Tell me a little story, Maggie.

....written and spoken tales on food, culture and our strange shared humanity

Hi!

I’m Maggie Hennessy. I’m a freelance writer mostly on food and drink. I’ve been at this full time since 2014. I do all kinds of big and small storytelling — profiles on chefs and independent food businesses, features on people who drink at grocery store bars, explainers on tipping or MSG, recipe features, cocktail trend-watching, essays on cheap Chianti and why I think breakfast is better than brunch. My favorite stories are those that unearth something real and shared among us, that make us laugh and feel a bit less alone.

That’s what this Substack is for.

Every few weeks, I’ll write or record a short tale to shine up your day just a little. It won’t take very long to read or listen to; it will often be food-related but not always. Perhaps I’ll tell you about all the crap I saw on people’s porches while riding the El downtown, or why a spritz is more than a drink — it’s a state of mind. I might share odd tales of being recognized at restaurants, or offer up the lessons I learned while living in the desert (hint: birds are metal AF). On that note, anthropomorphized animals and plants will likely factor heavily here; prepare accordingly. I’ll definitely share occasional recipes and simple cooking methods. I’ll also sit down with people I love in the food and drink and other industries to hear their little stories: maybe what they make for dinner when they’re alone, or why they cried from joy that time we ate chicken tails together.

I think we put too much value on the big things: goals, moments, gestures, breaks. I find that happiness more often comes in small doses, so long as we pay attention. Like the joy I feel when I squish a raspberry between my tongue and the roof of my mouth. Raspberries are my favorite fruit, and I’ve always eaten them this way. I don’t know why.

Anyway, you wanna hear a little story?