Last October, we tried something new: We invited you to become paying Daily Nutmeg Members—and, as a thank you, to enjoy our new food and drink passport, The Chaser, worth hundreds of dollars in complimentary dishes and drinks every quarter.
We didn’t know how people would respond, but we were glad to find out. Hundreds and hundreds of people have now used The Chaser: Volume 1, and so many of them have told us how much they’ve enjoyed using it: going on dates, taking some ‘me’ time, catching up with friends, making maps of their adventures, staying for one more (and one more again) and generally just getting more out of living in New Haven.
Today’s announcement keeps the party going, in exciting new ways.
The Chaser: Volume 2 is here.
It features all-new offers at all-new spots—from cocktail bars to pizzerias, from date-night favorites to neighborhood go-tos—including 116 Cocktail Bar by Hachiroku, 168 York Street Cafe, The Crooked Goat, Delaney’s, East Rock Brewing, Habesha, NOA, Pacífico, Pizza House, Sherkaan, Viñas, Zeneli and Zinc.
If you’re already a member, your new Chaser has already been mailed to you. If you’re not, this is a great time to jump in. Volume 2 is ready, the offers are live and we’d love for you to join us.
The Offers
Volume 2 is jam-packed with great places and offers:
• At 116 Cocktail Bar by Hachiroku, choose the Ripe CHU-HAI (shochu, mango, melon, lime, soda) or the Truffle Fries (with yuzu aioli).
• At 168 York Street Cafe, choose the George’s Bloody Mary (house recipe) or the Jumbo Soft Pretzel (homemade).
• At The Crooked Goat, choose the French 974 (gin, lemon, hibiscus-lavender, prosecco) or the Cajun Meatballs (with creole sauce and grits).
• At Delaney’s, choose a 16oz Craft Beer (select taps) or Shot of Tullamore D.E.W. or the Buffalo Chicken Tenders.
• At East Rock Brewing Company, choose a Beer Flight (four tasting pours) or 16oz Pour.
• At Habesha, choose the Red Sangria, Tej (Ethiopian honey wine), Flaxseed Almond Smoothie, Sambusa (veg or meat) or Baklava.
• At NOA, choose the Lycheetini or the Fried Calamari (with sweet Thai chili sauce).
• At Pacífico, choose the Mojito or the Short Rib Empanadas (with goat cheese and guajillo).
• At Pizza House, choose a Small Cheese Pizza (pan-baked) or a Dessert Sampler.
• At Sherkaan, choose the Wing Commander Sharma (pineapple gin, passionfruit, pistachio) or the Dahi Puri Chaat (with yogurt and chutneys).
• At Viñas Wine & Tapas, choose a Glass of Wine (Chilean Cab or Sauv Blanc) or the Papas Bravas (with smoked paprika aioli).
• At Zeneli, choose the Ricotta e Miele (bread, ricotta, honey, basil) or the Aperol Spritz.
• At Zinc, choose the Zinc Sunset (tequila, tea liqueur, pineapple, citrus) or the Crispy Tempura Calamari (with spicy citrus aioli).
With nearly $200 worth of complimentary dishes and drinks in your pocket, even if you use your Chaser just once or twice a month, you’ve already more than paid for your membership.
How to Use The Chaser
The Chaser is a booklet—a pocket-sized passport for Daily Nutmeg Members. Each quarter, members get a new edition in the mail, filled with complimentary dishes and drinks from some of New Haven’s favorite places. Simply visit the restaurant or bar and show your Chaser when you order. All told, it’s worth hundreds of dollars, including with…
Bonus Offers
On top of what’s in the passport, we regularly send members fun bonus offers and surprises. While you never know what you’re going to get, so far there have been free pizzas, free sandwiches, free gelato, free coffee, free pastries, free fancy soap and free game passes—all in just a single quarter.
Why We’re Doing This
For nearly 14 years, Daily Nutmeg has been free to read. No paywalls. No “donate now” buttons. No “X free stories a month” popups. That’s not changing.
But the economics of running an indie local media outlet are famously challenging. Sponsorship advertising—a way for local businesses and organizations to get the word out to our 20,000 local readers—has kept the lights on, 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.
Membership is a way to help keep Daily Nutmeg going, while The Chaser is an encouragement to experience more of what New Haven has to offer. It’s affordable and easy to use, and we’ve tried to pack it with so much value that it feels like a no-brainer.
What Members Are Saying
“The Chaser has been an absolute pleasure to use and has introduced me to so many great spots around New Haven.”
—Keegan S.
“Thank you! I love the free cocktails and food, but mostly I love not having to think about what we’re doing. We just open the book, pick a spot and go. It’s been really nice.”
—Rachel C.
“We have immensely enjoyed The Chaser.”
—Kenneth Z.
“My husband and I were thrilled to be supporters of your inaugural passport books for all the lovely places in NHV. I love waiting for the next restaurant or cafe to be featured, then figuring out how we could swing by to enjoy our free offer.”
—Kathleen S.
Not a Member Yet?
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.
Nothing to Lose
This month, new members can try Daily Nutmeg Membership risk-free. If, after signing up, you feel The Chaser isn’t for you, just tell us within 30 days and we’ll send you a refund. Meanwhile, membership is month-to-month, and you can cancel anytime. Simple as that.
And if now isn’t the right time to sign up, that’s okay. Daily Nutmeg will still be in your inbox, still free, still delivering great local stories each weekday.
But if it is the right time, know that your membership will genuinely matter—to us, to New Haven businesses and, we believe, to you. We hope you’ll join us →
—Your friends at Daily Nutmeg—
P.S. Still have questions? Contact us! We’re happy to help.
