Why Write?

I thought I was starting a blog for the wrong reasons.

I was a relatively early believer in the power of digital media, so I’ve read blogs for a long time. As I thought about writing my own, I was very focused on how my perspective differed from those out there in the world of food blogging — frankly, how so many blogs either seemed like clickbait-laden ripoffs of each other, or they seemed wonderful but suited to a totally different demographic than I was in. There were lots of people obsessed with the trend diet or gadget of the month, or others sharing recipes intended to feed a small army, or others that were more focused on posting 100 Pinterest-worthy photos than actually sharing useful content.

I spent more time thinking about who I wasn’t rather than thinking about who I am and the unique skills I bring to the table.

But once I finally changed my frame of mind, I still found myself standing in my own way. Why? Because we all know it’s so easy to find excuses, even when there is a goal you really want to achieve. Not enough time, not enough knowledge to make my website or my photos look perfect, uncertain about my expertise, and so on. Moreover, it’s 2019 and blogs are dead, right? The market is way too saturated.

Time passed. The desire to write never really left, even if it faded into the background sometimes. Meanwhile, I kept refining my skills in my own home kitchen, trying new foods in the diverse culinary landscape of Washington DC, and traveling through the United States and the world to taste what’s out there. And the most exciting part is that my adventures have only begun.

I write because I want to share stories about how food can make people think and feel. The small victory of choosing homemade stir fry instead of a frozen pizza on a random Tuesday night. The delight of watching someone take a first bite out of something you made and saying ‘that’s delicious!’ The common humanity you can find when you break bread with someone, or when you step into their kitchen and open your mind to something new. The sense of history when you crack into a recipe passed down through generations, even one that’s been adapted to life in a new country.

So pull up a chair at my digital kitchen table and let’s get eating.