Kristen Hawley
@kristenhawley.bsky.social
Restaurant industry journalist / founder of expedite.news
Pinned
Kristen Hawley
@kristenhawley.bsky.social
· Nov 18
expedite.news
Hello! I'm Kristen, a freelance journalist covering the future of the hospitality business. I also write a newsletter about restaurant technology (and I'm super proud of it.) Read and subscribe at expedite.news.
There's a big difference between entrepreneur and opportunist! Most journalists I know understand this, and that doesn't make us risk-averse, it makes us ethical and trustworthy. (I'm a solo journo with over a decade of newsletter entrepreneurial experience including one successful exit.)
The model is not for everyone bc not every journalist has the guts for entrepreneurship but it is already is well proven to work and it is already a viable future (one of many) for news
October 29, 2025 at 5:11 PM
There's a big difference between entrepreneur and opportunist! Most journalists I know understand this, and that doesn't make us risk-averse, it makes us ethical and trustworthy. (I'm a solo journo with over a decade of newsletter entrepreneurial experience including one successful exit.)
There's a huge difference between doing world-changing work and gaming the system with outrage content.
lol substack's cofounder has a new post claiming the sale of weiss' grievance blog—which substack heavily promoted & shares an investor w (technofash goob marc andreessen)—proves the platform offers "an immense opportunity for ambitious new media founders to build a new generation of institutions."
The home for media startups
There has never been a better time to start a media business
post.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 7:43 PM
There's a huge difference between doing world-changing work and gaming the system with outrage content.
Explain to me like I didn't live through the early 2000s in NYC why this is not a medicated eating disorder: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/d...
Ozempic Is Shrinking Appetites. Restaurants Are Shrinking the Food.
www.nytimes.com
August 13, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Explain to me like I didn't live through the early 2000s in NYC why this is not a medicated eating disorder: www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/d...
I am over 7 years out from my third (and last) media layoff and it is still so raw. Thinking about the talented people who are too good at — and care too much about — their important work to be part of this media trash fire.
August 7, 2025 at 7:01 PM
I am over 7 years out from my third (and last) media layoff and it is still so raw. Thinking about the talented people who are too good at — and care too much about — their important work to be part of this media trash fire.
This story is absolutely wild. www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaur...
This is what happened when Thomas Keller asked me to leave the French Laundry
Thomas Keller is a legendary chef. Chronicle critic MacKenzie Chung Fegan hadn’t met him, until she went to the French Laundry and he asked her to leave.
www.sfchronicle.com
May 19, 2025 at 5:28 PM
This story is absolutely wild. www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaur...
whoa whoa whoa you mean the signal from a professionally reported story is stronger than those from the unregulated social influencer economy? You don't say! (I still hate this.) www.semafor.com/article/05/1...
PR pros have discovered how to influence the chatbots: Talk to a journalist
The public relations business is poised for a resurgence in the AI age. It just needs someone to write the stories.
www.semafor.com
May 13, 2025 at 5:26 PM
whoa whoa whoa you mean the signal from a professionally reported story is stronger than those from the unregulated social influencer economy? You don't say! (I still hate this.) www.semafor.com/article/05/1...
DoorDash plans to buy reservations and CRM company SevenRooms for $1.2 billion. The deal is expected to close later this year. www.expedite.news/p/doordash-b...
DoorDash buys SevenRooms for $1.2 billion
What does a delivery want with a reservations service? Cue a future battle of the restaurant superapps.
www.expedite.news
May 7, 2025 at 4:27 AM
DoorDash plans to buy reservations and CRM company SevenRooms for $1.2 billion. The deal is expected to close later this year. www.expedite.news/p/doordash-b...
I will defend good QR codes usage in restaurants to the death. If you're going in, go ALL IN like Flour + Water: www.fastcompany.com/91311865/san...
Why this iconic San Francisco pizza shop is going all in on QR codes—despite the skepticism
Chef Thomas McNaughton's latest restaurant location needs to pump out pies fast, and it's using the polarizing tech to help.
www.fastcompany.com
April 7, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I will defend good QR codes usage in restaurants to the death. If you're going in, go ALL IN like Flour + Water: www.fastcompany.com/91311865/san...
There's always a restaurant angle www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/d...
As Tesla Protests Spread, Elon Musk Gets Ready to Enter the Restaurant Business
Two years ago, the Tesla founder and DOGE chief began to build a diner and drive-in theater in Los Angeles. Then he became a political lightning rod.
www.nytimes.com
March 21, 2025 at 7:56 PM
There's always a restaurant angle www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/d...
Sweetgreen is adding 'ripple fries' to the menu at all its restaurants today. I flew to LA a couple weeks ago to try them and hang out with the c-suite: www.fastcompany.com/91289313/swe...
Sweetgreen is betting that you want fries with that salad
The fast-casual chain is inching closer to McDonald's by offering the fast-food staple at all of its restaurants—with a healthy twist.
www.fastcompany.com
March 4, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Sweetgreen is adding 'ripple fries' to the menu at all its restaurants today. I flew to LA a couple weeks ago to try them and hang out with the c-suite: www.fastcompany.com/91289313/swe...
You'd think government officials could at least get the grammar right in an email firing workers whose skills and ability are deemed subpar. And yet... www.wired.com/story/dozens...
February 12, 2025 at 5:10 PM
You'd think government officials could at least get the grammar right in an email firing workers whose skills and ability are deemed subpar. And yet... www.wired.com/story/dozens...
I'm in!
Nearly 200,000 Danes are supporting a comedic petition to buy California from the U.S., in what appeared to be a jab at President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to seize Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.
‘We’ll never run out of avocado toast’: Danes launch petition to buy California
After President Donald Trump’s threats to purchase Greenland, Denmark's citizens launched a petition to purchase California from the U.S.
www.sfchronicle.com
February 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
I'm in!
Clicked on a @fastcompany.com link of best New Yorker covers not expecting to find the actual best New Yorker cover, but look! “Missed Connection” by Adrian Tomine (Nov 8, 2004) made the list — and my office wall.
February 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Clicked on a @fastcompany.com link of best New Yorker covers not expecting to find the actual best New Yorker cover, but look! “Missed Connection” by Adrian Tomine (Nov 8, 2004) made the list — and my office wall.
My pal @rickwebb.net shared my favorite DeepSeek explainer yet: buttondown.com/rickwebb/arc...
Good Morning. Hello. How are you? #1422
DeepSeek analysis, cuz that's what you want from an aging ad guy who hides in the woods.
buttondown.com
January 29, 2025 at 4:40 PM
My pal @rickwebb.net shared my favorite DeepSeek explainer yet: buttondown.com/rickwebb/arc...
Just another day in paradise. (Yes, Expedite accepts limited sponsorships.) www.wsj.com/articles/sub...
Substack Advertising Is Turning Writers Into Part-Time Sales Reps
Authors are using DIY methods to moonlight as media sellers as ads begin to infiltrate their newsletters.
www.wsj.com
January 22, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Just another day in paradise. (Yes, Expedite accepts limited sponsorships.) www.wsj.com/articles/sub...
Do I know anyone who's been to the Newsletter Conference in New York? Worth it? thenewsletterconference.com
The Newsletter Conference 2025 | May 2, 2025
The Newsletter Conference brings together newsletter professionals from around the world. Get your tickets now to learn and network with email newsletter pros.
thenewsletterconference.com
January 21, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Do I know anyone who's been to the Newsletter Conference in New York? Worth it? thenewsletterconference.com
20 years of Employees Only, whew! vinepair.com/articles/emp...
Employees Only Turns 20: An Oral History of the Iconic NYC Speakeasy
Twenty years ago, a handful of roommates and Dale DeGroff disciples bound together to turn their hospitality-forward house parties into their life’s work. Employees Only (EO) came into the world on No...
vinepair.com
December 10, 2024 at 4:33 PM
20 years of Employees Only, whew! vinepair.com/articles/emp...
There's always a restaurant angle.
December 9, 2024 at 6:42 PM
There's always a restaurant angle.
Reposted by Kristen Hawley
🗣️🗣️🗣️ I need more people to buy subscriptions to keep publishing Fingers. I'm offering 25% off to first-time subscribers, today only. If you like independent journalism about drinking in America, now is a great time to upgrade: www.fingers.email/subscribe?co...
December 2, 2024 at 5:45 PM
🗣️🗣️🗣️ I need more people to buy subscriptions to keep publishing Fingers. I'm offering 25% off to first-time subscribers, today only. If you like independent journalism about drinking in America, now is a great time to upgrade: www.fingers.email/subscribe?co...
Wow real healthy swing at the elder millennial set in this coverage of a restaurant closing in Brooklyn. (yes I feel personally attacked, thanks.) www.grubstreet.com/article/butt...
Buttermilk Channel, a Twee Brooklyn Landmark, Is Closing
The last day for cheddar waffles and warm lamb salad is December 31.
www.grubstreet.com
December 2, 2024 at 10:15 PM
Wow real healthy swing at the elder millennial set in this coverage of a restaurant closing in Brooklyn. (yes I feel personally attacked, thanks.) www.grubstreet.com/article/butt...
Hello! I'm Kristen, a freelance journalist covering the future of the hospitality business. I also write a newsletter about restaurant technology (and I'm super proud of it.) Read and subscribe at expedite.news.
expedite.news
November 18, 2024 at 9:32 PM
Hello! I'm Kristen, a freelance journalist covering the future of the hospitality business. I also write a newsletter about restaurant technology (and I'm super proud of it.) Read and subscribe at expedite.news.
The onetime restaurant delivery leader in the US was just acquired by an upstart bourgeoning "meal delivery superapp" run by a billionaire. Wonder paid $650M for Grubhub. That's less than 10 percent of the $7.3B that Just Eat Takeaway paid for Grubhub in 2020. www.expedite.news/p/wonder-mig...
Wonder might buy Grubhub
Wow, okay! The wannabe mealtime super-app is sizing up a delivery OG
www.expedite.news
November 13, 2024 at 8:31 PM
The onetime restaurant delivery leader in the US was just acquired by an upstart bourgeoning "meal delivery superapp" run by a billionaire. Wonder paid $650M for Grubhub. That's less than 10 percent of the $7.3B that Just Eat Takeaway paid for Grubhub in 2020. www.expedite.news/p/wonder-mig...
Today's edition of Expedite has over 2,000 words and dozens of links to help us all think through what could come next for restaurants based on everything we've seen before. www.expedite.news/p/now-what
Now what?
Considering the future of hospitality under another Trump presidency
www.expedite.news
November 12, 2024 at 11:28 PM
Today's edition of Expedite has over 2,000 words and dozens of links to help us all think through what could come next for restaurants based on everything we've seen before. www.expedite.news/p/now-what
Today on Expedite: DoorDash turns a profit and partners with Lyft: www.expedite.news/p/doordash-t...
DoorDash turns a profit
What a long, strange (Lyft!) ride it’s been.
www.expedite.news
October 31, 2024 at 4:56 PM
Today on Expedite: DoorDash turns a profit and partners with Lyft: www.expedite.news/p/doordash-t...
DoorDash posted a profit in the third quarter, its first quarterly operating profit since the company's December 2020 IPO. (More context in tomorrow's edition of Expedite; sign up to get it in your inbox at expedite.news)
expedite.news
October 30, 2024 at 9:25 PM
DoorDash posted a profit in the third quarter, its first quarterly operating profit since the company's December 2020 IPO. (More context in tomorrow's edition of Expedite; sign up to get it in your inbox at expedite.news)