The hottest Culinary culture Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Food & Drink Topics

Bitter Delights

Vittles • 74 implied HN points • 18 Jun 25
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Cooking tips Culinary culture
  1. Bitter gourd is a key ingredient in Bengali cooking and is often enjoyed in various dishes. People in Bengal value bitter flavors and consider eating them healthy and beneficial.
  2. Bitter ingredients like bitter gourd can be prepared in many ways, including dal and stir-fry, and are usually part of everyday meals rather than festive occasions.
  3. There are techniques to balance the bitterness when cooking with bitter gourd, such as using less of it and adding ghee to the dish.

This Colorado food writer came up with a novel way to monetize his content

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 474 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing Restaurant Reviews Local news Culinary culture Content Monetization
  1. A food writer created a unique way to fund his newsletter by partnering with a limited number of local restaurants as sponsors. This allows him to focus on writing instead of chasing advertisers.
  2. He offers these sponsors exclusive benefits, like guaranteed features in his newsletter and opportunities to promote events. This makes them feel special and helps build a strong community around local food.
  3. His success shows that other local news startups can follow this model. By catering to a niche audience and offering personalized advertising, they can thrive despite limited resources.

Rick Stein’s Oddity

Vittles • 490 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Food Media Culinary culture Personal Reflection Culinary History
  1. Rick Stein's cooking shows evoke strong feelings of nostalgia for many, reflecting personal histories tied to food and family. Watching his programs can remind people of their childhood and special memories with loved ones.
  2. Stein represents an old-school style of British cooking, which can sometimes come off as out of touch and patronizing. His remarks, often laced with literary references, may feel elitist or unaware of modern sensibilities.
  3. Despite his flaws, Stein's shows highlight a deep passion for food and culture. His approach to cooking and sharing meals can offer comfort and joy, showing how food connects to home and family.

Starving Palestine

Vittles • 282 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Systems Agriculture Culinary culture Environmental Impact
  1. Israeli actions in Palestine, especially in Masafer Yatta, have severely impacted local pastoralist communities. Many shepherds face violence and loss of land, making it hard for them to sustain their traditional way of life.
  2. Food sovereignty is crucial for Palestinians, as their access to traditional agricultural knowledge is shrinking. This loss affects their health and cultural practices, making dependency on outside, often expensive, food sources more common.
  3. The fight for food sovereignty in Palestine is part of a broader struggle against colonialism. It represents a way for Palestinians to assert their rights, heritage, and identity amidst ongoing challenges.
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Vittles Reviews: Why are all the girlies going to Daquise?

Vittles • 179 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurant Reviews Dining Trends Culinary culture Food Photography Gastronomy
  1. Daquise is a popular Polish restaurant in London that many people are excited about right now. It's known for its cozy vibe and rich history, attracting lots of visitors.
  2. Trendy dining is shifting from casual, changing menus to more traditional a la carte options. Many food lovers are leaning towards restaurants with a classic touch and Instagram-worthy aesthetics.
  3. Some classic restaurants are regaining popularity among younger crowds while maintaining their unique charm. Daquise seems to be successfully keeping its vibe intact despite the changing trends.

no. 69: hot plates

let them eat cake • 399 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking techniques Culinary culture
  1. French tops in restaurant kitchens are unique pieces of equipment that serve a specific purpose in cooking efficiently
  2. French tops provide precise heat control by requiring movement of saucepans instead of adjusting the flame, making chefs more conscious of heat distribution and time
  3. Using a French top in a home kitchen may not be practical due to the intense heat generated and the effort required to maintain it compared to its benefits

Funeral for a Fried Friend

Disaffected Newsletter • 479 implied HN points • 26 Oct 22
🍲 Food & Drink Food Trends Pandemic impact Culinary culture
  1. The pandemic changed what groceries were available, leading to unusual food options in stores. Many brands were replaced with local products due to supply chain issues.
  2. Frozen chicken-fried steak fritters became a popular item in grocery stores but didn't sell well with some customers. The writer expresses a strong fondness for this dish, calling it 'little pieces of heaven.'
  3. The fritters are now on clearance, and the writer plans to buy the remaining stock. They humorously suggest holding a 'funeral' for the product to mark its passing from the shelves.

no. 63: very bad ideas

let them eat cake • 239 implied HN points • 08 Jan 23
🍲 Food & Drink Cooking Culinary culture
  1. There is a world championship for meat pie called Championnat du Monde du Pâté-Crôute held in France, known for its complex and artistic meat pies with criteria like architectural design and use of meat jelly.
  2. Entrants need to be culinary professionals with 5 years of experience, and there are only two rules: meat-based pâté-crôute entries and no truffles to avoid escalation in ingredient quality.
  3. The competition offers glory and a unique trophy presented by a chef in a leather apron, and the author is practicing hard to improve his pâté-crôute skills for the qualifying round in October.

Nick Bramham's Caponata for All Seasons

Vittles • 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.

no. 49: cynical hometown flavor

let them eat cake • 179 implied HN points • 29 Jan 22
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary culture Cultural Appropriation Restaurant Industry
  1. Being mindful of how traditional dishes are recreated in different cultural contexts is important to avoid misrepresentation.
  2. Ownership and representation of traditional dishes in public spaces raise complex questions of cultural appropriation and intellectual property.
  3. Rather than focusing on ownership, emphasizing stewardship and respect for culinary heritage can lead to a more meaningful and respectful approach to cultural cuisines.

recipes

let them eat cake • 119 implied HN points • 29 Oct 20
🍲 Food & Drink Recipes Culinary culture Cooking techniques Food Systems Culinary History
  1. The recipe for Pandan Chiffon Cake involves unique techniques like making fresh pandan extract and coconut milk for a refined flavor and texture.
  2. Fiona's Pandan Chiffon Cake recipe uses less flour and substitutes oil with coconut milk for richness, setting it apart from traditional chiffon cake recipes.
  3. The 'Brandy Chicken' recipe showcases a simple yet flavorful way of cooking with minimal ingredients, emphasizing the importance of quality ingredients like good brandy for marinades.

Food Safety Culture: Fresh Tips and Ideas

The Rotten Apple • 0 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food Safety Nutrition Culinary culture
  1. A good food safety culture means everyone works together to keep food safe, from top management to visitors. It's important that anyone can speak up about issues.
  2. Measuring and monitoring food safety culture can help identify areas for improvement. Surveys and questionnaires are useful tools for this.
  3. Rewarding good food safety behaviors encourages everyone to participate. Management buy-in is also key to creating and maintaining a strong food safety culture.