The hottest Food & Drink Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Food & Drink Topics

#225: Making bad decisions on purpose

Maybe Baby • 1374 implied HN points • 15 Jun 25
🍲 Food & Drink Diet Recipes Parenting Mental health
  1. Making choices that seem bad, like indulging in too many sweets, can be a way to cope with stress and busy life. Sometimes, it's okay to enjoy life even if it looks reckless to others.
  2. Acknowledging that not every choice has to be perfect or ideal can actually help you manage life better. It’s all about what works for you at the moment.
  3. Being flexible with your decisions and recognizing their purpose can lead to a more carefree attitude. It’s about finding a balance between fun and responsibility.

Three South Asian Snacks

Vittles • 118 implied HN points • 07 Jan 26
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Snacks Regional Cuisine Ingredients Cooking techniques Beverages
  1. The piece shares three quick South Asian teatime snacks—Maharashtrian banana fritters (kelyache umber), Afghan shor nakhud, and Singapore‑inspired lotus root crisps—that are easy to make and pair well with chai or beer.
  2. Kelyache umber are simple batter‑fried banana fritters made from overripe bananas, wholemeal flour and jaggery or sugar; they’re soft, slightly chewy, and best eaten straight from the pan.
  3. The wider idea is to bring humble South Asian snacks into casual hosting instead of only serving cheese boards and dips, celebrating unfussy recipes you can whip up when friends drop by.

It’s Fasul and Yes, I’m Saying it Right

Vittles • 195 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking Cuisine Food Writing Heritage Family
  1. Cooking family recipes can unlock comforting memories and give people control over when to revisit complicated relationships.
  2. Small ingredients and techniques — like using ditalini and cooking the pasta in the tomato broth — can be the difference between a dish that feels right and one that doesn’t.
  3. Recreating heritage dishes often requires research, travel and trial-and-error, and those efforts can answer questions about identity and family history.
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The Vittles Guide to Birmingham’s Chinatown

Vittles • 25 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Chinese cuisine Regional Cuisine Dining Culture Ethnic food
  1. Birmingham’s Chinatown is a living, community-focused neighbourhood that has changed with the arrival of Chinese students and recent Hong Kong migrants, so you now get both classic Cantonese favourites and newer regional cuisines like Sichuan, Shandong and Yunnan.
  2. The city’s Cantonese barbecue scene is dominated by Peach Garden and Look In, but they offer very similar roast meats — pick whichever looks freshest by peering through the window.
  3. Redevelopment around Southside has given the area new energy, and if you come with an open mind you’ll often find surprising, life-changing dishes at unassuming spots.

225 | Top 5 NCs | 6 Parmesan Facts |

The Rotten Apple • 52 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety Food Fraud Dairy Cheese Regulation Supply Chain Certification
  1. Parmigiano Reggiano is a legally protected cheese made only in a specific Italian zone under strict rules, and its high value makes it a major target for counterfeiting and theft.
  2. Food-safety audits show hygiene, cleanability and maintenance problems (like poorly designed equipment, doors, walls and chemical controls) are the most common non-conformances, so fixing hygienic design and pest-proofing cuts a lot of risk.
  3. Food fraud is an ongoing threat with serious incidents (fake milk powder, counterfeit meat) and the response includes intelligence platforms, expert talks and events to share detection methods and strengthen authenticity controls.

Mexican Erewhon

Snaxshot • 539 implied HN points • 16 May 24
🍲 Food & Drink Beverages
  1. Mexican city Erewhon chain Mora Mora is heavily inspired by health grocers like Erewhon and is attracting attention for its aesthetics and celebrity sightings.
  2. Welch's has launched a line of vodka RTDs, joining the trend of spiked childhood classics being reinvented for adult consumption.
  3. Beef tallow is gaining popularity as a healthier alternative to seed oils, leading to the rise of brands incorporating it into various products and sparking debates over food choices.

The '#1 restaurant in Austin' doesn't exist

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 4120 implied HN points • 14 Oct 24
🍲 Food & Drink Dining Trends Social media AI Impact Food culture
  1. The '#1 restaurant in Austin' is actually fake and only exists on social media. People are liking and sharing photos of food that was created by artificial intelligence.
  2. Many restaurants now use AI to produce realistic food images, making it hard to tell what's real and what's not. This trend makes people more likely to believe that outlandish food items are real.
  3. The rise of AI-generated food content is blending with real food culture, leading to a situation where it’s tough to distinguish genuine culinary offerings from those that are just for social media attention.

How to Eat Weeds

OK Doomer • 144 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🍲 Food & Drink Foraging Nutrition Gardening Food security
  1. Many common weeds are edible and packed with nutrients, so they can supplement your diet in an emergency or simply help lower grocery bills.
  2. You can both forage wild weeds and grow them yourself, so it pays to start learning and preparing seedlings before spring.
  3. There are detailed guides, experts, and online resources that cover more edible plants and their medicinal uses if you want to learn more.

WTF is Chia Caviar?

Snaxshot • 459 implied HN points • 28 May 24
🍲 Food & Drink Trends Snacks Beverages Alcohol Cuisine
  1. Chia is being marketed as 'vegan caviar,' causing a stir in the food world with debates on the authenticity of such marketing tactics.
  2. The rise of 'migraine-friendly' snacks like Amia addresses a real need, as migraines affect a significant number of Americans and are linked to dietary choices.
  3. In the food industry, there are innovative brands like Baby that aim to make products like weed aspirational, showcasing the evolving trends within the market.

Eat

ASK MOLLY • 2083 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
🍲 Food & Drink Food
  1. The post is about the author's experience of eating and talking with a friend in town.
  2. The author mentions a habit of eating two-meal-size servings twice a day.
  3. The post is for paid subscribers only.

Issue 10 – Pasta

Unbox Inbox • 1129 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Packaging Cooking Design Vintage
  1. Pasta packaging can be a work of art, with brands focusing on sustainability and design aesthetics.
  2. Quality pasta brands pay attention to packaging details like graphics and windows, attracting consumers with visually appealing designs.
  3. The trend in pasta packaging leans towards simplicity, utilizing clean lines, white space, and sans serif fonts.

I Know Where All The Chocolate In The House Is and You'd Think That Would Relax Me

The Chatner • 982 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Family Memory Recipes
  1. The author has a detailed memory of where all the food is in the house, especially chocolate.
  2. This habit seems to stem from a mix of concern for running out of things and a genuine interest in food and comfort.
  3. The habit of knowing where all the food is can be seen as thoughtful and caring, but it could also potentially be overwhelming for others.

New York City Green Book

Yolo Intel • 1061 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Wellness Restaurants Plant-based
  1. The post provides a wellness list for New York City, featuring culty matcha and juice bars, GF and plant-based spots, banyas, and classes.
  2. Contributors include individuals deeply connected to the wellness and food industries in the city.
  3. The post is available to paid subscribers and offers insights on food and drink spots in NYC.

Kitchen Project #127: Plant-based Meringues 🌱

Kitchen Projects • 1081 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Vegan Baking Recipes Plant-based
  1. Meringue can be made vegan using aquafaba, the liquid from canned chickpeas, as a substitute for egg whites.
  2. Plant-based alternatives like pea protein powder or chickpea flour did not work well compared to aquafaba for making meringue.
  3. French meringue made with aquafaba has minor differences in appearance, flavor, and mouthfeel compared to traditional egg white meringue.

Brozempic, just in time for summer, is only $199

Snaxshot • 459 implied HN points • 21 May 24
🍲 Food & Drink Trends Products Startups Innovation Health
  1. Brozempic is a new weight loss product hitting the market for only $199, offering a more affordable alternative to other options.
  2. The best food shows are not necessarily on traditional food networks, with new creators and platforms emerging to showcase unique dining experiences.
  3. Unique food trends like omakase bread and innovative products like FroCo (frozen cottage cheese ice cream) are gaining popularity, challenging traditional food norms.

Issue 11 – Peanut Butter

Unbox Inbox • 991 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink
  1. Peanut butter comes in various packaging designs depending on the brand and style, from colorful and bold for mainstream brands to natural and neutral tones for organic varieties.
  2. There is a trend of using colorful packaging designs to distract from subpar ingredients in some food products, while brands with transparent ingredient lists stand out.
  3. Innovations in peanut butter products include everything bagel-flavored peanut butter, squeezable jars for easier spreading, and even peanut butter for dogs with unique ingredients like turmeric and parsley.

GLP-1: the New Gluten-Free?

Snaxshot • 439 implied HN points • 23 May 24
🍲 Food & Drink Trends Brand building Healthy Eating
  1. Starbucks may 'de-ethnicize' boba tea with their new drinks, sparking online reactions and concern from brands like Bobabam.
  2. Food giants are pivoting to create GLP-1 friendly meals, following trends like the gluten-free craze.
  3. Yiayia and Friends brand universe by Beet Root Design highlights tradition, culinary comfort, and storytelling through characters.

On the ‘Grandma Rule’

From the Desk of Alicia Kennedy • 1827 implied HN points • 09 Oct 23
🍲 Food & Drink Vegetarianism Food Media Cooking
  1. The 'Grandma Rule' in food culture suggests being open and flexible while traveling and trying different foods.
  2. Being vegetarian or vegan can lead to interesting encounters and conversations about food preferences and experiences.
  3. Culinary tourism involves actively exploring and participating in different food cultures, which can be a rewarding experience for meatless eaters.

Hurt feelings and regrets while eating a $300 meal

Sex and the State • 24 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Fine Dining Food culture Personal Reflection Social Dynamics Restaurant Reviews
  1. Spending a lot on an experience doesn't stop you from feeling hurt or regretful. A high price can't buy emotional comfort or fix relationship strains.
  2. There's a clear self-awareness that something's wrong, even if it's only partially understood. Recognizing a problem is important but doesn't immediately resolve the pain.
  3. Investing money in an experience or content can raise expectations and make disappointment sharper. Financial cost can complicate how satisfied you feel afterward.

Call for Pitches: ‘The Influencers’

Vittles • 136 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Media Food Industry Food policy Food Systems
  1. A print magazine is commissioning an issue called “The Influencers” that explores how economic, sociopolitical, cultural and interpersonal forces — from algorithms and influencers to trade deals and corporations — shape what we produce, buy and eat.
  2. They want original, tightly argued work across forms (reported features, essays, interviews, data visualisations and shorter dispatches) on topics like the economics and aesthetics of influencing, product R&D, trade, climate and small‑scale local power.
  3. Pitches are due by Jan 9 and should be sent by email; the publication pays set rates (for example around £800 for a 2,000–2,500 word reported piece, ~£600 for 1,500–2,000 word opinion pieces, or roughly 40p/word for shorter pieces) and aims to reply by early February.

The Saturday Selection, Vol. 79

Why is this interesting? • 241 implied HN points • 15 Nov 25
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Trends Dining Experiences Food Industry
  1. GLP-1 drugs are changing how people eat and feel about themselves, with some surprising new cravings emerging.
  2. Lufthansa has created a special cocktail that can only be enjoyed at high altitudes, adding a unique flair to their flights.
  3. The last penny has been minted because it's too costly to make, prompting retailers to rethink how they handle small change.

@adlrocha - The Efficiency Trap of the Food Supply Chain

@adlrocha Weekly Newsletter • 129 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Supply Chain Agriculture Food security Logistics Food policy Trade Food Processing
  1. The food supply chain is critically important but built for maximum efficiency, so features like just-in-time inventory, long refrigerated transport, and minimal buffers make it brittle and prone to cascading failures.
  2. Extreme consolidation and geographic specialization concentrate risk in a few companies and regions, creating single points of failure that can shut down large parts of the global food system.
  3. Fixing it requires re-aligning incentives toward resilience. Building regional processing hubs, strategic reserves, and crop/supplier diversity will cost more but reduce the chance of catastrophic shortages.

The Vittles Guide to Chinese Restaurants in Glasgow

Vittles • 20 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Chinese cuisine Local Food Culinary History Food culture
  1. Chinese restaurants have been part of Glasgow since the mid-20th century, with long-standing institutions and a Chinatown hub that helped anchor the community even as local industries changed.
  2. The city’s Chinese food scene now mixes old and new: traditional family-run spots sit alongside West End places serving students and newer regional restaurants, keeping the scene lively and diverse.
  3. Standout offerings include long-running dim sum houses and old-school Cantonese bakeries, while claypots, home-style Hong Kong cooking, and Southwest Chinese flavours are growing in popularity across the city.

The Vittles Guide to Chinese Cambridge

Vittles • 20 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Regional Cuisine Local Food Food culture
  1. Cambridge has a lively, growing Chinese restaurant scene driven by a large Chinese student population, even though the city doesn’t have a traditional Chinatown.
  2. The food on offer is very regional and diverse, with standout specialties like Xi’an rougamo and top-quality xiao long bao that set the city apart.
  3. High rents, university-owned buildings, and students using college dining halls limit new openings, so Chinese eateries are dispersed in neighbourhood pockets like Mill Road rather than centralized.