Small plates, influencer brands, and growth in the age of the internet

"We're all over small plates + natural wine"

Hello!

If this feels like I’ve ripped Emily Sundberg’s ‘selfie at the beginning of every letter’ idea – it’s because I have

A few nights ago, I ate a delicious pub meal with a group of friends at The Marksman in Bethnal Green to celebrate my bf’s birthday. We ordered some entrées for the table, a main each, and a few desserts.

This wouldn’t feel particularly groundbreaking if it wasn’t that, today, this style of dining is groundbreaking. It’s a topic I’ve discussed at length with one of my best friends (she owns Pony and Neighbourhood Pizza in Melbourne – highly recommend). And this week, this style of dining is relevant, courtesy of Max Rocha (Café Cecilia). (But more on this later.)

Thank you for your incredible response to last week’s letter. I’m glad it struck a nerve. I was asked in my DMs how I find topics to write about. At times, it can feel overwhelming as to what to zero-in on because we’re constantly bombarded with so much information.

For the most part, my writing is always led by interest. I consume a lot of the culture as I move through each week, saving screenshots that have piqued my interest, dropping them into a folder in my notes app.

This week, we’re all over small plates. I suspect influencer brands are in strong decline. And I’m grappling with self-growth in the age of the internet. The final point is an emotional one for me, and perhaps, one I am ashamed to share that I consider far too frequently.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Agenda for today’s letter:

1. We’re over small plates and natural wine

2. Are influencer brands over?

3. The difficulty of growth in the age of the internet