Introducing Macaroni & Gravy
Food writing because my reel skills stink.
What’s Going On?
Macaroni & Gravy (thanks forever for the name Tony ‘Paulie Walnuts’ Sirico, RIP in Peace) has had a pretty stop-start existence over on instagram for a few years while I tried to figure out exactly what I wanted it to be. After a couple of ‘relaunches’ or whatever you want to call them, I’ve finally settled on something that I believe will work a lot better than trying to figure out what mood the insta algorithm is in from day-to-day.
This will not just be a weekly newsletter. I feel like saying “expect a new drop every Thursday” just sets you up for failure. There will be always be at least one new post a week, but some weeks will be busier than others, so it could be three new articles hit your inbox over the course of a seven day period. Maybe after dropping a new interview feature I then have a particularly inspired trip to a corner shop that I feel warrants a thousand words. Perhaps there’s a pairing of spicy chicken goujons and a rewatching of ‘Big Daddy’ that draws an impromptu love letter out of me. Who knows?
What’s It All About?
My work over the last two-and-a-half years as Culture Editor of EATMCR has brought me into contact with some unbelievable people. I’ve loved every second of writing about the food and culture of Manchester and the people involved with it all. I’ve also loved learning about the industry, the history of places and communities and experiencing some of the most enjoyable meals of my life.
Now, I want to take that a few steps further. I’ll still be writing for EATMCR, but I wanted to branch out into travel writing, exploring new places and cultures and communities. On top of this, I’ve gotten more into sharing my own home cooking over the past couple of years and want to try and expand upon that. It’ll mainly be sandwiches, to be honest. But with a few hundred words about each one because, let’s face it, behind every great sandwich is a great story.
As for travel, there won’t be all encompassing city guides, but rather some casual, potentially extremely impassioned recommends and hopefully some interviews with locals and traders to add a bit more weight and local colour to each piece to give you all a better idea of what to expect if you’re thinking of visiting these places.
A Positive Space For People Who Like Good Food and Good Spots
I’ve never been one for slating places or being negative for the sake of it. I also don’t want to present myself as some type of foremost authority on different foods and cultures because, just like everyone else, I’m learning something new all the time.
I just want to write about great places, whether it’s fine dining or a food truck, a caff or a cocktail bar. I want to share stories about the people involved with these places. I want to write about butties. A lot.
Most of all, this will be accessible food and travel writing without a shred of pretension. It could be an ode to a historic Roman bakery or it could be the best pop and crisp combos to have on a hangover. It could be a chat with my favourite Bossman or it could be a retelling of the borderline religious experience I had with a beer and a cheeseburger at the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago.
Why Should You Subscribe?
I don’t really like talking myself up too much. Bit LinkedIn, innit? But I do believe this will evolve into a really positive page with tons of great features and interviews with some wonderful people, about some wonderful places and dishes. You will receive plenty of new posts in your inbox, so there will be regular new content and a huge appreciation for every paid subscriber who is parting with their hard earned money to read my work.