Kalea Martin
School
Mount Holyoke College, New York University
Expertise
TikTok Food Trends, Baking Science, Filipino & Italian Cuisine
- Growing up on a steady diet of afritada, pandesal, and mangoes with bagoong, Kalea has always had a passion for food and has shared her expertise in over 1,000 articles published across a variety of nationally distributed outlets.
- Her work has been featured on Betty Crocker and Shamrock Farms products, and in 2022 it earned her a nomination for Bake From Scratch Magazine's The Greatest Baker.
- Since 2020, Kalea has been developing recipes for the blog Fiction in the Kitchen, which became a cooking web series on Tastemade in 2023.
Experience
Kalea Martín began her writing career at LUXOS Magazine in Milan, Italy, where she covered international food and travel. When she moved back to the U.S., Kalea worked part time at HarperCollins Publishers' marketing department and a Manhattan bakery. Later she found a more permanent home at POPSUGAR, writing everything from Starbucks drink reviews to fitness tips. Though all of Kalea's published content falls under the lifestyle category, the majority of it highlights the latest food and cooking trends appearing primarily on Tasting Table, Mashed, and Today Meal. You can also find more of her writing in Better Homes & Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, and People.
Education
Kalea holds a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College, where she majored in romance languages/literature and studio art. As part of her undergraduate education, she studied Italian culture and cuisine while working and living in Milan and Venice. She also has a certificate in modern journalism from New York University.
Today Meal’s content comes from an authoritative editorial staff that is dedicated to current and comprehensive coverage. With an aim to provide only informative and engaging content, our writers, editors, and experts take care to craft clear and concise copy on all things food-related, from news in the food service industry to in-depth explainers about what’s found in readers’ refrigerators, original recipes from experienced chefs, and more.
Our team also regularly reviews and updates articles as necessary to ensure they are accurate. For more information on our editorial process, view our full policies page.
Stories By Kalea Martin
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Big Mac sauce is a favorite of McDonald's fans, but if you're looking for a store-bought replacement to enjoy at home, there's one brand to seek out.
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Cracker Barrel's menu refers to its iced tea as "freshly brewed." And according to TikTok videos posted by employees, there's truth in that claim.
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When it comes to frozen snack foods, the Mama Cozzi's line at Aldi makes pizza rolls that are meant to mimic Totino's. Fans, however, are on the fence.
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Wendy's has introduced and discontinued many of the items on its menus over the years, but there's one sandwich that can still be found on its secret menu.
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Though Cracker Barrel doesn't disclose the name of its family-run pasta supplier, there's enough evidence to suggest it might be a company called Zerega.
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Cracker Barrel might seem like every other chain restaurant, but it puts extra effort into finding ingredients with a level of care that might surprise you.
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Making your own pasta sauce is no easy feat. It takes a lot of patience, and a lot of trial and error. Adding molasses is a sweet way to upgrade your sauce.
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There are countless ways to upgrade your everyday salad and one of the easiest is using vanilla extract to enhance the flavor of your dressing.
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If you've been wondering whether or not the Italian-American restaurant chain relies on MSG to enhance the flavor of its food, the answer might surprise you.
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Although the restaurant's founder no longer bakes them herself, the recipe that gives The Cheesecake Factory its name has never changed since the beginning.
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Everyone loves Olive Garden's breadsticks and salad, but how about their lasagna? Find out what type of meat is featured in Olive Garden's lasagna sauce.
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Seasoning a cast-iron skillet isn't complicated. Any cooking oil will technically be able to season cast iron, but avocado oil creates the most durable finish.
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If you're staying home on Labor Day, there's a good chance going grocery shopping is in the cards. But you'll have to buy your food somewhere other than Costco.
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With the exceptions of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, the fast-food chain remains open for customers on all national holidays, including Labor Day.
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As condiments go, there are many different types of regional barbecue sauces. One is Alabama's legendary white sauce, which is a Southern gem.
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While milk tea is a delicious and refreshing beverage, it can cost quite a bit. However, there's a McDonald's hack that will net you some easy.
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Everyone loves the new classic soup, tortilla soup. Food Network celebrity chef, Bobby Flay shares his tips on how to elevate this soup with a classic dip.
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Edible cookie dough and cottage cheese have both made it big on TikTok. Cottage cheese cookie dough is just a natural extension of their popularity.
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It is always disappointing when a favorite snack disappears from store shelves. Here's what happened to sour cream and onion Doritos, which were discontinued.
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Once you learn about the unique Ikea food that celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern purchases compulsively, you'll want him to leave some for everyone else.
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Even though butter is commonly used in place of egg wash, it's made up primarily of fat and contains little protein, so it's not the most effective at browning.
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Have you ever wondered what type of cheese Olive Garden grates over its pasta? It may or may not be real deal Parmesan, but if not, then what is it?
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The more fat is present, the more effectively your potatoes will brown. Oil and butter can easily accomplish this, but mayonnaise can do it better.
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Sonic is known for its extensive list of beverages. One of the most popular options is Ocean Water. But what exactly is that flavor that’s such a fan favorite?
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For a guacamole above all others, you'll want to break out your blender. Before you do, however, you need to be careful about how you use it.
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Sometimes, homemade tomato sauce can turn out bland. If it's brightness you want to add to your sauce, fennel is the ingredient you should go with.
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When you've got a batch of caramel that's a bit too saccharine, there's one sour ingredient in particular that you should use to help balance things out.