The Next Delicious Thing
Helping you find what to taste next in London and beyond.
I want you to eat good food.
And I want us to support the people who make good food.
I see good food as food that not only tastes delicious, but is made with consideration to everyone in the supply chain, to their employees, the environment and ethics.
Sometimes I’ll share things that don’t quite fit this brief, but that’s the overriding goal.
This space is mostly about craft chocolate, artisan bakeries and desserts, but I’ll also share savoury things (with a heavy lean on vegan/vegetarian because that’s how I eat 99% of the time), restaurant recommendations, snacks and condiments you’ll find in supermarkets, and businesses that post treats anywhere in the world.
I’m based in London so it’s London-centric, but lots of things I share can be purchased from anywhere.
I get nerdy about food (and everything, if I’m being honest - I love sharing the history of London on the food tours I run), which means if there’s a term that’s less common I’ll also share the history or definition behind that, so I hope you’ll learn something here, too.
1. Food recommendations online are overwhelming.
And dubious. Right?
Social media feels like a fleeting place to share these days and biased towards what looks good in the two seconds before someone flicks from your video to another. Online magazines have “top 10” lists that can be great, but feel heavily influenced by businesses that can afford PR or have Instagrammable items.
I’ve been writing this newsletter for a while now (hi to you if you’ve been reading for while!), and I thought that Substack was a better home because you can comment on it and see one another’s comments! So it won’t just be about me, and what I love. I can’t wait to hear from you all.
During the pandemic I ran monthly public Online Mystery Chocolate Tastings - 20 of them! - I loved seeing many of the same people and hearing your thoughts on flavours. I hope this can bring some of that same sense of community.
I really hope you’ll find that my recommendations fit with food you love and I hope we’ll build a community here of people with similar taste, sharing our findings and the joy we get from great food.
2. A space for people who love food and the people who make food.
This is a home for all the artisan bakers and craft chocolate makers and passionate chefs, and the people who appreciate them. For the people who care about the provenance of their food and whether the companies pay their staff and suppliers well.
I attend food shows only available to poeple in the industry so I’ll keep you up to date on exciting new products I find there, and I spend my time (and money!) exploring new places and products in London - and beyond - and I will share the good stuff from these adventures, too.
3. Why sign up?
Every Wednesday I send a list of the things I’ve tried that I’ve loved and tell you why I love them. If you want to know what’s good to add to your list for the next time you need something new and delicious, then I hope you’ll love receiving these emails.
You can reply to me and share your thoughts directly, or comment on the posts that live online.
Most of the free posts get locked on Substack after 4 weeks so if you want to read them, you might want to sign up!
4. Why trust my recommendations?
I’m fussy, for starters. I’m on - or have been on many times - the Grand Jury of the Academy of Chocolate and the International Chocolate Awards (I might be the only one of two people for whom this is true).
In 2024 I was part of a panel of 8 people - and the only non-chef - judging the UK Croissant Awards.
I’m also a judge for the Great Taste Awards, the Quality Food Awards, Brazilian Chocolate Awards and others.
As of November 2024, I’ve been working in the food industry for more than 19 years (since I started Chocolate Ecstasy Tours, which I still run) and I get paid for my opinion on how food tastes. It might not be to your taste, but I hope it is, and we can become friends who love good food.
5. What do I get for being a paid subscriber?
More access to me and all the places I know and recommend. I prioritise replies to paid members.
My “hit list” of places I’ve heard about but haven’t yet visited and shared in here. It’s a Google Maps link.
The whole archive of 150+ posts (as at November 2024) which you can search for any term, tube station, location, product, brand and see what I’ve written. Then you comment on it if you have questions.
Location guides to Melbourne, Barcelona, Paris, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and more.
An invitation to our casual online and in person meet ups every 2-4 months.
First access to ticketed events before the general public.
6. I hope you’ll join me on this (mostly) sweet adventure!
We all need more joy and what easier joy to come by than a taste of something delicious to cheer up our week.
Here’s me with a pastry. If good pastries make you as happy as they make me, then I think you’ll want to subscribe.
I can’t wait to chat with you!
Jen x
Hi Jennifer…I’m having difficulty with accessing the info on my paid subscription and would like to cancel. How do I go about this as it’s says it’s not possible through the app itself.