The hottest Culinary Arts Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Food & Drink Topics

The Keeping Kitchen is my second home.

Kate Hill's Gascon Year Journals • 1218 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. The Keeping Kitchen is a specially designed space meant for cooking and preserving food. It focuses on being practical and easy to clean, with everything organized and visible.
  2. These kitchens play a big role in traditional French country living, being used for tasks like canning and making products to store for winter. They help create a flow of preserved food for the year.
  3. The Kitchen is also a place for teaching and sharing cooking knowledge, with courses in butchery and charcuterie. It encourages planning ahead for meals and using supplies creatively.

Your Review: My Father’s Instant Mashed Potatoes

Astral Codex Ten • 17344 implied HN points • 08 Aug 25
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. Mashed potatoes can be delicious when made properly, but many people only know the bad version from instant mixes. It’s important to try the real thing to understand what makes them special.
  2. Food convenience often comes at the cost of taste and authenticity. Many processed foods, like instant mashed potatoes, are just shortcuts that can leave a disappointing experience.
  3. Our food choices influence our memories and preferences. When we're exposed to bad versions, like instant mixes, it can shape our dislike for something that we might actually enjoy if we try the real version.

How do you review a bad restaurant?

Vittles • 187 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. Go into reviews with a near-blank mind and minimal pre-research, and judge each place on its own terms by asking what the restaurant is for and who it serves.
  2. Try to experience the meal like a normal diner—bring non-food companions for first visits and avoid stress-testing the menu, because critics’ habits of sampling everything can distort judgment.
  3. Remember that negative reviews carry real consequences, so account for context, cultural purpose, and the simple privilege of being fed when assessing and writing about a restaurant.

The Monday Media Diet with Abena Anim-Somuah

Why is this interesting? • 1990 implied HN points • 04 Aug 25
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  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.

Green-Colored Glasses

Seven Senses • 579 implied HN points • 01 Jun 24
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  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.
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Tasting Color: a Seven Senses feast

Seven Senses • 299 implied HN points • 03 May 24
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. There will be a unique dinner experience called 'Tasting Color' that combines food and art themed around the color green. It's designed to engage all seven senses.
  2. The event features a three-course meal prepared by a chef with notable experience, and all elements, from food to decor, will focus on the color green.
  3. Tickets are limited and there’s a discount for paid subscribers of the newsletter, making it a special opportunity for the community.

Kisses®

Austin Kleon • 1698 implied HN points • 29 Nov 22
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. Holiday baking can create lasting family traditions. Making special cookies together can bring generations closer.
  2. Hershey's Kisses have a unique history and fun design elements. They even added little paper flags to make them special.
  3. Weaving personal meaning into art and food can make the experience more enjoyable. It's all about the memories we create with loved ones.

The Art of Family Dinner

The Analog Family • 439 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. Eating dinner as a family every day helps everyone feel closer and improves kids' happiness and confidence. It creates a special time to connect after a busy day.
  2. No devices and a shared start to the meal, like a gratitude game, encourage better conversations. This makes everyone feel valued and helps kids practice sharing their thoughts.
  3. Family dinners teach kids important skills like patience and manners. It also encourages them to try new foods by seeing their parents enjoy them.

A Night of Food Futurism

Asimov Press • 277 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. The dinner aimed to showcase a future of food that uses technology, like GMOs and cellular agriculture, instead of just small-scale farming. It's all about creating a food system that is sustainable and efficient.
  2. To get people interested in new food technologies, it's important to tell engaging stories and appeal to emotions, not just logic. People need to see the positive side of these innovations to accept them.
  3. The event was a fun mix of traditional American dishes and futuristic ingredients, like GMO foods and plant-based proteins, showing that the future of dining can be both familiar and innovative.

Service, Please

Vittles • 251 implied HN points • 16 Jun 25
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. Dining is about more than just food; it's about the experience and connection between people. Feeling comfortable and cared for can make a meal much more enjoyable.
  2. Sometimes, we don’t know what we want to eat, and that's okay. Being open to trying new things can lead to delicious surprises.
  3. The relationship between a server and a diner is interesting; it can blur lines between roles and emotions, making it both rewarding and complex.

The Nostalgia Trap

Vittles • 184 implied HN points • 07 Jul 25
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. Many restaurants are using nostalgic styles to make Southeast Asian food more appealing. This makes cultural cuisine feel more like a trendy product than a genuine experience.
  2. The design choices in these restaurants often ignore the true essence of the food culture, turning lived experiences into a flashy aesthetic for mostly Western diners.
  3. As Southeast Asian food gets commercialized, authentic voices and stories behind the dishes are often left out. This can lead to a misunderstanding of the rich history and reality of these cuisines.

The Monday Media Diet with Meg Daly

Why is this interesting? • 482 implied HN points • 16 Dec 24
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. A media diet doesn't just mean consuming less media; it means being picky about where you get your information. Look for sources that report facts without pushing an agenda.
  2. Reading can be more rewarding when you choose bestsellers, as they often have wide appeal. This way, you're more likely to enjoy what you read.
  3. Cooking can bring people together and create lasting memories. Sharing good meals and laughter around the dinner table is a cherished experience.

Letters to the Editor: Anthony Bourdain Is Good for Culture

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 208 implied HN points • 10 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Culinary Arts
  1. Anthony Bourdain had a significant impact on food culture, inspiring people to explore and enjoy diverse culinary experiences. Many believe he opened up conversations about food in a fun and adventurous way.
  2. Some critiques of Bourdain's influence suggest that it created a trend of people aiming for extreme food experiences. Critics argue that this might detract from genuine appreciation for food.
  3. In contrast to Bourdain, figures like Stanley Tucci offer a more polished and traditional view of food culture, which some view as more suitable for mainstream audiences. This has sparked a debate on what kind of food culture we should promote.

Sandwiches from the Garage

Vittles • 343 implied HN points • 17 Feb 25
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. When writing, some people prefer simple meals that don't take much time to prepare. It's about using food as fuel to focus on the writing process.
  2. Eating repetitive or plain food can help writers maintain their energy and concentration. It's not about gourmet meals, but about keeping distractions to a minimum.
  3. The experience of eating while writing can be very personal and varies from person to person. Some find comfort in routine meals that help them stay grounded while they work.

Eating in bed, a lyric essay

Vittles • 333 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. Eating in bed is a cozy and intimate experience that can transform a small space into a comforting sanctuary. It feels special to share meals in this setting, where there are fewer formalities than at a dining table.
  2. Messiness isn't just seen as a hassle; it can show how relaxed and comfortable people are with each other. Sharing food in bed allows for a deeper connection and understanding between partners.
  3. Creating a personal 'nest' in bed can make everyday meals feel luxurious and cherished. It's a way to express love and care through small, thoughtful gestures like bringing each other unique treats.

Stress ReLeith: Chicken in Tarragon and Cream Sauce

Vittles • 133 implied HN points • 02 Jun 25
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  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.

Meditations on taste

Overthinking Everything • 314 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. Mindful drinking can be a unique practice. For example, focusing on the taste and feel of a bitter drink like Cynar can help you discover what you truly enjoy.
  2. Trying new foods mindfully can change how you perceive them. It’s possible to find that things you thought you liked aren’t as enjoyable when you pay close attention to their flavors.
  3. Understanding your preferences might take some experimenting. Even if you learn you don’t like something, it helps you figure out what you do enjoy.

Chugging Away

Vittles • 197 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. Beverages can evoke strong memories and feelings, connecting us to different places and times in our lives. For example, a familiar drink can remind us of our childhood or special moments.
  2. Certain drinks have unique historical stories tied to their origins, making them more than just something to sip on. They often reflect cultural traditions and personal experiences.
  3. Exploring different beverages can be an adventure in taste and discovery. Trying new drinks allows us to learn about different cultures and enjoy various flavors that resonate with our experiences.

The Invention of Fergus Henderson

Vittles • 233 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. Fergus Henderson and his restaurant St. John helped revive traditional British dishes, especially using ingredients like bones and offal. This emphasis on simple, hearty food changed how people viewed English cuisine.
  2. St. John's design reflects a no-frills approach, with a focus on practical aesthetics rather than flashy decorations. This creates a casual, approachable atmosphere that many people appreciate.
  3. Despite initial mixed reviews, St. John became a beloved national institution, influencing restaurants and food culture in both the UK and beyond. Its popularity shows how deep cultural roots can lead to lasting success.

Anna Higham’s Baking with Jam

Vittles • 89 implied HN points • 04 Jun 25
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. Making raspberry jam is simple and fun, using berries that have the right balance of acid and pectin. It makes your kitchen smell amazing, too!
  2. There are different delicious baked treats you can make with raspberry jam, like thumbprint cookies and Bakewell tarts, which add variety to your baking.
  3. Jam-making is about preserving fruit and enjoying the flavors all year round. It's a beautiful way to create something to savor in the winter.

MasterChef LLM 🧑‍🍳

Sector 6 | The Newsletter of AIM • 59 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary Arts
  1. There's an AI cooking assistant called MasterChef LLM that can help prepare over 500 different dishes. It can make popular dishes like paneer tikka and chai easily.
  2. This AI tool can make cooking at home more convenient and less stressful compared to following complicated YouTube recipes.
  3. The introduction of such technology could potentially grab the attention of famous chefs like Gordon Ramsay.