Talking to my plumber about his favorite restaurant changed how I see my own menu

He told me he goes to this little spot in Tacoma every Friday because their meatloaf tastes exactly like his grandma's, and it hit me that I've been chasing trends instead of cooking food people actually miss. How do you guys balance what's new with what's just plain good?

3 comments

3 Comments

willowc602mo ago

Remember when avocado toast was a big deal and we all acted like it was a new idea? I put it on my menu and my dad just asked why I was charging eight bucks for fancy bread. Maybe the trick is asking if a trend actually makes the food better, or if we're all just trying to look smart.

martin.jamie2mo ago

Ever think the real trend is just honesty? I used to roll my eyes at simple food with big price tags. Then I had this roasted carrot dish at a place that should have been boring. It was just carrots, some seeds, a little yogurt. But it was perfect. Changed my whole view. Sometimes the fancy bread is just bread, but sometimes the simple thing is the whole point.

spencer_sanchez672mo ago

Honestly I see it the other way. That meatloaf story is sweet but chasing nostalgia is its own kind of trap. People DO want new things, they just want them to feel real. The trick isn't to just make grandma's food, it's to make the new stuff with that same heart. You can cook what people miss AND chase trends, just mix the soul of the old with the ideas of the new.

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