Vittles

Vittles explores global food and culture, highlighting perspectives and trends overlooked by mainstream food media. It covers London's evolving food scene, societal and emotional aspects of eating, design impacts on consumer behavior, systemic issues within food systems, and personal narratives tied to food. Vittles also discusses the role of food in diplomacy and identity.

Global Food Culture Food Trends Societal Impacts of Food Food System Issues Personal Food Narratives Food and Identity Design in Food Retail Food Education Hospitality and Stereotypes Gastrodiplomacy

The hottest Substack posts of Vittles

And their main takeaways

Totally Devoted to Blue Roll

141 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Hospitality Hygiene Food Safety Food Regulations
  1. Hospitality industry heavily relies on blue tissue paper for hygiene and cleaning purposes.
  2. Blue roll became popular in kitchens post-1990 due to food safety outbreaks and hygiene regulations.
  3. Blue roll's blue color is chosen for its association with cleanliness and hygiene, reflecting a shift towards disposable products for sanitation.

Vittles Reviews: When Is a Viral Burger Worth the Wait?

133 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurant Reviews Food Trends
  1. The column discusses the concept of waiting for a viral burger and the need for speed in food service.
  2. Supernova restaurant's viral success has been achieved by designing everything for social media, focusing on visual signature for recognition.
  3. The article emphasizes the importance of strong visual branding and the impact it has on virality in the food industry.

How The Sugar Tax Ruined Soft Drinks

120 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Policy
  1. The sugar tax led to the reformulation of soft drinks with artificial sweeteners, making them taste worse and impacting people's enjoyment of these beverages.
  2. The reduction in sugar content in popular soft drinks like Sanpellegrino and Irn-Bru due to the sugar tax led to significant backlash from consumers and changes in taste perceptions.
  3. Consumer experiences and health effects were not fully considered in the implementation of the sugar tax, leading to unintended consequences like gastrointestinal issues from artificial sweeteners.

Beyond Gelato: A guide to London ice cream

236 implied HN points • 05 Jul 23
🍲 Food & Drink
  1. London has a diverse ice cream scene beyond traditional gelato.
  2. The London Ice Cream Index highlights interesting and unique ice cream spots.
  3. There are a variety of creative and unconventional ice cream flavors and styles to explore in London.

Nick Bramham's Caponata for All Seasons

112 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking techniques Seasonal Ingredients Culinary culture
  1. Caponata is a diverse dish with fried vegetables, pine nuts, raisins, olives, vinegar, and tomatoes, showcasing the variety and uniqueness of this Sicilian classic.
  2. Caponata can be made year-round by using preserved ingredients like olive oil, vinegar, sugar, pine nuts, olives, and raisins, allowing for seasonal variations in vegetables to be incorporated.
  3. Consider trying a new version of caponata with pumpkin or squash, offering a denser and sweeter flavor profile that contrasts well with the other traditional ingredients, making it a standout dish on its own.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

How the Sainsbury's Design Studio Packaged a Nation’s Dreams

297 implied HN points • 06 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Design
  1. Sainsbury's design studio revolutionized supermarket design post-World War II by introducing self-service and unique packaging.
  2. The design studio's focus on modern, functional, and visually appealing packaging reflected the quality of the products inside.
  3. The shift towards agency-led design in supermarkets has led to a loss of distinct identities in packaging, moving away from the creativity and quality seen in earlier designs.

How would you improve food in the UK?

110 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Policy Agriculture Nutrition Food culture
  1. Minimum Wage Tied to Cost of Food: Consider including the cost of food in minimum wage and benefit calculations to ensure everyone can afford to eat.
  2. Reform Universal Credit: Reforming the Universal Credit system can help end the reliance on food aid and inconsistent income, promoting food security for all.
  3. Agroecology Development Officers: Implementing Agroecology Development Officers can help transition to more sustainable agroecological food systems with regional collaboration.

The Demon in the Can

112 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Policy Health Social Issues Industry
  1. The sugar tax introduced in the UK aimed to reduce sugar consumption and combat obesity, but there is uncertainty about its effectiveness in delivering health benefits.
  2. The sugar tax generated revenue, but there are concerns about whether the funds are being used as promised for health-related interventions.
  3. The sugar tax embodies a broader societal issue of shifting blame onto individuals for their food choices, rather than addressing underlying social justice and inequalities.

Home in a Red Tiffin Lunchbox

112 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking Cuisine Ingredients Culture
  1. The author finds comfort and connection through cooking and packing school lunches for her son in a new home.
  2. Recipes for gochujang egg fried rice, crispy spiced tofu, and cardamom-scented Paanakam are shared.
  3. The act of cooking and sharing food serves as a way to create familiarity and connection in a new environment.

Cream is thicker than blood: the rise and fall of the Devon split

94 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food culture
  1. Devon has a rich history in dairy, with a strong tradition of clotted cream and unique dishes like the Devon split.
  2. The rise of the Devon dairy industry was closely tied to the development of the railway system, which allowed for the transport of fresh milk and cream to London.
  3. The decline of the Devon split mirrored the decline of the railways in the latter half of the 20th century, as competition from road transport and industrialization changed the dairy landscape.

Kimchi for my Flatmates

102 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking
  1. Sharing homemade kimchi and pickles can create a sense of home and friendship among flatmates.
  2. Making kimchi and pickles can help keep in touch with the seasons by using locally sourced vegetables and adapting to seasonal changes.
  3. For optimal kimchi, ensure proper salting of vegetables, store at appropriate temperatures, and consider adding a porridge or paste to aid fermentation.

Finding Magic in the Homeplace

87 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cultural cuisine Family Meals Comfort food
  1. Cooking can be a process of experimentation and hope, where openness and journeying towards something matter more than worrying about failure.
  2. Simple dishes like maraq cad, a Somali lamb broth, can hold enormous satisfaction and comfort, even when they seem less exciting than elaborate meals.
  3. Food, like maraq cad and yam dumplings, can be a way to create a sense of home and magic, especially in challenging times or when feeling under the weather.

Six of One - Supermarket Sweep

84 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🍲 Food & Drink Cuisine Supermarkets Snacks Restaurants
  1. Vietnamese markets in London offer a variety of savory and sweet snacks worth trying, such as sweet silken tofu with ginger syrup and Vietnamese pandan yogurt with black sticky rice.
  2. London Starnight is an Asian supermarket with a wide selection of Vietnamese classics, frozen dumplings, and regional alternatives, along with different kitchen tools and Lunar New Year decorations.
  3. Explore the Vietnamese supermarkets along Mare Street in London for unique food items, specially prepared foods, and a wide range of takeaway options.

More Than Just Meringue

87 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Baking Cooking Desserts
  1. Experimenting with egg white substitutions in cookie recipes can lead to delightful results like chewy and soft cookies with a subtly crisp exterior, perfect for ice cream sandwiches.
  2. Understanding the balance between structure-building and structure-breaking ingredients in baking science is essential for recipe modifications.
  3. Using up leftover ingredients and testing flavor combinations can inspire creative and tasty variations of chocolate chip cookies.

Archana Pidathala’s Buckwheat Breakfast Set

77 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking Ingredients
  1. Archana Pidathala's buckwheat breakfast set includes panjiri and spiced chai cake, offering nourishment and indulgence in the form of a versatile, fragrant dish.
  2. Food can be a way to connect and care for others, as seen through the author's experience of creating dishes inspired by loved ones.
  3. Buckwheat is a versatile ingredient for creating gluten-free recipes like panjiri, providing a unique, earthy flavor profile that complements other ingredients.

الطعام في يوم الفلسطيني

23 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Traditions Cultural Identity Food history
  1. Food is deeply tied to Palestinian identity and history, but war and occupation have drastically changed their relationship with it. People remember the flavors of their homeland, but many now face starvation and struggle to find sustenance.
  2. Many Palestinians have had to adapt their food experiences to survive in extreme conditions, forced to eat whatever is available, even if it means consuming inedible or harmful things. Their memories of food are filled with pain but also resilience.
  3. Food symbolizes the struggle for freedom and identity, serving as a way to connect with the land and each other. Despite the hardships, Palestinians continue to find meaning and community through their culinary heritage.

Six of One: Eggs 25 Ways

74 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Street Food
  1. The Egg & Veg Food Plaza Restaurant in London serves a variety of egg dishes along with other Gujarati specialties, offering a warm and family-friendly atmosphere.
  2. The café is known for its unique approach to food, serving eggs in 25 different ways rooted in Gujarat's street food culture.
  3. In addition to the diverse egg options, the menu also includes Gujarati and Punjabi thalis, vegetarian Indian dishes, and Mumbai-style Frankies, providing a comforting culinary experience in a cozy setting.

Six of One - A Counter to Kateh

66 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurants Cuisines London
  1. Six of One is a column featuring London restaurant recommendations from six different writers.
  2. Molana is a Persian restaurant in London known for its perfect rice, grilled meats, and traditional Persian dishes.
  3. Notting Hill's dining scene is becoming increasingly expensive and less accessible to the local community, with restaurants like Straker's setting high price standards.