About

Reed on front porch

Welcome to Pesto & Potatoes

Hi, I’m Reed Dunn, the home cook, food blogger and photographer behind Pesto & Potatoes. This is where I share fresh, seasonal plant-based and pescatarian recipes to inspire you in the kitchen and make answering “what’s for dinner?” a little easier.

What Does Pescatarian Mean?

Being pescatarian simply means eating plant-based meals with the addition of seafood recipes that include salmon, shrimp and other fish — but no red meat or poultry. Think of seafood chowders and grilled shrimp, seasonal salads that let vegetables shine, and plenty of wholesome, approachable meal ideas. This is the way I’ve been eating for the past two-plus decades.

How It Started

I first was in the kitchen as a child in Kansas, where I spent countless hours learning to cook from my mom. Visits to see my grandparents taught me about bringing community together through food.

Dunn Fish Shack
Grandpa “Bub” Dunn, seated, and his brother Carl at their family fish shack.

My dad’s family had a fish shack where they also sold homegrown potatoes (or patatoes? see photo for reference). My mom’s mom ran a small café at the entrance to a Nebraska state park. I still dream about her mile-high meringue pies. These early influences have remained at the heart of my cooking.

In my early career as a journalist, I moved around the country and picked up a passion for regional flavors and traditions. I took a particular liking to the Cajun flavors during my few years in South Louisiana. That’s also when I started experimenting with what I was eating, cutting out certain foods and evaluating how my body was responding.

I had grown up in a meat-and-potatoes household, but I realized red meat was causing me discomfort. I became a vegetarian. Then vegan. Then vegetarian, again. Eventually, I landed on pescatarian.

Doing the Whole30 helped me get serious about reading labels and cooking with real, unprocessed food. I have developed more than 100 Whole30-compatible recipes (including plant-based options!).

How It’s Going

Since 2018, Pesto & Potatoes has been my way of exploring what happens when you lean into seasonal, simple food and just get yourself in the kitchen. I named the blog to bust they myth that pesto is difficult to make and potatoes are somehow bad for you. Both, untrue.

Along the way, I’ve built a career in food photography, content creation and storytelling. You can find me on Instagram, Pinterest, Substack and just about everywhere else @pestoandpotatoes.

Whether you’re new to cooking or looking to simplify your meals with easy, approachable recipes, Pesto & Potatoes is here to guide you. Let’s get comfortable in the kitchen together – cooking with what’s on hand, exploring seasonal ingredients and making delicious meals that nourish our bodies while building community.

See Reed’s TV Appearances

If you want to support my work, the best way is to make a recipe, rate or leave a review and share your favorites with friends, family and colleagues. Nothing beats the magic of word-of-mouth marketing.