John Klyce Minervini is a native Memphian, Harvard grad, food writer for the Flyer, freelancer writer for many local publications, and an all-around interesting cat. He introduces his latest venture today: The Fork.
The Fork is a hyper-local site, designed to “help Memphians figure out where to eat, what to eat, and why.”
First up is a series called “Hungry Holidays,” featuring food and drink running Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through Christmas. These posts come with a lagniappe: If you go to the restaurant and buy the featured item, 20% of the proceeds will be donated to the Urban Bicycle Food Ministry.
Hungry Memphis asked John to explain himself …
Tell us about yourself.
Ha! Well, I’m a Pisces. I like rainbows and long walks on the beach.
No, really.
OK, OK. I recently moved to Memphis from Portland, and I’m trying to figure out what this city needs or wants me to do. I’ve written about food for the last six years, and the Memphis dining scene is literally blowing up. So I thought I’d make a website and help people find out about it. Tada! The Fork.
You’re very clear that The Fork is NOT a blog. Why’s that?
I think it’s about breadth of vision. A blog is about one thing, or maybe two things. It’s about baking, or it’s about going to culinary school. With The Fork, I want to embrace the whole Memphis dining scene. I want it to be a place where people can go and click around until they figure out where to eat, what to eat, and why.
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You’ve teamed up with the Urban Bicycle Food Ministry?
When I started this thing, I knew I wanted to bake social justice into the concept, right from the beginning. The way I see it, seared tuna actually tastes better when you know you’re helping to feed the homeless. And UBFM just seemed like a perfect fit for what I was trying to do.
How so?
So they’re these young volunteers—basically big-hearted hipsters with bicycles. And every Wednesday and Saturday, they load up their backpacks with burritos and pedal around downtown and midtown, handing out food to homeless people. I’ve biked around with them, and it really is a beautiful thing. A way for people who don’t usually encounter each other to come together over food.
You’re a mindful eater, but there must be one thing you would be ashamed of admitting you eat. Tell us!
Well, I guess it was gonna come out eventually. At Costco, they sell these 25-ounce jars of castelvetrano olives. Buckets of olives is really what they are. And if I’m not careful, I’ll take out half of one of those buckets in a single sitting. There is basically no limit to my appetite for Costco olives.