Publication Year: 2025, Issue #4

Hello. My name is Jocette, but you can call me Jo. I’m a food writer, recipe developer, content creator and more. Basically, if it’s food-related, I’m in. If you want to know a little more about my story, click HERE.

When I first signed up for Substack in December 2021, I knew it was a platform I’d enjoy. Its focus on words and slower pace feels restorative compared to the quick sugar highs of other social media. Yet, despite that initial excitement, I struggled to find a consistent writing rhythm and never quite hit “publish.”

I initially launched this newsletter under the name ‘Hasat: A Turkish-ish Table.’ While it mirrored my deep interest in culinary traditions from Türkiye and the surrounding region, the name started to feel restrictive. I think about food in much broader contexts and that title didn’t leave much room to explore those ideas. Changing the name to ‘Taste Jo Food’ was unexpectedly freeing; it felt like I could finally breathe and let my creativity flow. It's funny how something as small as a name can feel so stifling.

For 2025, I set a goal to publish a post every week. One month in, with four posts under my belt, I’m tracking along! And with a few new faces joining this community (yay, welcome!), I figured it was a good time to define what ‘Taste Jo Food’ is all about.

At its core, this newsletter is a space to connect, especially with people who are so deeply engrossed in their niche passions that they lose track of time. I love that energy and I hope to foster more of it here.

What to Expect

Food is what drives ‘Taste Jo Food.’ Whether it’s recipes or opinion pieces, food will always be the focus. While I have a particular love for Turkish culture (no surprise, given I lived in Türkiye for over six years and my husband is Turkish), my curiosity spans all global foodways. And even though we’re stateside now, a piece of my heart remains in Türkiye so I am sure you will see a natural bent on information from this part of the world.

Expect me to approach food with a gastronomic twist, weaving in themes like justice, migration, politics, travel and art. But just so you know, I’m not putting myself in a box. I reserve the right to wander off these topics and that little bit of freedom helps me sleep soundly.

Admin Notes

I plan to send out one newsletter a week, maybe with the occasional bonus article, depending on world events or if creativity strikes. For now, this newsletter is completely free. That said, once I've established a rhythm with consistent and meaningful content, I’m considering adding a paywall for some of the more personal pieces starting in April or May 2025.

If I do introduce paid content and you’d like access but can’t swing a subscription, please don’t hesitate to email me at jocettemlee@gmail.com; I’ll gladly make it available to you.

As I work to grow my audience, I have a small favor to ask: if an article resonates with you, would you consider sharing it? Hearing your thoughts in the comments also means the world to me, so feel free to let me know what struck a chord.

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Other Platforms

You can find me on Instagram (@TasteJoFood) and YouTube (@TasteJoFood). Technically, I’m also on TikTok (@TasteJoFood), though barely and probably not for long. My main focus is Substack, but you might catch me on those platforms for more day-to-day updates too. I am so very glad you are here.