The growing world of Substack newsletters

As the world continues its shift to digital publishing, new media crop up to replace the old guard, and that is especially true with newspapers and magazines. Long-form online stories reminiscent of the early days of blogging are rapidly replacing printed media (thankfully with the exception of cookbooks!) via newsletter tools like Substack, Ghost, Medium, Buttondown, and Beehiiv. Of these, Substack is by far the largest. We’ve gathered links to Substack newsletters from some of our favorite cookbook authors, food writers, and chefs. Most of these require a subscription but several have free options available as well which is a wonderful way to support your authors and writers. If you know of additional newsletters to add (from Substack or other sites), please email jenny at eatyourbooks dot com to let us know and we will update the list.

Newsletters from cookbook authors and food writers

Cookbook and food writing news

  • Stained Page News Paula Forbes, cookbook author and collector of cookbook news
  • Salt + Spine – Salt + Spine is the leading podcast on stories behind cookbooks, featuring in-depth interviews with cookbook authors. ‍Plus find featured recipes from favorite cookbooks, join our Cookbook Club, and more!
  • Not So Secret Agent (Sally Ekus) – One heaping scoop insider info on the nuances of publishing. A dash of mom life. Seasoned generously with industry resources from a cookbook agent.
  • Dianne Jacob A newsletter for food writers – Dianne is the author of Will Write for Food
  • Topographic Kitchens – written by Nic Miller, UK food writer and journalist

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13 Comments

  • Indio32  on  July 31, 2024

    Hard not to see the likes of substack etc as a just flash in the pan. Its popular now because its new. Firstly, those subscription dues add up pretty quickly also there’s no guarantee of quality or even content (if author is sick etc). I also find it odd that despite presumedly production costs being far lower ie little/no staff, office space with no paper, printing & distribution costs the subscription costs to these newsletters are around 50% more than the print equivalent.

  • eliza  on  July 31, 2024

    I haven’t got into substack; I did sign up for one free one and ended up getting a lot of unwanted emails about other substacks I could subscribe to, so now I’m staying away from it.

  • Rinshin  on  July 31, 2024

    None of that for me either. However many Japanese chefs have free youtube channels with recipes and detailed direction written within youtube that I spend watching exclusively when it comes to cooking. More than half are non Japanese recipes such as French, Spanish, Italian, etc. These are all excellent recipes without all that added commotion of food network stuff and these recipes have become my some of my all time favorites. Few add English subtitles too that I see more English speakers adding comments after watching and making these recipes.

  • saladdays  on  July 31, 2024

    If you often dream about moving to Mediterranean France, as I do, I can recommend Debora Robertson’s Lickedspoon blog. She’s moved from London to Marseillan in the Hérault and writes about her life there, the food, the market with a weekly recipe.

  • lean1  on  July 31, 2024

    I only get the free newsletters. If I want their recipes I will buy their books.

  • stef  on  July 31, 2024

    I refuse to get into paying for substack. Will gladly buy a book from my favourites.

  • SheilaS  on  July 31, 2024

    Thanks for sharing this list. I know these folks put a lot of work into the newsletters and other content they share on Substack and I like being able to support them by subscribing, That said, I’m on a limited budget and it really adds up. I often wonder whether to subscribe to their Substack or purchase their cookbooks as I can’t afford both.

  • Ganga108  on  July 31, 2024

    I enjoy David Lebovitz’s writing so much, but have only signed up for the free subscription. I’d rather spend my money on cookbooks 🙂

  • pomona  on  August 1, 2024

    I understand why content producers want to move to formats like substack, but it’s one thing to read a series of short things from a lot of people, like instagram, but I would be doing nothing but reading newsletters if I subscribed all the substack newsletters of people I follow on other social media. That said, I highly recommend Vittles for fascinating writing about food and food cultures.

  • Cathyw  on  August 3, 2024

    So many cooks in the kitchen! All trying to make a living doing what we love. I tend to support and read a few excellent political and feminist columns, but as of yet no food ones. As a number of commenters said cookbooks are generally a available from most of these people, and you can only subscribe to so many people.

  • reader1trees  on  August 20, 2024

    I think the link in Diana Henry’s name might be to a different person with the same name.

  • FrenchCreekBaker  on  November 28, 2024

    I read a comment by Zoe Francis asking why Substack doesn’t let you pay to access only one post with a recipe you might want instead of requiring a monthly fee?

    She also mentioned signing up for multiple paid subscriptions takes a toll on the pocketbook.For instance, although an extreme example, if someone subscribed to all the paid Substack newsletters mentioned the annual cost would be $3,420 if the cost is $5 a month.

    That said, I do consider this post a valuable resource. And while I may have dropped all my paid subscriptions but one to Substack, Eat Your Books is one subscription I will never drop. Thanks for all you do at EYB!

  • FrenchCreekBaker  on  November 28, 2024

    Apologies:

    Sorry for the typo.
    Spelling correction for cookbook author/Substack blogger name on my previous comment:
    Zoe Francois not “Zoe Francis”

    I apologize I do not have the French typeface to add proper marks on her name’s spelling.

    Just too eager to share! Wish I had an option to edit comments after posting to spare everyone my hasty blunders?

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