:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68698976/EsKxiGxXMAUm3NT.0.jpeg)
Welcome back to Insta Stories, a column examining the London restaurant scene through the often-problematic medium of Instagram. This week’s filter is garlic, with bread.
News of the week
Inauguration Day, 2021: the day the “wave” emoji — tiny, unmistakably orange in hue — was waiting its whole life for. There will be many, many more cogent and detailed explorations to come of what the Biden presidency means for America; most of them, no doubt, will make the point that this is not the end of America’s problems, but only the beginning of trying to solve them. But for one day, a little celebration doesn’t seem too out of order, even if “celebration” in this case is really just a stand-in for unbridled schadenfreude.
Launch of the week
Anyone remember hype? The feed-clogging deluge of images from a hot new restaurants days after it opened for business, as opposed to disparate shots from the nation’s domestic kitchens and park benches? A tantalising glimpse of times gone by, perhaps, as Arrosto — from London favourite Quality Wines — finally hit the ‘gram.
Spread of the week
Dating app bio of the week?
Lockdown flex of the week
Really puts that single loaf of banana bread most people managed to crank out into perspective, doesn’t it?
Dog ears of the week
This is what peak performance looks like.
Pivot to TikTok of the week
OK, not going to lie, this kind of slaps, but… Pret? Dependable, solid 6/10, corporate drone sustenance Pret? All they need is an extremely online Brand Twitter account and the “how do you do, fellow kids?” transformation will be complete.
@pretamanger Celebrating the launch of our new vegan Meatless Meatball Wrap with #bigzuu and a meatless meatball...rap #fyp #vegan #veganuary #foryou
♬ original sound - Pret A Manger
Memes of the week
Wanted: a 5,000 word deep dive into how the proliferation of food media in the streaming era led to a parallel increase in food and drink meme content.
Dish of the week
In a week of raised hopes, however temporary, there could be only one winner.
Shot of the week
Katsu nuggets, oil on canvas, 1673.