Make Way for Dumplings!
Introducing Above the Fold, a newsletter filled with stories about the ultimate culinary labors of love.
Dumplings—from juicy pork xiao long bao to crisp baked manti, plump pan-seared pierogi, and infinite filled parcels in between—have two main things in common:
1: They are universally beloved as a source of comfort, nourishment, celebration, and deliciousness.
2: They require a whooole lot of technique, time, passion, and patience to make well—especially for those who do so for a living.
This newsletter is all about the craftspeople who do so for a living. It’s an anthology of those with a singular obsession: Making dumplings1.
Come for conversations with interesting people who specialize in kreplach, patties, empanadas, potstickers, and much more.
Newsletters will be sent out twice per month and anchored by a Q&A with a talented dumpling pro2. We’ll be discussing their culinary backstories, what drew them to dumplings, and lots of nerdy intel about fillings, wrappers, techniques, and the tunes they blast to get into the folding zone.
Stay for some other stuff!
Like mail-order dumpling suggestions, links to relevant news and lovely reads, cookbook recommendations, gift ideas, and, of course, links to recipes that I’ve tried and enjoyed and think you probably will, too.
It’s free. (For now.)
Right now, I’m paying out of pocket to fund research and interviews, so this project will, simply, last as long as I can make that work—who knows what the future will hold? If there’s enough interest, I may add on some paid extras which would help fund things like recipes, original photography, and paying guest writers.
Sign up now, right here, so you don’t miss the first issue:
In the meantime, tell your friends!
Above the Fold3 is written by Leah Mennies. (And maybe some other fun guest-editors that you will meet one day in the future.) Logo and design by the amazing and talented Claudia Mak.
For our editorial intents and purposes, “dumpling” loosely encompasses anything carefully filled and enclosed.
Interview subjects are paid an honorarium for sharing their knowledge and stories with Above the Fold.
Yes, it’s a pun on above-the-fold placement on the front page of a newspaper. AKA the most important stories of the day. I’m a dork.