diff --git a/examples/commands.ipynb b/examples/commands.ipynb
index 5dd0a0b..f3a22c8 100644
--- a/examples/commands.ipynb
+++ b/examples/commands.ipynb
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@
    "cell_type": "markdown",
    "metadata": {},
    "source": [
-    "## Add the command to the [command palette](https://jupyterlab.readthedocs.io/en/latest/user/commands.html#command-palette)\n"
+    "### Add the command to the [command palette](https://jupyterlab.readthedocs.io/en/latest/user/commands.html#command-palette)\n"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
-    "t = app.main_menu.add_menu(\"🌈 MY CUSTOM MENU 🎌\")"
+    "t = app.menu.add_menu(\"🌈 MY CUSTOM MENU 🎌\")"
    ]
   },
   {
@@ -378,10 +378,10 @@
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
     "async def populate_menu():\n",
-    "    await menu.add_item(command=cmd)\n",
+    "    await menu.add_item(command=\"help:about\")\n",
     "    await menu.add_item(type=\"separator\")\n",
     "    ipylab.menu.MenuConnection.new_cid()\n",
-    "    submenu = await app.main_menu.create_menu(\"My submenu\")\n",
+    "    submenu = await app.menu.create_menu(\"My submenu\")\n",
     "    await submenu.add_item(command=\"notebook:create-console\")\n",
     "    await menu.add_item(submenu=submenu, type=\"submenu\")\n",
     "    await menu.add_item(command=\"logconsole:open\")\n",
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@
    "metadata": {},
    "outputs": [],
    "source": [
-    "t = app.main_menu.list_attributes(depth=3)"
+    "t = app.menu.list_attributes(depth=3)"
    ]
   },
   {
diff --git a/ipylab/jupyterfrontend.py b/ipylab/jupyterfrontend.py
index c5ecf5a..74e4ee2 100644
--- a/ipylab/jupyterfrontend.py
+++ b/ipylab/jupyterfrontend.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class JupyterFrontEnd(AsyncWidgetBase):
     file_dialog = Instance(FileDialog, (), read_only=True)
     shell = Instance(Shell, (), read_only=True)
     session_manager = Instance(SessionManager, (), read_only=True)
-    main_menu = Instance(MainMenu, ())
+    menu = Instance(MainMenu, ())
     notification = Instance(NotificationManager, ())
 
     @property
diff --git a/ipylab/menu.py b/ipylab/menu.py
index 95b1f7c..52a6f70 100644
--- a/ipylab/menu.py
+++ b/ipylab/menu.py
@@ -134,11 +134,12 @@ class MainMenu(AsyncWidgetBase):
     _all_menus: Container[tuple[MenuConnection, ...]] = TypedTuple(trait=Instance(MenuConnection))
 
     def add_menu(self, label: str, *, update=True, rank: int = 500) -> Task[MenuConnection]:
-        """Add a top level menu.
+        """Add a top level menu to the shell.
 
         ref: https://jupyterlab.readthedocs.io/en/4.0.x/api/classes/mainmenu.MainMenu.html#addMenu
         """
-        task = self.create_menu(label=label, rank=rank)
+        cid = MenuConnection.to_cid(label)
+        task = self._generate_menu(id=cid, label=label, cid=cid, rank=rank)
 
         async def add_menu():
             menu = await task
@@ -148,6 +149,7 @@ async def add_menu():
         return self.to_task(self._add_to_tuple_trait("menus", add_menu()))
 
     def create_menu(self, label: str, *, rank: int = 500) -> Task[MenuConnection]:
+        """Make a new unique menu, likely to be used as a submenu."""
         cid = MenuConnection.new_cid(label)
         return self._generate_menu(id=cid, label=label, cid=cid, rank=rank)