About

Welcome to Hearty Fork Finds! I’m Natalie Gray, and I’m thrilled you’ve found your way to my culinary corner of the internet.

My journey with food has taken many delicious turns over the years. Before launching this site in 2017, I spent a decade as a restaurant critic for newspapers across the Midwest. Those years of professional eating taught me to appreciate both elegant haute cuisine and hole-in-the-wall comfort food in equal measure—a balance I strive to maintain in my own kitchen.

When my second child arrived, constant restaurant-hopping became less practical, and I found myself increasingly drawn to my home kitchen. What began as a necessity quickly blossomed into a passion for recreating and reimagining the standout dishes I’d encountered during my reviewing years. Friends kept asking for recipes, and Hearty Fork Finds was born.

My cooking philosophy centers on what I like to call “elevated comfort”—classic, satisfying dishes with thoughtful touches that make them memorable without making them fussy. I believe good food should be accessible, adaptable, and always worth the effort. You won’t find complicated culinary gymnastics here—just honest recipes with depth of flavor and a focus on technique over trendiness.

I develop and test all recipes in my modestly-sized Chicago kitchen, often with my kids (now 9 and 7) as enthusiastic assistants. My husband Mike serves as official taste-tester, offering refreshingly blunt feedback that keeps my recipes grounded in reality. Our rescue mutt Charlie maintains quality control by cleaning up anything that hits the floor.

When I’m not cooking or writing, you might find me tending to my backyard vegetable garden, scouring neighborhood thrift shops for vintage cookbooks, or taking weekend road trips to explore regional food traditions. I’m particularly fascinated by the immigrant-influenced cooking of the American Midwest—the underappreciated culinary melting pot I’m proud to call home.

What drives me daily is the knowledge that food is so much more than sustenance. It’s connection, comfort, celebration, and sometimes even healing. I’m passionate about helping people discover the joy of cooking meals that satisfy deeply—the kind that prompt that contented sigh after the last bite.

Whether you’re an experienced home cook or just beginning your culinary journey, I hope Hearty Fork Finds becomes a trusted resource in your kitchen. Every recipe here is designed with you in mind—tested thoroughly, explained clearly, and guaranteed to be worth your time and ingredients.

Thank you for being here. Let’s make something delicious together.

With warmth and gratitude,
Natalie