At the beginning of October, we did something we’d never done before: We invited you to become paying members of Daily Nutmeg, which comes with our exclusive food and drink passport, The Chaser.
We were excited—and nervous. We weren’t sure how many people would say yes.
But, a lot of you did.
Because of you, nearly 500 Chaser passports are already in circulation around New Haven—tucked into pockets and purses, getting stamped at bars and restaurants, and inspiring people to go out, explore and support local spots while getting a ton of value. We’re deeply grateful to both our members and our partners. And today, we’re writing with three goals:
1. To say thank you.
2. To share what’s happened since the first passports were mailed out on October 15.
3. To invite more of our readers to become Daily Nutmeg Members—for yourself, and as gifts—because this is turning out to be a lot of fun.
What membership looks like so far
When you become a Daily Nutmeg Member, you get The Chaser, our quarterly pocket-sized passport filled with selections of complimentary appetizers and drinks from 13 of New Haven’s favorite restaurants and bars—including, during this first quarter alone, Anchor Spa, Armada Brewing, Blue Orchid, The Cannon, Gioia, Hachiroku Shokudo, House of Naan, John Davenport’s, Ordinary, RAWA, September in Bangkok, Stella Blues and Villa Lulu.
It’s easy to use. Just sit down, order, and show your Chaser to your server, who’ll then stamp it and bring you the appetizer or cocktail you chose.
On top of what’s already in the passport, we’re layering in additional offers from even more local businesses. Recent bonus perks, announced as they go live, include complimentary drinks, dishes and goods from Bobbi’s, Book Trader, Farm Belly, Little Dandelion, Marjolaine and Soap-Edi.
Why we’re doing this
For nearly 14 years, Daily Nutmeg has been free to read. No paywalls. No “donate now” buttons. No “five free stories a month” pop-ups. That’s not changing.
But the economics of running a local media outlet, especially an independent one, are famously challenging in 2025. Sponsorship advertising—a way for businesses and organizations to get the word out to our 20,000 local readers—has kept the lights on for more than a decade, and we’re grateful for every one of our valued sponsors (click here if you’d like to become one). At the same time, we know its wise to diversify.
Daily Nutmeg Membership is our answer. It helps us:
• keep Daily Nutmeg’s local coverage free for everyone,
• plan and invest more for the future, and
• support other local businesses,
all while delivering value worth many, many times the asking price. This first volume of The Chaser, for example, has already generated over $250 worth of complimentary offers.
If Daily Nutmeg has helped you discover places you now love, connected you with amazing experiences, or otherwise made your life in New Haven more fulfilling, we’re asking you to become a member today →
Give the gift of New Haven
Looking for the perfect gift? As we head into the holidays, Daily Nutmeg Membership may be the answer.
You can gift memberships to family and friends, and they’ll immediately start receiving their own Chaser passports in the mail.
It’s a gift that says:
• “Let’s go out tonight.”
• “Let’s try that place we’ve been talking about.”
• “Let’s get the most out of New Haven.”
You can also gift memberships to a whole group or workplace—your team, your office, your club, your board, your volunteer crew—who’d love a shared reason to explore New Haven, together or on their own. Send us a message and we’ll give you an easy way to sign everyone up.
What members are saying
• “I have loved my Daily Nutmeg Passport… I have more than made back what I’ve spent on it—I’d say triple—and it’s not even December yet. The sashimi I had at Hachiroku was dynamite, the Detroitish-style pizza, my egg and cheese sandwich, my samosas, my cocktails… I can’t say enough. It’s one of the first times in my life I literally have a gift that keeps on giving.”
• “For $20 dollars, if [two of us] go to one of these places, it pays for itself. No-brainer!”
• “We just got the Chaser and we’ve been using it at a few places. So far, we went to Ordinary and September in Bangkok! It’s really fun and a good excuse to go out.”
• “I’m a proud subscriber of Daily Nutmeg and I just got my Chaser book. I love downtown and I love supporting local businesses. It’s a beautiful way to get to know New Haven.”
• “We went to Ordinary for Halloween and it was very fun… We went to Hachiroku and got the cod appetizer and stayed for dinner. It was great! And we tried Bobbi’s. It was awesome.”
Become a member today
Signing up is easy and only takes a minute:
1. Click here.
2. Choose your plan: Individual ($12.99/month) or Couple ($19.99/month).
3. Check out.
And your Chaser: Volume 1 will be in your mailbox in just a few days. Volume 2 will be automatically sent to you as Volume 1 nears its quarterly expiration date. If you’re worried about committing, know that your monthly membership is only active for as long as you want it to be; you can cancel at any time.
And if now isn’t the right time for you, that’s okay. Daily Nutmeg will still be in your inbox, still free, still delivering great local writing and photography each weekday.
But if it is the right time, know that your membership genuinely matters—to us, to the restaurants and businesses you visit, and, we believe, to you.
With gratitude,
Your friends at Daily Nutmeg
P.S. Still have questions? Please reach out! We’re happy to help.
