I do have an Instagram (welcometoraleighwood), but it’s hard to communicate full thoughts over there without a dense story. There’s also no real way to share ideas back and forth outside of DMs when it comes to stories. I also find myself getting tired of Instagram in many ways and for many reasons, but largely need to not put my every waking thought there because most of my audience probably could not care less (my Instagram focuses on local events, restaurants and bars, and shopping in Raleigh, NC).

I mentioned wanting to start a Substack on stories a few weeks ago to discuss the report from The Infatuation about the restaurant trend predictions coming in 2025, and you were all very supportive so decided to go for it! Why The Grab Bag? Because I love everything and tried not to overthink it. Movies, tv, video games, board games, internet discourse, TikTok, memes, celebrity drama, news, politics, books, drinks, food, clothes, newsletters, podcasts. The list, like the road, goes ever on.

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You can read the full report from The Infatuation here. I love reports like this, largely due to wanting to keep up with what’s going on, but also because at my core, like many, I’m a hater and I love to have a specific something at which to direct my ire. At the end of the day though, what do I know I still drink spritzes all summer and espresso martinis after din so I guess trends for me are more of a lifestyle. Let’s dive in shall we?

(Some of) The Infatuation Predictions:

• Wine Bar or Restaurant?

One of the first observations that caught my eye is the “Wine Bar or Restaurant?” heading that asks whether the new wine bar in your town could be the next great restaurant. I don’t take any issue with this prediction on its own, but I also don’t quite understand it because I feel like this is fairly common? When I travel wine bars are always at the top of my “pop into” list, and I always feel like their menus are good to excellent?

My substitute prediction is that we’re going to continue to see restaurants and bars brand themselves in such a way that suggests something interesting when they’re really just a fairly standard restaurant or bar. You remember gatropubs? So what that is is just a bar with food! BUT we all fell for it. It seemed classier and more fun back in 2011. Felt v British (which it is in theory, but we really generalized it in practice - less London and more strip mall).

I’ve already seen a “ristobar” pop up in Raleigh that’s advertising itself as a “newer type of restaurant that is becoming popular in parts of Europe.” The distinguishing factor is allegedly that the establishment hybrids food and drink for a new type of culinary experience. Please note I have no problem with this restaurant (I haven’t even been), but what they’re describing is in fact just a restaurant with a bar program and (probs) a slightly more extensive wine list. See also the “clubstaurant” trend. Though the menu is still fancy, it feels more members club/actual clerb rather than a spot focused primarily on the food. Emily Sundberg talks more about this in her recent newsletter about Crane Club (the new Tao Group restaurant offering in NYC).

Begs the question - what words can we combine next??

• So Long, Smashburgers

The only thing I can really say about the prediction that Smashburgers will be saying farewell in 2025 is just that I really don’t want them to. The idea of a thick burger takes me back to the Bennigan’s1 1lb. burger circa 2002. The ones described in the article do sound good, but isn’t there room enough for all the burgers? Is this not America?

FWIW my fave smashburgers in Raleigh are at Gussies and Standard (bring back smashburger pop-ups State of Beer!). My fave reg burger is at Neuse Brewing.

• Mini Martinis

This is the prediction I hate the most because I’ve never once thought (often to my own detriment) that a smaller martini would be the answer to my problems. Martinis are like $17 and already small enough if you ask me. Now I will preface this by saying that NC doesn’t have happy hours (harrowing I know). If we would be able to enjoy a $5 mini martini for happy hour, I would be much more on board with this. Until then, put a mini martini on your menu and I will not likely be pleased, but will still probably order seven (price pending). Let’s do one of those giant Ina Garten COVID martinis instead!

Some rapid fire predictions of my own:

• Allegedly people don’t want to drink anymore, so I suspect we will have more and more “bars disguised as activities” coming (more mini golf, duckpin bowling, pinball bars, etc.).

• The surge of the savory cocktail. Maybe it’s just my feed, but I think people continue to push towards super savory cocktails - tomato oil, tomatillo, pickled everything, za’atar, and more.

• Amuse-bouche. Ozempic is up and eating is down. I think extremely small bites will be very on trend for 2025 and beyond.2

• Caviar. It’ll be everywhere.

• Meat and full fat forward. This may seem contradictory to the small bite trend above, but when people are eating, gone will be the days of fat free yogurt and cheese, various nut milks, and veggie forward plates. Trends are pointing to straight forward meats and full fat everything. I tend to relate this to the rise of MAHA (a topic for another newsletter, but please read more from Emily in your Phone) and odd conspiracies about anything not straight from an animal, but I’ll leave the judgments up to you.

What are your predictions?

Other Things I’ve Been Thinking About

• In the wake of the election, we need something to bring us back to together as a nation (if possible or if we even want - tbd). May I suggest reviving the 50 State Quarters Program? Remember when the US Mint hit us with a new set of states every year?? The foldout that you could collect them in? The joy when you found a state you didn’t have? We need that rush again.

• I’ve been enjoying the deep frown emoji (speaking of post election life), rather than my usual crying face emoji I like to use. He just looks like he’s seen so many horrors.

  

• Jacob Elordi MUST shave his beard. I’m hoping that photo was just for no-shave November.

• Obviously my full brain capacity has been captivated by Wicked. I have nothing new to say about it that hasn’t been said - I’m holding space for Defying Gravity, can’t stop attempting the finger hold with various friends - and my husband much to his chagrin, am fawning over Jonathan Bailey edits, am aggressively saying BAWK and nessa nessa nessa to myself, have the soundtrack on repeat, etc. etc.

Cheers!

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