The hottest Food & Drink Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Food & Drink Topics

The 99 Best Restaurants in London, by Jonathan Nunn

Vittles • 541 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Guides Reviews Rankings Dining
  1. This is the first instalment of a ranked list of the 99 best restaurants in London, covering positions 99–76.
  2. The full list is split into multiple parts, with later posts covering higher-ranked entries up to No. 1.
  3. Full access to the entire list and past issues requires a paid subscription, and the post is behind a paywall that asks readers to subscribe or sign in.

How to Perform a Mass Balance: Step‑by‑Step Guide + Downloadable Worksheets

The Rotten Apple • 42 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety Food production Quality control Manufacturing Supply Chain Compliance
  1. A mass balance reconciles incoming materials with finished product, waste, and stored material using the simple equation Mass In = Mass Out + Mass Stored.
  2. You run a mass balance to spot and document deviations from expected yield so problems can be investigated and the results defended in an audit.
  3. The guide gives step‑by‑step instructions and downloadable worksheets to record inputs, outputs, rework, and yield so you can do a clear, factory‑floor mass balance.

Starbucks Wants to be Chipotle

Snaxshot • 339 implied HN points • 13 Aug 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food Trends Consumer behavior Product Innovation
  1. Starbucks is trying to change its image and wants to be more like Chipotle, focusing on fresh and customizable food options.
  2. The company recently hired Chipotle's CEO to help with this transformation and bring new ideas to Starbucks.
  3. This shift shows how popular fast-casual dining is, and Starbucks aims to attract a younger, more health-conscious crowd.
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La Rentrée, Part 2

David Lebovitz Newsletter • 4933 implied HN points • 25 Sep 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cuisine Restaurants Travel Shopping Recipes
  1. Brittany is a beautiful region known for its rocky coasts, dramatic weather, and delicious food like moules-frites and local hard apple cider.
  2. In Languedoc, you can enjoy a relaxing vacation with fresh seafood, warm beaches, and charming markets like the one in Olonzac.
  3. Exploring vide-greniers in the French countryside can lead to great finds, while enjoying delicious food at local restaurants can be a highlight of the trip.

The Monday Media Diet with Abena Anim-Somuah

Why is this interesting? • 1990 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts Food culture Food history Recipes Dining Experiences
  1. A well-balanced media diet should include a mix of high-quality, relevant content and some light, entertaining pieces. It's like having nutritious meals with a little dessert on the side.
  2. Listening to podcasts and reading a variety of publications can keep you informed and inspired. Finding the right balance of news and fun content is important.
  3. Exploring different cultures through food and travel creates meaningful experiences. Visiting charming places and trying local cuisine helps connect with diverse lifestyles.

‘I once ate a fly thinking it was crispy carbonised meat’: On Ratting

Vittles • 220 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Food culture Eating Habits Food Waste Memoir
  1. Ratting is the furtive habit of scavenging leftover food in restaurant kitchens that became a way to reclaim appetite and feel a risky, illicit pleasure.
  2. The practice acted as a quiet rebellion against narrow, performative masculinity and enforced self-control, building staff solidarity and small acts of defiance against management.
  3. Ratting continues at home as a domestic, anti-waste joy that mixes sensory delight with social taboo and minor hygiene risk, framed as a decadent pushback on hygiene-obsessed norms.

True or False: The Best Salads Are the Simplest Salads

The Department of Salad: Official Bulletin • 2712 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Salads Cooking Recipes Food Photography Food culture
  1. Some people believe that the best food is the simplest, while others enjoy complex salads with various ingredients.
  2. Food presentation on social media, particularly salads, can be very aesthetically pleasing and popular.
  3. Salad is a versatile dish that can be made with endless combinations of ingredients and styles, allowing personal creativity and expression.

8 Things I Love About My New Kitchen

Dinner: A Love Story • 2771 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking
  1. The author downsized from a house to an apartment in New York City but loves their new kitchen.
  2. The kitchen serves multiple purposes, including dining room, home office, and dog bedroom.
  3. The author feels settled in the kitchen space, which is working efficiently on every square inch.

Six of One - Myanmar Special

Vittles • 120 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Cuisine Ethnic food City Guides Reviews
  1. Burmese food is becoming much easier to find in London now, thanks to many online Myanmar grocers, delivery and catering services, and a growing number of restaurants serving authentic dishes.
  2. Nway Oo Pokhara in Cricklewood stands out for its Mogok-style sticky rice noodles, fried platters and weekend Burmese spreads, and the owner plans chetty banana-leaf feasts and teashop-style all-day grazing with strong condensed-milk tea.
  3. Politics in the Myanmar diaspora shape dining choices, so many people check whether restaurants or chefs support the military before recommending or visiting them.

The best and worst of London food (media) in 2025

Vittles • 284 implied HN points • 31 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Food Media Influencers Food culture Dining Guides Restaurant Industry
  1. Traditional food media is shrinking because journalists are poorly paid and often have to rely on free meals, which makes it hard for them to write truly critical, independent reviews.
  2. Influencers now dominate food culture and are expanding into real-world ventures, but their power is fragile since platform algorithms and tech changes can quickly wipe out reach and income.
  3. A hopeful trend is owner-operated, low-overhead restaurants moving from homes into small spaces and focusing on a few authentic dishes; these independent places need discovery and support to thrive.

(almost) one-pan garlic butter roasted chicken and crispy potatoes

What To Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking • 2279 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Ingredients Meal Prep Food culture Cooking tips
  1. The recipe features a delicious one-pan garlic butter roasted chicken with crispy potatoes and romesco sauce.
  2. Leftovers of this dish can be kept for up to 3 days in the fridge and can be used creatively in salads or bowls.
  3. Options are provided for variations like using different types of potatoes, nuts, or even making the dish dairy-free or gluten-free.

Food Safety News and Resources | March

The Rotten Apple • 21 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety Recalls Regulation Public Health Supply Chain Food Fraud
  1. Several unusual and large recalls occurred: frozen grated coconut was recalled for confirmed Hepatitis A contamination, and U.S. producers expanded a recall to about 37 million pounds of frozen meals after glass was found in carrots.
  2. International risk guidance changed: the FAO/WHO panel recommends lowering the reference dose for gluten from 5 mg to 4 mg for risk assessments, while 'gluten-free' labeling remains defined as 20 mg/kg or less.
  3. Food safety threats and capacity concerns are rising: dietary PFAS—especially from freshwater fish, shellfish, eggs and milk—often exceed safety thresholds, and U.S. food agencies have lost many staff, which could weaken oversight and response.

Issue 14 – Salt

Unbox Inbox • 1982 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Ingredients Products History Culture
  1. People have different preferences when it comes to salt, from carrying salt in tin pockets to seeking out salts from specific countries.
  2. Salt can be a luxury experience, with high-end brands offering unique flavors and sustainable options.
  3. The history of salt is rich and fascinating, influencing trade, wars, and civilizations throughout time.

October 2023 newsletter

David Lebovitz Newsletter • 4363 implied HN points • 01 Oct 23
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Cookbooks Travel Recipes Gardening
  1. The author missed writing the September newsletter but enjoyed taking a break in Sicily.
  2. In France, 'Non' doesn't mean being rude; it's about valuing personal time like vacation and work-life balance.
  3. When dining in France, tipping is not mandatory as service is included in the price, but leaving a little extra for good service is appreciated.

a really simple meal plan v.2

What To Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking • 4343 implied HN points • 30 Aug 23
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking tips
  1. The meal plan includes recipes for Jerk Chicken with Coconut Rice and Strawberry Salsa, Sunshine Pasta, Chicken Flautas & Roasted Corn Salad, Roasted Asparagus Farrotto, and Sesame-Ginger Grilled Steak with Cucumber Pepper Avocado Salad.
  2. The meal plan provides detailed instructions for preparing the meals, including tips for leftover usage and variations to suit different preferences.
  3. A PDF grocery list is included for easy shopping and organization based on grocery aisle.

226 | Herb fraud shock | Data exchange in traceability |

The Rotten Apple • 73 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety Food Fraud Supply Chain Regulation
  1. Herbal products showed alarmingly high rates of mislabelling and adulteration, with some popular botanicals often replaced or diluted and many samples containing undeclared species.
  2. The choice of test matters: ITS2 metabarcoding found far more hidden ingredients and fungal contamination (including potential mycotoxin producers) than conventional DNA barcoding, revealing bigger safety risks.
  3. Traceability and supply-chain controls must be tightened — FSMA requires passing specific Key Data Elements at each handoff, industry is standardising on GS1/EDI methods, and small supplier maintenance failures (like frayed cables shedding copper) can cause massive, cross-border recalls so incoming packaging must be inspected and suppliers managed closely.

one-pot cheesy pumpkin pasta

What To Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking • 3871 implied HN points • 08 Oct 23
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Ingredients Cooking tips Meal Ideas
  1. The recipe shared is a one-pot cheesy pumpkin pasta, perfect for fall comfort food.
  2. The author shares her love for savory pumpkin dishes and provides alternatives for those who don't enjoy pumpkin.
  3. There are tips for variations, such as using canned butternut squash, adding meat or greens, and making the dish dairy- or gluten-free.

What's New: Canning, Quick Hydroponics, and More

OK Doomer • 96 implied HN points • 05 Feb 26
🍲 Food & Drink Preservation Cooking Gardening Homesteading Sustainability DIY
  1. The project turns prepping and homesteading into simple, accessible steps so people can prepare affordably and practically where they live.
  2. Recent additions include canning and quick hydroponics, with expanded sections and upcoming DIY solar cooker guides, all collected in a growing downloadable illustrated PDF.
  3. The guide is evolving and community-driven, welcoming reader input and supported by donations and subscriptions to keep updates coming.

Three Things

Dinner: A Love Story • 2044 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink
  1. Easy vegetarian cooking ideas for students on a budget.
  2. Recommendations for non-alcoholic beers for game days or gatherings.
  3. A round-up of top New York City restaurants to try.

April 2023 Newsletter

David Lebovitz Newsletter • 3714 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
🍲 Food & Drink Bakery Travel Recipes Restaurants
  1. Visiting San Francisco bakeries like Arsicault can be a rewarding experience for pastry lovers.
  2. Prioritizing family time during travel can lead to meaningful and enjoyable experiences.
  3. When traveling to places with potential strikes, it's essential to be flexible and plan accordingly to navigate transportation disruptions.

Green-Colored Glasses

Seven Senses • 579 implied HN points • 01 Jun 24
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts Event Planning Food culture Dining Experiences Seasonal Ingredients
  1. The event 'Tasting Color' was a creative dinner party focused on the color green, blending food, art, and nature. Guests enjoyed a themed vegetarian menu that highlighted seasonal ingredients, all visually connected by the color green.
  2. Collaborations were key to making the event successful. Partnerships with local chefs, ceramicists, and artists helped create a unique and immersive experience for guests, enhancing the sense of community and connection.
  3. The overall goal of the dinner was to foster human connection through shared experiences. Organizers felt joy seeing guests engaged in conversation and enjoying the moment, showcasing the power of creativity and collaboration.

Grow Herbs, not Vegetables

Life Since the Baby Boom • 1844 implied HN points • 13 Jul 25
🍲 Food & Drink Gardening Cooking Recipes Urban Farming
  1. Growing herbs at home is more convenient than buying fresh herbs from the store. You can always have the flavors you need ready to go for your meals.
  2. Vegetables may be expensive and time-consuming to grow for small amounts, especially if you don’t like them. Stick to herbs that provide better taste and are easy to maintain.
  3. Herbs like basil, rosemary, and thyme often thrive well and can enhance your cooking, making it more satisfying than growing less useful veggies.

30-minute honey gochujang glazed salmon and broccoli bowls

What To Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking • 1729 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking Food Photography
  1. This salmon and broccoli bowl recipe is quick to make, delicious, and nutrient-packed with omega-3 fatty acids from salmon.
  2. The recipe can be adapted for air fryer cooking, skin-on salmon, or even with chicken as substitutes for salmon.
  3. Consider serving meals in bowls for a more enjoyable eating experience, like the recipe suggests.

Issue 15 – Toothpaste

Unbox Inbox • 1506 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Products History Recommendations
  1. Toothpaste packaging can reflect the product inside, from minimalist whites to colorful designs.
  2. There is a variety of toothpaste options for different preferences, from classic white tubes to bold, colorful packaging.
  3. Innovations in toothpaste include sustainable options like tablets and refillable packaging, offering alternatives to traditional tubes.

hella green pasta

What To Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking • 3498 implied HN points • 19 Feb 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Recipes Ingredients Meal Prep
  1. The hella green pasta is basically a salad, packed with healthy ingredients like kale, spinach, and garlic.
  2. The recipe emphasizes using high-quality extra-virgin olive oil for the best flavor in the creamy pasta sauce.
  3. The leftover sauce can be versatile, used in various dishes or frozen for future meals, making it a great meal-prep option.

Welcome Back, Everyone!

a newsletter • 3400 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking Newsletter
  1. Alison Roman is returning with more newsletters, recipes, and updates on upcoming projects.
  2. Some of her go-to recipes include The Luckiest Biscuits in America, Fluffy, Crispy Pancakes, and Slow Salmon with Citrus.
  3. She also loves making Shallot Pasta and Iceberg Salad as comforting and reliable dishes.