About Fig & Brine

What is Fig & Brine?
Fig & Brine is a Mediterranean recipe blog built around a flavor logic rather than a single country’s cuisine — the interplay between sweet and salty, rich and bright, that runs through the cooking of the whole Mediterranean basin. It was founded by Nevaeh Hall in 2026 and covers recipes from Greek, Italian, North African, and Levantine traditions, unified by a shared pantry: olives, capers, feta, preserved lemon, good olive oil, honey, and dates.

Where does the name come from?
From a farmers market table in late August — a box of ripe figs next to a jar of good olives. Nevaeh bought both on impulse, tore the figs open, dropped a few olives and a chunk of feta on the plate, and that first bite — sweet, salty, a little funky — became the founding logic of the blog. Fig for sweet. Brine for salty. Everything on this website chases some version of that contrast.

Who is Fig & Brine for?
For home cooks who want to cook seriously without cooking professionally. For anyone who keeps a jar of preserved lemons in the fridge and isn’t sure what to do with it. For people who love the food of the Mediterranean and want to go deeper than hummus and Greek salad. For weekend cooks who have more time on a Saturday than a Tuesday and want recipes worth that time.

Who is behind Fig & Brine?
Fig & Brine was founded and is run by Nevaeh Hall, a home cook and recipe developer with more than 11 years of experience based in Chicago, IL. Nevaeh also runs Nevaeh Recipes, a general recipe blog where she has been testing recipes for every kind of eater since 2013. Fig & Brine is the Mediterranean deep-dive from that same kitchen. Read more on the About page.

Is Fig & Brine vegetarian or vegan?
Fig & Brine is neither exclusively vegetarian nor vegan, but it is vegetable and legume-forward. The Mediterranean diet as we cook it here means fish and seafood as the regular protein, meat — lamb, chicken — as occasional rather than central, and a strong vegetarian and mezze lane that is core to the cuisine, not an afterthought. Every recipe indicates clearly what it contains.

About the Recipes

Are the recipes really tested?
Yes, every one. Every recipe on Fig & Brine is tested at least twice by Nevaeh in her own home kitchen in Chicago, using ingredients from regular grocery stores and farmers markets. The real test is the table — Fig & Brine recipes are developed for the weekend register, tested on guests and on the two people who always show up early to help: a husband and an 8-year-old with strong opinions about which olives are the good ones. If it clears that table, it goes on the blog.

How accurate are the nutritional values?
Nutritional values are estimates based on standard ingredients and standard portion sizes. They can vary depending on the exact brands and quantities you use. Use them as a general guide rather than an exact measure. The Mediterranean diet is referenced on this website as a culinary tradition, not a medical prescription. For specific dietary or medical nutritional needs, always consult a registered dietitian.

Some of your pantry ingredients are unfamiliar to me. Where do I find them?
Most ingredients on Fig & Brine — preserved lemons, good feta, capers, pomegranate molasses, tahini, harissa — are available at well-stocked grocery stores, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, or Middle Eastern and Mediterranean specialty stores. Where an ingredient might be harder to find, we always note a substitution or a reliable online source. Nothing on this blog requires a specialty import.

Can I adapt a recipe for dietary needs or allergies?
Many recipes include substitution suggestions. Mediterranean cooking frequently features common allergens — tree nuts, sesame, fish, shellfish, dairy — and we flag these clearly in every recipe. For specific questions about adaptations, reach out via the contact page. Fig & Brine does not provide medical or dietetic advice. For serious allergies or health conditions always consult a specialist.

Can I share a Fig & Brine recipe on social media?
Please do. Share the link, share the photo, tag us if you make something — just make sure you credit Fig & Brine clearly and link back to the original post. Reproducing a recipe in full on another website or blog without written permission is not permitted.

Can I request a recipe?
Yes. Have a Mediterranean dish you want to see on the blog, an ingredient you want us to explore, or a flavor combination you think fits the Fig & Brine logic? Send your request to contact@figandbrine.com. We read everything.

About the Website

Why are there ads on the website?
Fig & Brine is free for everyone to use. To keep it that way and continue developing new recipes, we display advertising through Google AdSense. Ads are selected automatically by Google and are completely independent of our editorial decisions. See our Disclosure page for more information.

Does Fig & Brine use affiliate links?
No. Fig & Brine does not use affiliate links of any kind. When we recommend an ingredient, a pantry staple, or a piece of cookware, it is because we genuinely use it — not because we earn anything from it. Every recommendation on this website is fully independent.

How do I report an error in a recipe?
Email contact@figandbrine.com or leave a comment on the relevant recipe post. We will check it as quickly as possible and correct it if needed. Every report genuinely helps us and we appreciate it.

Newsletter and Privacy

How do I sign up for the newsletter?
You can sign up using the form at the bottom of any page. You will receive new recipes, seasonal Mediterranean pantry guides, and culinary notes from the Fig & Brine kitchen delivered straight to your inbox.

How do I unsubscribe?
Every newsletter includes an unsubscribe link at the bottom. One click and you are off the list immediately. You can also unsubscribe by emailing contact@figandbrine.com.

What do you do with my data?
We use your data only to send the newsletter and respond to your questions. We never sell data to third parties. Read our full Privacy Policy for more information.

How long do you keep my data?
We retain your data for as long as you remain subscribed to our newsletter. After you unsubscribe, your data is deleted within 30 days. Full retention details are in our Privacy Policy.