2024 wrapped + ins + outs

see ya'll on the other side

seven events, three catering gigs, two cookbook clubs and one panel discussion later, our year is wrapped. I didn’t get the chance to throw GRUEL a birthday party this time round but this was its fifth year running which feels like a lot??

so I’d like to turn the tables to you and see what you’d like to see more of next year ‘cause tbf¹ I’m tired of calling the shots. be prepared for more polls, round table discussions, salons + events via concensus in 2kquarter2

in the meantime, please send tips, EOIs, blind items and love letters to gruelmedia@gmail.com

and without further ado, our² predictions for next year, which may just see some changes round here

OUTS

• oversharing

• fetishising new-to-you foods

• gatekeeping³

• food as clout

• charging your friends

• pet nat and orange wine when you don’t know what else to order

• “yes chef”

• sombreros at restaurants (hopefully, finally)

• new-wave sandwiches

• car park soi 38

• pre-dinner drinks

• mukbangs

• eating disorders

• diet coke / coke zero as personality trait

• overly graphic designed condiment brands

• salt flakes on everything

• protein in everything

• ubereats

• sounding off w dumb shit in the comments⁴

• legacy food media

• sacrificing your morals for the story because you want the pr / chef to like you

• in n out lists

INS

• radical transparency

• accurately contextualising new-to-you foods⁵

• resourcing

• food as connection

• spoiling your friends

• mead, makgeolli, sake

• “behind” when overtaking ppl on footpath

• latin food (feel weird bout this one but it is what it is)

• tradie cafes / delis⁶

• fancy food hall soi 38

• pre-dinner blaze

• AYCE buffets

• not commenting on ppl’s eating habits

• food as props / accessories (milk tea / boost juice⁷ cups, apple with bite mark, bag of bread with a coin hidden in it)

• nando’s sauce

• salt on tables

• protein in vegan dishes (cauliflower is NOT a plant-based main)

• fb marketplace food

• re-reading / playing before you post

• indie food media

• leaking my juiciest hospo interview sound bites on substack (jk or am I??)

• in n out burger

1. to be frank, like the bakery

2. who are we, exactly? in the spirit of radical transparency, I’ll tell you later

3. redacting details “so you don’t blow it up” isn’t a flex, just tag the restaurant ffs

4. eg. this

5. eg. the opposite of this

6. roundup incoming

7. more ideal because opaque