of fruit while caterpillars are the explosion of juice

Soaring Twenties • 92 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking Food culture Sustainability Gardening
  1. Summer is a time for fresh fruits, like tomatoes, which require a lot of attention to grow well. It’s a rewarding experience to grow your own food.
  2. Hunting for caterpillars on plants can be a fun and engaging task, helping to protect the crops. Keeping an eye on pests is important for a successful garden.
  3. Making salsa is not just about following a strict recipe; it’s about enjoying the process and the flavors that come together from fresh ingredients. Cooking can be a joyful and creative activity.

⬜ The meaning of a moka pot

One Thing • 158 implied HN points • 23 Nov 23
🍲 Food & Drink Coffee Design Culture History
  1. Moka pot is a classic kitchen item with a design for good coffee but may not always produce amazing coffee.
  2. The moka pot's appeal lies in its ability to transcend trends and societal distinctions, making it a versatile and enduring coffee maker for many.
  3. Upgrading to fancier versions of the moka pot may not always guarantee better coffee quality, as the simplicity and functionality of the original design can hold its own against modern iterations.

Ómós Digest #84 The King (and Queen) of Wild Smoked Salmon.

Ómós Digest • 196 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Farming Sustainability Craftsmanship Seafood
  1. The story discusses the migration of people to West Cork in the 1970s and 1980s seeking a new cultural lifestyle
  2. The narrative highlights the importance of being persistent and kind when seeking to learn from experts in different crafts
  3. Sally Barnes's experience with smoking wild salmon reveals the environmental challenges and changes in fish quality over the years