What is The Modest Menu?

Let me explain!

If you had asked me to think about food five years ago, I’d tell you I think about growing up in my grandma’s kitchen, the one raised “down in the holler” of Kentucky. I’d tell you I think about my mom learning how to skin catfish via lessons taught by a family friend. I’d tell you I think about lying in the outfield in between baseball games as a kid, eating sandwiches and fruit snacks with teammates. I’d tell you I think about buffalo chicken dip and thousands of other dips I’ve had over the years at Ohio State vs. Michigan parties. I’d tell you I think about CiCi’s Pizza Buffet, leftover spaghetti in a Country Crock tub, cheap Tex-Mex, Chinese takeout from Great Wall, chain restaurants, casseroles, winning a baking contest on July 4th, and of course many other memories that stick out in my first 23 years of life…

If you ask me to think about food now, at age 28, nearly five years after moving to Brooklyn, I’ll tell you so much more. I’ll tell you about work lunches with Vicki Ho, Kathleen Tso, Helen Ji, and Isabel Li, where they gave a kid from Ohio the grace to learn about different Asian cuisines. I’ll tell you about introducing Connor Palomino to his first-ever corn dog and fried Oreo (he’s from Ireland). I’ll tell you about the differences between using “authentic” and “traditional” when talking about food. I’ll tell you about my first Tea Egg with Jordana Shiau. I’ll tell you, sadly, about the best burger in NYC that no longer exists. I’ll tell you about teaching my first New York love all about THAT buffalo chicken dip I mentioned previously. I’ll tell you about the long process of making macarons, trying ramen not from a package for the first time, discovering vodka sauce and ignoring my lactose intolerance, my thoughts on Jamaican beef patties being the ideal snack, my favorite route for a slice of pizza and a homemade rice krispy, and of course, I’ll tell you about chicken wings in New York City…

What I probably won’t tell you about, is the most popular, highly rated, or famous places to eat. That’s just not me. 

That is the thesis of The Modest Menu. I’m a modest eater, albeit the portions not always being so, and I’d love to spread the idea and the experiences of loving food that fills you up, physically and spiritually, without having to break the bank or always relying on a Top 10 list somewhere.

My hope for this Substack is that it serves two separate, but related functions.

First, I hope to grow a community of others that love food and have an appreciation for stories, especially when food is an aspect but not always the focal point of the story.

Secondly, I want this to be an outlet for myself, to get back to and sharpen my writing. With that comes an understanding within me that a certain volume or cadence of posts isn’t necessary. So bear with me, I’ll write when I feel comfortable and when I can. 

Lastly, what should you expect from this Substack?

Some posts will be solely be dedicated to a specific restaurant. Some posts will be monthly roundups. You’ll hear personal anecdotes. I’ll share family recipes. I’d love to have interviews with cooks and bakers if I can. I’d also love to hear from you, let me know what you’d like to read about. 

Alright, I’m wrapping this up. Thank you for reading, we’ll talk more soon!