The hottest Restaurant Industry Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Food & Drink Topics

How Pie and Mash Killed Itself

Vittles • 361 implied HN points • 09 Dec 24
🍲 Food & Drink Culinary History Food culture Restaurant Industry Food Critique
  1. Pie and mash shops in London are losing customers because their old traditions don't appeal to many people anymore. This dish has remained mostly unchanged, making it feel outdated to newer generations.
  2. There's a common belief that outside factors like gentrification are causing the decline of pie and mash, but the real issue is that the food hasn't adapted or modernized to attract a wider audience.
  3. Instead of trying to preserve pie and mash as it was, shops should evolve to include new flavors and ideas. This could help keep the tradition alive while appealing to a changing population.

For the love of CHAINs

Snaxshot • 359 implied HN points • 14 May 24
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurant Industry Cultural impact Event Planning
  1. Chains like fast food and casual restaurants play a significant role in American culture and economy.
  2. Fast food chains have an impact globally, spreading Americana culture and becoming iconic in various countries.
  3. The collaboration and creative events by companies like Chain are reshaping how brands connect with consumers and innovate in the fast food industry.

The Downfall of Red Lobster. Private Equity and the Complexities of the Restaurant Industry

Gad’s Newsletter • 44 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
💼 Business Restaurant Industry Private Equity Financial Strategy Consumer Trends
  1. Red Lobster's decline came from a mix of poor decisions and weaknesses in management. They struggled with high debt and not enough investment in improving their business.
  2. The chain faced tough competition as more people preferred faster dining options. This change in consumer taste hurt Red Lobster, which relied on longer dining experiences.
  3. In contrast, Texas Roadhouse succeeded by focusing on strong leadership and customer satisfaction. They managed their growth wisely and kept their menu appealing to customers.
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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.

career mandolines

let them eat cake • 179 implied HN points • 30 Aug 19
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurant Industry
  1. Repeal of the gainful employment rule impacted for-profit culinary schools, leading to closures, including the American franchise of Cordon Bleu.
  2. Professional cooking skills taught in real kitchens may differ from what culinary schools typically teach, emphasizing practical knowledge and efficiency.
  3. Using a mandoline safely requires technique and caution to avoid injury, as demonstrated by a story of a job applicant who cut himself in a kitchen.

bitter and viscid

let them eat cake • 39 implied HN points • 13 Apr 22
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurant Industry Critics Comics
  1. Restaurateurs and critics use the term 'challenging' to describe dishes or restaurants that go against the dining public's preferences, like bitterness or gelatinous textures.
  2. Diners hold power over restaurants, as the food they order can challenge the norm and influence the restaurant scene.
  3. The concept of 'challenging' in food can be revealing and shed light on how diners and critics interact with different culinary experiences.

math in the middle, menu at the end

let them eat cake • 159 implied HN points • 26 Aug 19
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurant Industry Food Systems Wages Service Industry Menu
  1. Calculations for restaurant staff wages need to consider various factors like turnover and check averages to ensure fair payment.
  2. The idea of a sustainable wage for restaurant workers raises questions about pay disparities within the industry and the need for all service workers to receive fair compensation.
  3. The existence of table service in restaurants is supported by the tip credit system, with some states eliminating this system to ensure equal wages for all staff.

no. 42: socialmedia megamerger superstar

let them eat cake • 59 implied HN points • 30 May 21
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurant Industry Consumer behavior Systemic change
  1. The social justice movement has shed light on the issues in the restaurant industry, particularly concerning working conditions and pay.
  2. There is a challenge in implementing significant changes in the industry due to financial constraints and the low profit margins in restaurants.
  3. Consumers play a crucial role in driving change by supporting restaurants that prioritize treating their staff well, but currently, there isn't enough focus on this aspect in the dining experience.

I Invented Surge Pricing For Uber. Here’s Why it Wouldn’t Have Worked for Wendy’s.

Kevin’s Rackhouse Ramblings • 3 HN points • 07 Mar 24
💼 Business Operations Customer Behavior PR Restaurant Industry
  1. Dynamic pricing worked for Uber because it's a system where demand and supply can be influenced economically, leading to a surplus of trips and a big economic win.
  2. Fast food like Wendy's operates in a non-stochastic system, making the effectiveness of dynamic pricing more limited compared to a system like Uber's.
  3. Implementing dynamic pricing at Wendy's could help shape consumer behavior, improve operational efficiency, and line up customer demand with employee staffing, but may not have the same revolutionary impact as it did for Uber.

In a word, no.

let them eat cake • 119 implied HN points • 22 Jun 19
🍲 Food & Drink Restaurant Industry Work Environment Labor Issues Mental health Hospitality
  1. It's important for employers in the restaurant industry to prioritize the emotional and mental health of their staff, even in ways that may seem unconventional.
  2. Simply paying employees better and providing health insurance can have a significant impact on reducing turnover and improving overall well-being in the workplace.
  3. Addressing the fundamental issues of low wages and stressful working conditions is crucial in creating a healthier and more sustainable environment for hospitality professionals.

Open letter to Boston University business school students

Penelope Trunk's Substack • 0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
💼 Business Entrepreneurship Market research Restaurant Industry
  1. Entrepreneurship requires a certain level of 'craziness' due to its challenging nature with low success rates.
  2. Market research for business ideas should involve practical testing rather than just theoretical surveys, like setting up a pop-up business.
  3. Observing real-life needs and gaps in services can lead to innovative business ideas, like the need for more dog training services in Boston.