Introducing Deep Dish, a weekly summary of culinary and entertainment updates.
Can you sense it in the atmosphere? Since Monday, we have officially embraced autumn. Get your pumpkin spice ready, pull out your lightweight jackets, and prepare for invites to apple picking from your most orchard-savvy friends. Why not launch your fall by relishing the remaining days of Sit at the Bar September, the latest TikTok sensation aimed at helping you connect with new acquaintances in a traditional manner? Ah, discovering love at the bar—feels reminiscent of the early 2000s.
This week, in addition, your smart fridge could come with a new inconvenience—ads. A new Netflix series inspired by the scandalous past of The Spotted Pig. (Jude Law portrays Jake Friedken, presumably modeled after Ken Friedman). Lastly, the world’s inaugural martini expo was just as indulgent as you might expect.
It’s widely recognized that Gen-Z is disenchanted with the current dating scene and all the transactional swiping that characterizes it. As a result, as they start to abandon the apps, a new “trend” has surfaced: sitting at bars to meet potential love interests. Coined by 86-year-old real estate agent and TikTok influencer Laurie Cooper, Sit at the Bar September encourages young singles to take it back to basics and visit local bars alone to mingle in a more traditional way. It’s somewhat amusing (to me) to label it a trend and assign it a specific month, but it appears to be a net gain for Gen-Z and all the bars that stand to gain from their business. —Li Goldstein, associate newsletter editor
Across the web
Samsung confirmed this week that it will indeed begin launching a pilot initiative where smart fridges will showcase advertisements. This update will be implemented for some of the company’s Family Hub models, which feature large displays and an AI program that assists in meal planning based on the contents of your refrigerator.
While you might not desire a refrigerator acting as a mini-billboard in your kitchen, the shift isn’t particularly shocking given how advertising has progressed over recent years. You may have noticed ads on your Kindle or when you pause a show on Amazon Prime. No matter where you turn, sooner or later, the ads are coming for you, dear. —Sam Stone, staff writer
A new Netflix drama climbing to the top of watch lists is set against the captivating backdrop of a trendy New York restaurant. Jude Law stars as Jake Friedken, the proprietor of the fictional hot spot, The Black Rabbit. The series draws inspiration from a past West Village establishment, The Spotted Pig, owned by actual restaurateur Ken Friedman; the connections are made even clearer and more chilling through its depictions of sexism and sexual misconduct. The Spotted Pig closed in 2020 following accusations of sexual assault and harassment directed at both Friedman and notable visitors to the restaurant, like Mario Batali. For all its commendable in-depth research, the show is at once meticulously detailed in its allusions and somewhat formulaic in its narrative beats. And, although I have only seen the initial episode, lukewarm reviews imply that sexual harassment is merely one narrative thread in a complicated storyline involving family tension, gambling debts, and violence. Nevertheless, I’m curious enough to continue watching the remainder of the series—and I’ll be interested to see if the early critiques hold up. —L.G.
During the weekend, cocktail enthusiasts and bar industry experts gathered in Brooklyn’s Industry City for the inaugural Martini Expo. Organized by drinks writer Robert Simonson, the all-day event featured cocktail craftsmen from around the world, along with hundreds of martini aficionados. They spent the afternoon and evening attempting to look composed while enjoying caviar bumps and tasting mini-tinis from over 30 vendor booths. One unnamed Bon Appétit reporter gained an insider’s perspective on how everything unfolded (and yes, he may have been just a tad overindulged) before returning home to a substantial pasta dinner and a restless night of sleep. —S.S.
