The hottest Food Writing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Food & Drink Topics

The Professor of the Lower Senses

Vittles • 274 implied HN points • 09 Feb 26
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. He basically invented modern food writing by showing that talking and thinking about food can be as pleasurable and important as cooking or eating it.
  2. His book mixes aphorisms, long anecdotes, physiology and sensual detail, turning food writing into writing about the body, desire and feeling as much as about recipes or technique.
  3. He used food as a lens on society, arguing that what people eat reveals social identity, and helped make gastronomy a public cultural practice beyond the old aristocracy.

Six of One Mentee Special

Vittles • 112 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. A six-month mentorship helped four emerging food writers collaborate on a joint list of six favourite London restaurants.
  2. Their recommendations showcase London’s culinary diversity—Caribbean and Colombian fusions, Korean hotpot and izakaya-style dishes—and highlight friendly, community-driven spots with bold flavours.
  3. An expanded curated map and extra recommendations are available to subscribers, and the mentorship program will open for new applicants in the spring.

The Desk Digest, January 2024

From the Desk of Alicia Kennedy • 1316 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Food Writing
  1. The newsletter relaunch focuses on giving more time and space for essays and discussions about food nonfiction.
  2. The author aims to provide flexibility for subscribers to choose email frequency and plans to provide monthly updates on the newsletter's status.
  3. Recent content includes essays, book recommendations, and upcoming projects like a long-form book.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

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

Vittles • 195 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  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.

Exciting Salads from an Exciting New Cookbook

The Department of Salad: Official Bulletin • 1729 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. Nik Sharma's cookbook combines stories of challenges and triumphs with delicious recipes influenced by his Indian upbringing.
  2. Sharma's recipes in 'Season' and 'The Flavor Equation' feature a blend of scientific curiosity and bold flavors.
  3. Sharma's latest book 'Veg-Table' offers beautiful photography, interesting vegetable facts, and mouth-watering recipes for big-flavored, veggie-focused meals.

Three Things

Dinner: A Love Story • 1631 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. Greek Lemon Chicken Soup 2.0 is a comforting, versatile dish
  2. Chia pudding can be a convenient, satisfying breakfast option
  3. Bee Wilson's new book offers insightful reflections on cooking and family dynamics

Fegato alla Veneziana with Buttery Mash

Vittles • 133 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. Fegato alla veneziana is thin strips of calf’s liver quickly sautéed with sweet Chioggia onions and finished with a splash of white wine or vinegar, giving a tender liver balanced by caramelised sweetness and a bright sweet‑sour hit.
  2. It’s traditionally served with polenta, but coarse buttery mashed potatoes are a lovely alternative, and the dish pairs well with small tumblers of light red wine.
  3. With good ingredients, quick cooking and a short rest, the dish is simple, comforting and transportive, evoking the mood of Venice even at home.

On Lifestyle

From the Desk of Alicia Kennedy • 1572 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. Achieving sustainable eating may require personalized interventions.
  2. Removing vegetarian and vegan labels from menus could guide consumers towards reduced consumption of animal products.
  3. Good intentions often fail to convert to action, situational changes can help people make plant-based choices.

no. 85: a life in spatulas

let them eat cake • 319 implied HN points • 19 Apr 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. Choosing the right spatula is crucial in the kitchen as they are tools of the trade and require deliberate consideration.
  2. Different spatulas serve different purposes - from nimble and architectural ones for delicate tasks to more resolute ones for heavier jobs.
  3. A good silicone spatula, like the Mastrad all silicone, is essential for its versatility and durability in various cooking tasks.

Where to (finally) eat fricassé in London this weekend

Vittles • 177 implied HN points • 15 Aug 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. Fricassé is a special dish that you can finally try in London, specifically at a new Tunisian café this weekend.
  2. Small, family-run businesses, or mom-and-pop shops, play an important role in bringing diverse food experiences to the city.
  3. There is a rich selection of global cuisines in London, with many restaurants reflecting the cultural backgrounds of the people who run them.

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
  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.

Eating in bed, a lyric essay

Vittles • 333 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  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.

I ate a burrito from the middle

Situation Normal • 161 implied HN points • 24 Nov 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. Eating a burrito from the middle is a different approach that challenges traditional methods. It can lead to messy situations, but some people are curious about trying it.
  2. Finding answers and funding for bizarre stories can be tough, but communities can come together to support interesting journalism projects.
  3. Not every new idea or method is better than the traditional way. Sometimes sticking to what's easier, like eating a burrito vertically, just makes more sense.

Hunger Games

Secretum Secretorum • 353 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. The post delves deep into the concept of gluttony and indulgence, portraying a vivid and intense expression of insatiable hunger.
  2. The writing reflects a unique perspective on existence, blending themes of indulgence, hunger, and the primal instinct of feeding.
  3. The author's words evoke a sense of intense consumption, presenting a view where everything, even death and god, is meant to be devoured.

Part 2: The Vittles Christmas Gift Guide 2024

Vittles • 141 implied HN points • 03 Dec 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. This guide offers many unique gift ideas, including books, kitchenware, and quirky food items. It's a great way to find something special for food lovers.
  2. There’s a focus on independent food zines, which showcase unique and interesting food writing in the UK. These zines can be a fun way to explore diverse food stories.
  3. The guide suggests looking at both practical and decorative kitchen items among the gifts. You can find things that are useful and also add style to your kitchen.

Michèle Roberts: The Art of Writing a Cookbook

Vittles • 136 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. Cooking is like a creative art form, similar to writing poetry. It's about being attentive and using the right ingredients to create something special.
  2. Understanding and recognizing your own appetite is key to enjoying cooking for yourself. It’s important to treat yourself well, just like you would a dear friend.
  3. Using leftovers can be a fun and creative challenge. It's a way to reduce waste and make something new and delicious from what you already have.

fourth slice

let them eat cake • 59 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. The essay emphasizes the importance of practice and learning through experimentation.
  2. The process of making a dish like pâté-croûte involves a combination of following a recipe and incorporating tacit knowledge.
  3. Kitchen vocabulary grows through hands-on experience like making sausage or pie, helping in understanding more complex dishes like pâté-croûte.

The Hater - The TV Food Man

Vittles • 315 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🍲 Food & Drink Food Writing
  1. The post discusses a biography of a TV Food Man from the perspective of someone who dislikes him.
  2. The Vittles website offers subscriptions for accessing their content.
  3. Consider subscribing to Vittles for full access to their back catalog and new columns.