Open Tabs and Other Thoughts
Your Sunday strategy reset, served with a side of distraction.
You’re somewhere between your second coffee and wondering if you should spend the rest of the afternoon building that Q3 deck—or lying in the sun. Here’s a roundup of thoughts to keep you company while you procrastinate with purpose.
Strategy Thought
One thing I’ve been reminding myself this week: A good marketing idea doesn’t matter if you don’t have the operations to back it up.
Messaging gets all the credit, but it’s execution that makes the moment land. Cross-functional alignment isn’t just logistics—it’s brand protection.
Seen This Week
Did you catch the Cote x Sweetgreen collab? Cote—NYC’s modern Korean BBQ hotspot with the waitlist I’ve never been lucky enough to beat—teamed up with Sweetgreen to drop a limited-time bowl. Think: sweet & sour BBQ steak, apple kimchi vinaigrette (ask for extra on the side, trust), crispy onions. It's luxe meets lunch break, and I’m obsessed.
Brand collabs like this work because they shake things up and introduce you to a new customer without reinventing your identity. It's like a refresh button, with hype baked in.
Listened to / Watched / Read
I’m halfway through The Favorites, which seems to be everywhere right now. If you’re in need of a brain-break and love Olympic-level tension with a side of Real Housewives drama, it’s a fun shift from my usual lineup of true crime thrillers.
Filed Under “Steal This”
Lately, I’ve been noticing a shift: F&B brands are embracing the “mini menu”—short, hyper-curated offerings that feel intentional, seasonal, and easy to execute. Think: three hero items, max. It’s focused, fast, and creates urgency without overwhelming the guest or the kitchen.
What if you approached your marketing the same way?
Your brand’s mini menu this month could be:
One strong story (PR angle, content theme, or founder POV)
One channel focus (Instagram Reels, in-store moments, email—not all three)
One tactical push (event, collaboration, promo, or product drop)
Three moves. Maximum impact. No fluff.
What I’d Do If…
…I were reopening a legacy restaurant brand in a new neighborhood:
I’d build the launch around memory and ritual. Print new menus with quotes from original regulars. Let the first week’s guests write messages on takeout bags. Make it feel less like a reopening and more like a reunion.
Not That Deep
I’ve been inventing excuses to stop by Neighborly, the new curated food hall and marketplace that recently opened near me (and yes, I’ll absolutely be doing a deeper dive on their branding—because it’s that good). They carry everything from bottled Joan’s on Third salad dressings (elite) to tins of caviar (aspirational) to a white chocolate corn crunch cookie that completely derailed my week—in the best possible way. Yes, I said corn. Yes, it’s perfect.