The hottest Food & Drink Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Food & Drink Topics

Part 1: The Vittles Christmas Gift Guide 2024

Vittles • 156 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🍲 Food & Drink Gifts Cooking Cuisine Recipes Food Trends
  1. The Vittles Christmas Gift Guide offers a huge list of fun and unique gift ideas from various contributors. There are over a hundred options, including food items and quirky goodies.
  2. The guide is published in parts, with the first covering contributions made by Vittles writers, while the second part will feature more categories like books and kitchenware.
  3. The gifts range from sophisticated to silly, ensuring there's something for everyone, whether you're looking for stocking fillers or special treats.

🥃🔁 Bar Takeovers and New Experiences

Digest // Storefronts of Bangkok • 99 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cocktails Events
  1. The newsletter highlights upcoming events in Bangkok, from bar takeovers to music festivals, showcasing the city's vibrant energy and cultural diversity.
  2. Readers can discover new bars, art exhibitions, and other exciting happenings in the city by following Storefronts of Bangkok on social media.
  3. Events range from midweek music nights to weekend celebrations, offering a variety of experiences for locals and visitors alike.

Cultivate your palate for a new type of food

WeBeGreen • 99 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🍲 Food & Drink Sustainability Alternative Proteins Environmental Impact
  1. Cultivated meats offer a sustainable solution to the environmental impacts and challenges of traditional animal agriculture, providing a way to meet the growing global demand for meat without the same resource-intensive practices.
  2. Lab-grown or cultivated meats use cellular agriculture technology to produce meat from cells rather than raising and slaughtering animals, offering a more efficient and ethical approach to meat production.
  3. By transitioning to alternative proteins like cultivated meats, we can significantly reduce land use, greenhouse gas emissions, and reliance on animal agriculture, leading to a more sustainable and compassionate food system for the future.

its own kind of artistry

let them eat cake • 99 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Baking Recipes Kids Skills
  1. Cooking with 8-year-old girls can be a fun and educational experience by baking simple recipes from scratch, introducing them to measurement and process.
  2. Engage children in cooking activities through transformations like whipping cream, making meringue, or trying out croquettes and dumplings for hands-on experiences.
  3. Encourage creativity in cooking by letting children experiment, make mistakes, and learn valuable lessons like not always trusting their eyes or judgment.

Pamelia Chia’s Curry Chicken

Vittles • 123 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Recipes Culinary Arts Diet Cultural cuisine
  1. Singaporean curry chicken is a popular dish known for its unique turmeric color and rich coconut milk flavor, distinguishing it from other curry types. It's often enjoyed with rice or roti prata, making it a familiar comfort food in Singapore.
  2. Learning to cook curry can be a personal journey, as many traditional recipes involve intuitive cooking methods rather than precise measurements. The process of making the spice paste, or 'rempah', is essential and can evolve over time based on personal taste.
  3. Letting curry chicken rest in the fridge overnight can enhance its flavor, especially the potatoes, which soak up the spices. This resting period is a simple trick to make the dish even more delicious.
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three things

let them eat cake • 179 implied HN points • 04 Jan 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Food culture Food Industry
  1. The author is working on a book about Singaporean food and food culture and is seeking ideas and input from readers.
  2. A shortage of semiconductors causing a slowdown in car manufacturing led to unexpected consequences like a shortage of Haribo gummi bears due to gelatin from leather manufacturing.
  3. The Superiority Burger cookbook offers high-spirited food recipes designed for manufacturability, regardless of one's stance on meat eating.

Does Tokyo Have the Best Food in the World?

The Intersection • 98 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🍲 Food & Drink Food Quality Food culture
  1. Different cultures have strong hometown pride, which may influence their opinions on the best places in the world.
  2. When considering the city with the best food, it's important to take into account diverse cultures and cuisines, like those found in New York.
  3. Tokyo is considered by many, including experts like Anthony Bourdain, to have some of the best food in the world, offering a diverse array of culinary experiences.

Are Survival Food Buckets Worth It?

OK Doomer • 14 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
🍲 Food & Drink Nutrition Culinary Trends Consumer behavior
  1. Survival food buckets can be a decent option for emergency preparedness, often lasting many years. They just require water and some cooking with basic equipment.
  2. The price for these buckets varies, typically ranging from $100 to $200 each, and they can last one person a couple of weeks.
  3. While some people praise these food kits, others are skeptical about their practicality and whether they truly provide enough nutrition for long-term survival.

A Ghost Story About Pies

Vittles • 159 implied HN points • 18 Nov 24
🍲 Food & Drink Baking Cuisine History Culture Economics
  1. Pimbletts bakery is a big part of the history and culture of St Helens, where pies have been loved for generations. It shows how food connects to the town's industrial past.
  2. Despite its closures and comebacks, the new Pimbletts is facing criticism for not tasting as good as the original. People feel like the history and quality of the pies are being lost.
  3. St Helens struggles with its identity after losing many factories and jobs. Young people see little hope for the future, feeling the town is stuck living in the past.

Melek Erdal’s Baked Candied Pumpkin with Tahini and Walnuts

Vittles • 161 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🍲 Food & Drink Cuisine Recipes Culinary Arts Food culture Cooking techniques
  1. Baked candied pumpkin is a comforting dessert that combines sweetness with tahini and walnuts. It reminds people of shared moments and helps heal emotional pain.
  2. Cutting up the pumpkin can be the hardest part of making this dish, but the process of preparing it is important and rewarding.
  3. Sharing food with loved ones can be a source of joy and connection, especially during tough times.

Hunger Games

Secretum Secretorum • 353 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. The post delves deep into the concept of gluttony and indulgence, portraying a vivid and intense expression of insatiable hunger.
  2. The writing reflects a unique perspective on existence, blending themes of indulgence, hunger, and the primal instinct of feeding.
  3. The author's words evoke a sense of intense consumption, presenting a view where everything, even death and god, is meant to be devoured.

196 | Chocolate Fraud, Chocolate Safety, Chocolate Mysteries |

The Rotten Apple • 52 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety Food Science Supply Chain Food Fraud
  1. Chocolate is loved for its unique taste and texture, thanks to ingredients like cocoa butter that melt in your mouth. It also contains chemicals that can boost mood and energy.
  2. The supply chain for chocolate faces many challenges, including climate change and ethical issues like child labor. These problems can affect both production and pricing.
  3. Food safety for chocolate is a concern due to risks like contamination and fraud. Issues like undeclared allergens and misleading labeling can put consumers at risk.

Sowing Solidarity: How Lebanon’s Wineries Remain Rooted

Vittles • 159 implied HN points • 11 Nov 24
🍲 Food & Drink Wine Culture Environment Economy Agriculture
  1. Lebanon's wineries are facing tough times due to conflict and destruction. Many winemakers are shifting their focus from producing wine to supporting their communities.
  2. The connection to the land is really important for these winemakers. They feel a strong pride in their heritage and want to preserve their agricultural traditions amidst the chaos.
  3. Support from abroad is crucial for the survival of Lebanon's wine industry. Winemakers need strong export partnerships to keep their businesses alive as local markets struggle.

Homesteading: Pig Weed cometh

Who is Robert Malone • 13 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
🍲 Food & Drink Farming Gardening Nutrition Culinary Sustainability
  1. Pigweed is a big problem for farmers because it has become resistant to many herbicides, making it hard to control. It thrives in compacted, nitrogen-rich soil and can produce a lot of seeds, which add to the issue.
  2. The new miniature cows on the farm are adorable and require special care to help them grow strong. It's also a challenge to manage pigweed stickers that can be harmful to both people and animals.
  3. Bananas used to taste a lot better than they do now because of the switch from the Gros Michel variety to Cavendish. Many plants are being replaced due to diseases, which could change the banana market again in the future.

Issue 01 – Chocolate

Unbox Inbox • 79 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
🍲 Food & Drink Chocolate
  1. The post discusses the topic of chocolate consumption.
  2. It includes links to Chloe List's Substack profile and has a paid subscription model.
  3. There is an option for a 7-day free trial to access full post archives.

no. 54: thinner than porter

let them eat cake • 319 implied HN points • 22 May 22
🍲 Food & Drink Food culture Local Cuisine
  1. Kway chap, a Singaporean dish, offers a unique dining experience with its long queues and variety of ingredients like pork innards and rice noodles.
  2. The process of waiting in line at a hawker stall for kway chap involves observing the bustling environment, from ordering to receiving the food.
  3. The complexity of flavors in kway chap, along with its textural variety and symbolic value, makes it a deeply satisfying dish worth the inconvenience.

Part 2: The Vittles Christmas Gift Guide 2024

Vittles • 141 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts Food Writing Gift Guides
  1. This guide offers many unique gift ideas, including books, kitchenware, and quirky food items. It's a great way to find something special for food lovers.
  2. There’s a focus on independent food zines, which showcase unique and interesting food writing in the UK. These zines can be a fun way to explore diverse food stories.
  3. The guide suggests looking at both practical and decorative kitchen items among the gifts. You can find things that are useful and also add style to your kitchen.

173 | Mystery Poisonings Stalk Citizens | 14 Rules for Bad Quality Managers|

The Rotten Apple • 115 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety Food Fraud Public Health Consumer Awareness Regulations
  1. There have been many mysterious food poisonings, especially in South Africa, affecting children. It's alarming and the actual causes are not clear yet.
  2. Illegal pesticides may be contaminating food sold in local shops, which is a big concern for public health. Experts and authorities are looking into how this is happening.
  3. Food safety regulations are being updated to better control who can sell food and how it's handled. This might help prevent future poisonings and boost food safety.

Three Ingenious and Lawless Indian Toasties

Vittles • 97 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cuisine Cooking Snacks Home Cooking
  1. Indian toasties are simple and versatile, made with whatever ingredients you have on hand. They can be created in many different ways, showing the creativity of home cooks.
  2. Three popular toastie recipes include a Kerala-style tuna melt, a potato and green chutney toastie, and smashed spiced peas on toast. Each offers a unique flavor and style influenced by different regions.
  3. These toasties represent the fun and casual side of South Asian cooking, where tradition can take a backseat to tasty, spontaneous meals.

How to Make Cooking More Efficient

The Analog Family • 179 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking tips Meal Planning Food preparation Home Cooking
  1. Plan your meals early in the day to avoid last-minute stress and takeout. Thinking about dinner by breakfast helps prep ingredients ahead of time.
  2. Learn the difference between passive and active cooking time. Start longer-cooking items first to have everything ready to eat at the same time.
  3. Cook larger quantities of basic ingredients to save time later. This way, you'll have easy building blocks for quick meals throughout the week.

Veganism: A First-World Luxury

Polymathic Being • 106 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
🍲 Food & Drink Veganism Nutrition Diet Culture Food Processing
  1. You can't rely only on whole plant foods for a vegan diet. You need extra supplements to get enough nutrients.
  2. Global trade is really important for a vegan diet. Many of the foods vegans eat come from different parts of the world and weren't available in the past.
  3. To get the right nutrition on a vegan diet, high-tech processing is often necessary. This means lots of chemicals and advanced techniques to create the foods.

Nick Bramham’s Perfect Tuna Melt

Vittles • 151 implied HN points • 30 Oct 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cuisine Cooking Food culture Food history
  1. The tuna melt is a popular sandwich that combines tuna salad with grilled cheese. It became famous at Woolworth's lunch counter in the 1960s by accident.
  2. There are many types of sandwiches with unique origins in different cities, showcasing a rich food culture in America.
  3. Everyone has their own preferred way of making a tuna melt, and the perfect ratio of tuna to mayo can be a hot topic among sandwich lovers.

198 | Seed Oils: Unsafe or Not? | STEC in flour |

The Rotten Apple • 42 implied HN points • 21 Jul 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety Nutrition Food Fraud Health Risks Food policy
  1. Seed oils are being criticized a lot lately, but the science doesn't strongly support these fears. They're actually common and safe in moderation.
  2. Food fraud is a real issue, where bad ingredients like sand can end up in products like sugar. This can cause big problems for companies.
  3. There's a risk of harmful bacteria, like STEC, in flour. It's important to be careful with raw flour products to avoid foodborne illnesses.

Back to the Future: A Trip to Wing Yip

Vittles • 138 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurant Reviews Culinary Trends Food culture Dining Experiences Food Photography
  1. Brent Cross West is a new train station in London that makes it easier for people to get around. It helps connect different areas that were hard to reach before.
  2. The Wing Yip supermarket complex remains busy and lively, resembling classic Chinese supermarkets. It's a place that many people have fond memories of.
  3. There are big changes happening in the Brent Cross area, including new homes and businesses, making it a lively neighborhood to visit.

Nick Bramham’s Rabbit & Fennel Risotto

Vittles • 128 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking Dining Food culture Gastronomy
  1. The Rabbit & Fennel Risotto was created out of a kitchen challenge due to unexpected demand for rabbit and over-ordering of fennel. The chef had to think quickly to make a delicious meal.
  2. To give the risotto a rich flavor, the chef uses high-quality ingredients like Carnaroli rice, chicken stock, and fresh fennel, making sure the vegetables add texture.
  3. The finished dish is intended to be substantial and perfect for sharing at gatherings, making it both satisfying and versatile for different occasions.

Michèle Roberts: The Art of Writing a Cookbook

Vittles • 136 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Food Writing Recipes Feminism
  1. Cooking is like a creative art form, similar to writing poetry. It's about being attentive and using the right ingredients to create something special.
  2. Understanding and recognizing your own appetite is key to enjoying cooking for yourself. It’s important to treat yourself well, just like you would a dear friend.
  3. Using leftovers can be a fun and creative challenge. It's a way to reduce waste and make something new and delicious from what you already have.

The Vittles EU8 Restaurant Guide

Vittles • 123 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Cuisines Food culture Dining Trends Food history
  1. The EU expansion in 2004 brought in eight countries, giving London a rich variety of Eastern European cuisines. You can find Polish, Lithuanian, Czech, Hungarian, and more types of food across the city.
  2. Many restaurants, bakeries, and pubs celebrate these cultures, especially in neighborhoods with a strong East European community. Places like Streatham and Ealing have become hubs for this diverse culinary scene.
  3. Certain dishes, like Lithuanian cepelinai or Czech goulash, are becoming more popular, showing a shift in how these cuisines are viewed. People are starting to see them as trendy and delicious.

second slice

let them eat cake • 119 implied HN points • 05 Mar 23
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes
  1. The post shares about a chef's experience of making a pâté-croûtes, mentioning one as the best made almost a year ago and another made recently as one of the worst.
  2. The post invites readers to keep reading by subscribing to 'let them eat cake' for a 7-day free trial to access full post archives.
  3. There are links provided for readers to start the free trial or sign in if they are already a paid subscriber.

Make Your Own Festive Biscuit Box

Vittles • 125 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Baking Christmas Gifting Traditions
  1. You can easily make your own festive biscuit box with simple recipes. It's a fun way to share baked treats with friends and family during Christmas.
  2. There are three easy biscuit recipes: chocolate-dipped oat cookies, spiced ginger thins, and saffron shortbread. Each can be prepared quickly and adapted to your taste.
  3. Baking for others is a great way to spread joy during the holidays. You don't need to be an expert to create something special for your loved ones.

first slice

let them eat cake • 139 implied HN points • 16 Jan 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking
  1. The author shared a post about making their first p\u00e2t\u00e9-cro\u00fbte since December 2021, experimenting with soy and five spice in the recipe.
  2. The post includes a link to subscribe to their newsletter with a 7-day free trial offer for access to full post archives.
  3. The author adjusted the spicing and ingredients in a familiar recipe to see how different elements worked together in a \u00e2t\u00e9-cro\u00fbte, showcasing their experimentation in pastry making.

Vittles Reviews: What's the Point of Spanish Food in London?

Vittles • 141 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Cuisine Reviews Culture Dining
  1. Spanish food options in London are quite limited, often centered around a few high-end restaurants in Soho and Mayfair.
  2. While Spanish cuisine has improved over the years, many places still feel like replicas of traditional Spanish dining, lacking a unique identity.
  3. A truly good restaurant should transport diners to a different world, offering an experience that goes beyond just food.

My Week in Food

The Analog Family • 159 implied HN points • 29 Mar 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Recipes Baking Meal Planning Food culture
  1. Food plays a big role in daily life and is often the first and last thought of the day. Cooking brings people together and adds excitement to mealtimes.
  2. Shopping for groceries based on sales and what’s available helps manage food costs, especially with rising prices. Using leftovers creatively is also a great way to save money.
  3. Trying new recipes and incorporating special ingredients can enhance meals. Baking delicious treats adds joy and variety to the week.

Roast #33: My processes

thoughtfulcoffee • 58 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
🍲 Food & Drink
  1. When sourcing green coffee, focus on varietal, processing, price, and farm/farmer
  2. Always sample coffee before making a purchase to avoid potential disappointment
  3. Adjust sample roasting based on bean properties for accurate evaluation