For Heather Lyons, food has always been about more than what's on the plate.
Long before she became the face behind the growing Instagram community Let It Be Taste Buds, Lyons was learning the value of gathering around the table from her parents. Her father owned a neighborhood deli, catering business and worked as a butcher, while her mother helped create beautiful displays for customers. As a young girl, Lyons eagerly watched every detail, absorbing the craft of preparing food and bringing people together.
"I was like a sponge," Lyons says. "I just wanted to be in the middle of it all."
Those early memories laid the foundation for what has become one of Bergen County's most relatable food and lifestyle platforms.
Today, Let It Be Taste Buds is more than a collection of restaurant recommendations and home-cooked meals. It is an authentic look into Lyons' everyday life as a wife, mother and self-described lifelong food lover who enjoys discovering local restaurants, creating family recipes and celebrating the people behind every meal.
The name itself carries a deeply personal meaning. "Let it be" was a phrase Lyons' grandmother often repeated whenever life became difficult or something weighed heavily on her mind. Her advice was simple: just let it be. The second half of the name, "Taste Buds," is a tribute to Lyons' father, whose career as a butcher and owner of a neighborhood deli and catering business inspired her lifelong passion for food. After losing both her grandmother and father, Lyons combined the two influences into the name of her page.
"Let It Be Taste Buds is more than just a name," Lyons shares. "It's a little piece of both of them that I get to carry with me every day. It holds such a special place in my heart, and I'd like to think their presence brings a little extra love, good energy and good luck to everything I do."
"I'm not a chef," Lyons shares. "I'm just a busy mom who genuinely loves cooking, discovering great places to eat and bringing people together around food."
That authenticity has helped her build a loyal community of followers who appreciate that what they see online is exactly who she is in real life.
"There isn't an Instagram version of me," she notes. "I'm just Heather."
While Lyons enjoys highlighting Bergen County's thriving restaurant scene, she explains her favorite part is introducing people to the passionate owners, chefs and small businesses that make the local food community special.
She believes Bergen County offers some of the best dining in the region, from family-owned neighborhood favorites to hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Among her personal recommendations are S. Egidio Pizza Salumi in Ridgewood for authentic Neapolitan pizza and homemade pasta, and Johnny Roll House in Montvale, a BYOB sushi restaurant she frequently recommends to friends and followers.
Rather than chasing trends, Lyons follows her curiosity.
"I pretty much go where the wind takes me," she explains. "You'll never know unless you try."
That mindset extends beyond restaurants and into her own kitchen, where cooking remains her favorite creative outlet.
"The kitchen is where I find my Zen," she notes. "Cooking feels almost therapeutic."
One recipe her family requests again and again is her French onion soup, a comforting dish that reflects the lessons she learned growing up surrounded by great food.
Heather's Family-Favorite French Onion Soup
Lyons says the key to exceptional French onion soup isn't complicated. It simply requires patience.
"The darker you get those onions, the better," she emphasizes. "That deep caramelization is what gives this soup its incredible flavor."
She prefers using a combination of yellow, white, Vidalia and red onions, allowing them to cook until deeply browned before building the broth with beef stock, red wine, Worcestershire sauce, thyme and a packet of beefy onion soup mix. The finished soup is topped with slices of French bread and a generous blend of provolone, Swiss and Gruyère cheeses before being broiled until golden and bubbly.
"It's simple, comforting and full of flavor," Lyons shares. "My family goes crazy for it."
Heather's Family-Favorite French Onion Soup
Ingredients
- 1 packet beefy onion soup mix
- 6 to 10 medium onions, sliced
- Combination of yellow, white, Vidalia and red onions
- Beef broth
- Splash of red wine
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, or a pinch of dried thyme
- Small pinch of garlic powder
- French bread, sliced
- Provolone cheese
- Swiss cheese
- Gruyère cheese
Directions
- Slowly sauté the onions over medium heat until deeply caramelized and nearly dark brown.
- Deglaze the pot with a splash of red wine, scraping up the browned bits.
- Add Worcestershire sauce, thyme and garlic powder.
- Pour in beef broth and stir in the onion soup mix.
- Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes and adjust seasoning to taste.
- Ladle into oven-safe bowls, top with French bread and the three cheeses.
- Broil until the cheese is melted, bubbly and golden brown.
Lyons hopes readers will leave her page feeling inspired to try a new recipe, visit a local restaurant or simply gather around the table with family and friends.
"This page started with my love of food," she smiles. "But it's become about family, community, supporting local businesses and saying yes to new experiences."
As Let It Be Taste Buds continues to grow, Lyons remains focused on what mattered most from the very beginning: creating meaningful connections through food, one meal at a time.
Follow Heather Lyons on Instagram at @letitbe_tastebuds.
"Food is about so much more than what's on the plate. It's about family, community and the memories we create together." - Heather Lyons
"The kitchen is where I find my Zen. Cooking feels almost therapeutic." - Heather Lyons