Call for Pitches: STEAK ZINE
Our one-off “medium-rare” issue is now open for pitches
Cake Zine friends,
And now…something completely different. After spending three years and seven issues exploring the pastry case, we’re going rogue with a special “medium-rare” issue: Steak Zine.
It’s a one-off magazine questioning the cultural impact of red meat and the classic steak house—iconic sides and desserts, white tablecloths, old school hospitality from even older waiters, grilling-based masculinity and the aprons that sell it, lab-grown meat and climate outrage. We’re interested in stories that take on steak expansively. Think: beefy drama, the various forms of red meat from jerky, tartare, to tallow and chicken-fried, the protein industrial complex.
Despite being far from dessert, Steak Zine will remain grounded in Cake Zine’s commitment to exploring contemporary food culture in unexpected contexts—be it personal, humorous, historical, or esoteric.
Still, Steak Zine has different scope and requirements than Cake Zine’s previous issues: We are specifically looking for imaginative and unexpected non-fiction stories somehow exploring steak culture.
We are not accepting stand-alone visual art or recipes, and we are also not accepting fiction or poetry for this issue.
Instead, we are accepting portfolio submissions for visual artists and recipe developers that will be paired with editorial content in the issue.
Formats we’re looking for include:
Historical deep dives that pair solid research/reporting with a critical eye
Personal essays, especially ones rooted in an unexpected POV or expertise (butchers, lab-grown meat techs, steakhouse waiters and bartenders)
Cultural criticism (literature, film, art, and pop culture)
Unexpected interviews (such as a conversation with a long-running steakhouse waiter)
Short lists, taxonomies, etc
You are welcome to pitch us on any of the themes explicitly outlined in this pitch call’s introduction.
If you’re more of a dessert person, don’t fret: We’ll be back with more sweet themes in 2026.
Please see this pitch guide for more ideas to get you started, detailed information on rates, what to include in your submission, and the types of content we are interested in. Pitches for written content are due at 9 a.m. EST on October 15, and visual portfolio submissions are due at 9 a.m. EST on October 22, but we will gladly accept submissions prior to the deadline. Acceptances will not be issued until all pitches are received and reviewed.
Read: Camilla Wynne has a new book, All That Crumbs Allow, written with Michelle Marek available for preorder now. It’s an ode to the humble breadcrumb with recipes from an incredible array of contributors.
Read: Aliza is on Mahira Rivers’ Sweet City Substack, talking about her favorite desserts, her stance on the state of criticism, and more.
Visit: On October 10-12th, our friends at One Love Community Fridge will be presenting a new zine at the Available Works Book Fair.
Eat: Our Forbidden Fruit dinner at Hellbender on Thursday is sold out, but we will have limited walk-ins at the door!
Another amazing theme