pull up a chair

I’m so happy you’re here

Once a month, I throw a themed dinner party. I love going to the grocery store. When I ask how your Thanksgiving was, what I really mean is: “what was the best dish and who made it?”

My aim with Cheers, Lil is to provide an encouraging space for people whose favorite book genre lands staunchly on “Stanley Tucci.” I want us to discuss strong opinions on dipping sauces and whether or not store-bought brownies are worth it, then share the reservations and snack breaks placed on our upcoming vacation itineraries. Other thoughts—like whether it’s ever acceptable to request a +1 to your best friend’s wedding—might be interspersed amongst an analysis of why a simple roast chicken is the greatest dish to exist.

I find it important to clarify that Cheers, Lil is not a scientific, well-measured library of recipes. There will be general ideas and instructions associated with many dishes you’ll find within essays, but the issue with intuitive cooking is a lack of specificity. I know—we all have a maternal figure who tells us to add “a smidge” or this or that. I’ll come clean now and claim “guilty.” But I also promise to do my best to answer your questions, provide helpful links when relevant, and ballpark measurements as close as I can get to correct. And I will always encourage you to taste as you go, and change things up to match what you have on hand or what you prefer.

In other words, we’re functioning on vibes over here—and having a good time doing it.