diff --git a/random_menu.rb b/random_menu.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0eda0f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/random_menu.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+# # create 3 arrays of ten items each
+#
+# adj_list = ["hot", "cold", "spicy", "crispy", "crunchy", "chewy", "soft", "hard", "buttery", "peppery"]
+#
+# style_list = ["boiled", "steamed", "grilled", "barbecued", "stir-fried", "fried", "poached", "raw", "pureed", "mashed"]
+#
+# food_list = ["dumplings", "rice", "chicken breast", "ceviche", "duck", "rack of lamb", "soup", "cake", "flan", "quiche"]
+
+# store all food info in a hash
+# starter lists so user doesn't have to input everything
+menu = { adjective: ["hot", "cold", "spicy", "crispy", "chewy"],
+         style: ["steamed", "grilled", "barbecued", "baked", "fried"],
+         food: ["dumplings", "rice", "ceviche", "duck breast", "lamb chop"] }
+
+# method that checks if given string input is an int
+def is_int(num_str)
+  if num_str.match(/\A-?(\d+)\Z/)
+    return true
+  else
+    return false
+  end
+end
+
+# method that prints out the contents of an array, one item per new line
+# each item in the array is a string
+def print_list(list)
+  list.each do |item|
+    puts item
+  end
+end
+
+# method that promps user to add item to item_type list
+# item_type is the name of the list (adj, style, food)
+def get_item(item_type)
+  menu = { adjective: ["hot", "cold", "spicy", "crispy", "chewy"],
+           style: ["steamed", "grilled", "barbecued", "baked", "fried"],
+           food: ["dumplings", "rice", "ceviche", "duck breast", "lamb chop"] }
+
+  puts "What #{item_type} would you like to add?\nHit ENTER or type 'none' to finish adding to list"
+  ans = gets.chomp.downcase
+
+  # while ans != none or empty string, add items to list
+  while ans != "none" && ans.length != 0
+
+    # check if already in list
+    if !menu[item_type.to_sym].include?(ans)
+      menu[item_type.to_sym] << ans
+      puts "#{ans.capitalize} added. What #{item_type} would you like to add?"
+      ans = gets.chomp.downcase
+
+    else
+      puts "#{ans.capitalize} already in list. What #{item_type} would you like to add?"
+      ans = gets.chomp.downcase
+    end
+  end
+
+  # return edited menu
+  return menu[item_type.to_sym]
+end
+
+puts "==== Menu Time ===="
+
+# get user input
+puts "This is the adjective list:"
+print_list(menu[:adjective])
+menu[:adjective] = get_item("adjective")
+
+puts "This is the cooking style list:"
+print_list(menu[:style])
+menu[:style] = get_item("style")
+
+puts "This is the food list:"
+print_list(menu[:food])
+menu[:food] = get_item("food")
+
+print "\nHow many items would you like to see? "
+
+num_items = gets.chomp
+
+# max num of possible menu items
+adj_list = menu[:adjective]
+style_list = menu[:style]
+food_list = menu[:food]
+
+max_items = [adj_list.length, style_list.length, food_list.length].min
+
+# check that input is valid
+until is_int(num_items) && num_items.to_i >= 1 && num_items.to_i <= max_items
+  print "Please pick a number between 1 and #{max_items}: "
+  num_items = gets.chomp
+end
+
+num_items = num_items.to_i
+
+puts "\nloading menu..."
+puts "\n"
+
+(1..num_items).each do |num|
+  # randomly select element from array & delete to avoid repeats
+  adj = adj_list[rand(adj_list.length)]
+  adj_list.delete(adj)
+
+  style = style_list[rand(style_list.length)]
+  style_list.delete(style)
+
+  food = food_list[rand(food_list.length)]
+  food_list.delete(food)
+
+  puts "#{num}.  #{adj} #{style} #{food}"
+end