Flashback Friday: Running it Back, ✨With a Twist✨

+ a giveaway to celebrate (almost) ONE WHOLE YEAR of Restaurant Dropout

Happy almost one whole year of Restaurant Dropout!!!

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t filled with gratitude and slight astonishment over everything Restaurant Dropout has become this past year.

In fact, exactly one year ago today, I was planning out the first edition of this newsletter.

While I had a vision for what I wanted to put out into the Substack Food and Drink universe, I wasn’t sure how well a weekly plan with several recipes, a prep list, a grocery list, and chatter (from yours truly) would be received.

I was living in a 500-square-foot apartment in Sacramento with little to no lighting, a kitchen counter (and barstool) for a desk, and a much smaller social media following compared to many of the incredible food creators who occupy the top newsletter spots of Substack.

I created my original logo using a combination of Canva and $5 food graphics from Etsy, wrote my first set of recipes (only elements, no dishes), and launched Restaurant Dropout without hesitation.

Restaurant Dropout’s First Logo

My life changed.

I was propelled into what felt like a 100-mph routine—creating and writing 7+ recipes weekly, filming and editing as much as I could, and taking in all of the feedback possible.

And unsuspectingly, one of the most invaluable, indispensable outcomes from this past year has been you all…

Thank you for your weekly support, helpful feedback, and overall patience with me during Restaurant Dropout's transformation from its inception to now.

My recipe writing & photography setup 1 year ago

I will continue trying to improve Restaurant Dropout from each preceding week, attempting to provide you with as much value as I can.

I have—what feels like delusional—hopes and dreams for this newsletter with a never-ending goal of providing you with all of the tools to be well-fed, efficient cooks.

All that’s to say, I’m excited about what’s to come this year and the next, and I can’t wait to cook with you for as long as you let me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Now, let’s dive right into our monthly Flashback Friday:

(Our Restaurant Dropout giveaway will be at the end of this newsletter)