Although some undoubtedly "great" restaurants have partnered with Taste Club, my heart will always be with the Anthony Bordain-esque hole-in-the-wall eateries, the family-run streetfood stands, the kind of places that will always remain both delicious and accessible. Let the luxury diners eat cake.
Thanks for another great read. I love researching your cookbook recommendations and possibly adding them to my library. I’m not sure if we’ve always lived in a world of “concierge” services or if I just pay them more attention now. Are people more boastful now? I notice more separation between the “haves and the have not”. I guess now it is reaching into all aspects of life. I can’t imagine needing to get into a restaurant that badly. Fortunately I have my own personal cook at home. My husband is a way better cook than me and can make dirt taste good.
I’ve been subbing gochujang for sriracha and it kind of works. Thank you for your writing on Taste Club. Sounds very much like it would suck the joy out of dining and make it a trophy hunting experience.
Not being able to afford access to "top" restaurants is certainly a sign of the times, but I suspect is the least of most people's economic worries right now.
I can't argue with that... It's mostly because of the price of hotels, which has become astronomical. On my own I'm happy to stay in extremely modest places, but many people aren't.
There are dozens of different brands that call themselves Sriracha. The sauce originated in a town in Thailand of the same name. But the brand that Americans have fallen in love with is Huy Fong, which has been made in California since the eighties. That's the one that's become desperately hard to find; many, many imitations are still available.
The past several years I have hosted a Greek Easter celebration for 40-50 guests which means making a red dyed hard boiled egg for everyone. I have discovered that the best use of my instant pot is “hard boiling “ 2 dozen eggs at a time. And the shells just slide off.
Great article, now I understand myself better. Why I come across as mabe cranky when I am not a cranky person! Thank you, for all the other reasons we forget!XO
I totally agree with you about these access and exclusivity services. It’s so crass and caters to a ridiculous kind of financial excess and elitism.
And on another more upbeat note, I just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading your newsletter! Thank you!!
Thanks for your thoughts on “clubs” like Taste Club. I agree completely.
This is why we love you, Ruth. A sad, terrible trend for sure.
If Taste Club is a trend that sticks, I hate to think of the world as it will exist for my grandchildren. What on earth is going on ?
Another wonderful read...thank you.
Although some undoubtedly "great" restaurants have partnered with Taste Club, my heart will always be with the Anthony Bordain-esque hole-in-the-wall eateries, the family-run streetfood stands, the kind of places that will always remain both delicious and accessible. Let the luxury diners eat cake.
Thanks for another great read. I love researching your cookbook recommendations and possibly adding them to my library. I’m not sure if we’ve always lived in a world of “concierge” services or if I just pay them more attention now. Are people more boastful now? I notice more separation between the “haves and the have not”. I guess now it is reaching into all aspects of life. I can’t imagine needing to get into a restaurant that badly. Fortunately I have my own personal cook at home. My husband is a way better cook than me and can make dirt taste good.
RE. Taste Club: amen sister. Appreciate you for coming out swinging on this.
I’ve been subbing gochujang for sriracha and it kind of works. Thank you for your writing on Taste Club. Sounds very much like it would suck the joy out of dining and make it a trophy hunting experience.
Not being able to afford access to "top" restaurants is certainly a sign of the times, but I suspect is the least of most people's economic worries right now.
Why am I craving deviled eggs? 🫢
ruth
on taste club.. your marseilles trip looks amazing but also for the 1%
I can't argue with that... It's mostly because of the price of hotels, which has become astronomical. On my own I'm happy to stay in extremely modest places, but many people aren't.
What about the $75 bottles of sriracha? That seems 1% to me too.
Indeed! You'd have to be insane to spend that.
This surprises me, given that I would've sworn I seen Sriracha sauce on sale at supermarket for under $10 a bottle:
https://shop.wegmans.com/search?search_term=Siracha%20sauce
For NYC area foodies, there's a Wegman's in Brooklyn.
There are dozens of different brands that call themselves Sriracha. The sauce originated in a town in Thailand of the same name. But the brand that Americans have fallen in love with is Huy Fong, which has been made in California since the eighties. That's the one that's become desperately hard to find; many, many imitations are still available.
Exclusive/ memberships are gross and becoming more common. Thanks for writing about it and shedding light on " new" norm.
They seems to be very agressive on their marketing campaign, was it @Kristen Hawley who wrote about them as well?
The past several years I have hosted a Greek Easter celebration for 40-50 guests which means making a red dyed hard boiled egg for everyone. I have discovered that the best use of my instant pot is “hard boiling “ 2 dozen eggs at a time. And the shells just slide off.
Great article, now I understand myself better. Why I come across as mabe cranky when I am not a cranky person! Thank you, for all the other reasons we forget!XO
I hope the club fails.