What to Read: A buffet of food writing
As part of our celebration of all things food on Substack, we’re rounding up a diverse selection of publications for food-curious readers to check out.
Substack is home to an astonishing array of writing, and the food category is no different: We’ve seen newsletters dedicated to food blog design trends, the etymology of fruits and vegetables, insects as food, snacks of the world, tinned seafood, cocktail doodles, and frozen food reviews. By no means a comprehensive list, this is meant as a tip of the iceberg to get readers started and leave them hungry for more.
Community favorites
Shoutouts from the Substack writer community
This Needs Hot Sauce by Abigail Koffler ~ A newsletter and community about cooking, dining out, and making the most of it.
The Jewish Table by Leah Koenig ~ Recipes and stories from the world of Jewish food.
The Department of Salad: Official Bulletin by Emily Nunn ~ Step into our salad laboratory.
The Spirits by Richard Godwin ~ A book club, but for cocktails.
Borscht for Breakfast by Mia Billetdeaux ~ Frivolous thoughts on food and culture, sometimes with recipes.
Weekly Special by Andrea Gyorody ~ Weekly deep dives into food-based artworks with recipes you can make at home.
Time Travel Kitchen by Jolene Handy ~ Baking in my 1920s kitchen as I time travel through the recipes of the era and their stories.
Anne Byrn: Between the Layers ~ Baking isn’t as difficult as you think, and it makes life more interesting.
Sourced by Chloe-Rose Crabtree and Anna Sulan Masing ~ Investigating the way ingredients are sourced to push the food and drinks industry towards change.
Makans of a Chef by Jennifer Makan ~ Food, family, travel, and the journey to becoming a chef.
Kate McDermott's Newsletter ~ Stories and tips on baking and cooking at home, organic gardening, and more.
New to Substack
Notable names in the wide world of food writing
La Briffe by Ruth Reichl ~ A newsletter about cooking, eating and making life more delicious.
Broken Palate ~ Where food and culture collide.
Side Dish by Alexis deBoschnek ~ Recipes inspired by the market and pantry; musings about life in the Catskills and beyond.
Food Lover’s Dispatch by Emily Fedner ~ Immigrant food. Culture. Natural wine.
Nzinga’s Vegan Guide by Nzinga Young ~ A roadmap for helping you go (or stay) vegan.
Pawkhrua: A Chef's Life in Thailand and Elsewhere by Andy Ricker ~ Reporting on the food scene, food culture, travels and life in Thailand.
Spilled Milk by Andrew Zimmern ~ Andrew Zimmern goes in-depth each week on food, his world travels, and stories you're never going to believe.
Andy Baraghani’s Newsletter ~ Recipes and cooking tips for hungry people, from former Bon Appétit editor Andy Baraghani.
Gjournals ~ Stories, photos, songs, and videos that represent the melting pot that is the Gjelina Group.
Staff picks
Hidden gems and unique publications that are worth a read
Above the Fold by Leah Mennies ~ Stories about dumplings and the people who make them.
Foodistory by César Langius and Stefan Schwartze ~ A bi-weekly newsletter that covers the origins of recipes and foods.
The Food Section by Hanna Raskin ~ Covering food and drink across the American South as though it mattered as much as crime and politics.
A Piece of Cake by Bill Clark ~ A new recipe every week. Mostly easy, something a project, always a nice little thing in your inbox.
Illyanna Maisonet's Newsletter ~ Writings and photos of California and Puerto Rico; their history and foodways.
Wordloaf by Andrew Janjigian ~ A thrice-weekly breaducational newsletter.
Ingredient by Rachel Phipps ~ A professional recipe developer's deep dive into a different ingredient each month, with exclusive recipes.'
Your Favorite Prof by Marcia Chatelain ~ A Pulitzer Prize-winning professor writes about fast food, race, and American culture.
Stained Page News by Paula Forbes ~ Cookbook fans, you have come to the right place.
Food is Stupid by Dennis Lee ~ A Chicago-based food writer whose main goal is to ruin food for everyone. Especially you.
Food for Thought by Natalie Cruz ~ Musings on food, society, and identity in the form of recipes, ramblings, long-form essays, and pictures.
Popular
Top publications in the food and drink category
A Newsletter by Alison Roman ~ Recipes, cooking videos, stories, and advice.
The Bittman Project by Mark Bittman ~ Where food is everything.
Vittles by Jonathan Nunn and contributors ~ A food newsletter for novel times.
David Lebovitz Newsletter ~ A tasty mix of recipes, Paris food bites, personal stories, and other subjects focusing on food and travel.
What To Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking by Caroline Chambers ~ One impressive complete-meal recipe delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning that dirties minimal dishes and requires under an hour of time.
From the Desk of Alicia Kennedy ~ Essays on issues in food, from politics and climate change to culture and labor, plus a weekly podcast.
Emily's Life Plan for the Week by Emily Mariko ~ Grocery lists, meal ideas, and basically every detail that keeps things organized throughout the week.
Dinner: A Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach ~ A newsletter devoted to the family meal, however you define “family” and however you define “meal.”
Kitchen Projects by Nicola Lamb ~ Taking the recipe development process from behind the scenes directly to you.
We know there are many, many more examples of great food writing on Substack, some of which were included in last week’s food-focused Shoutout Thread. What other food publications should readers be sure to check out?
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