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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Cacio e pepe is an Italian pasta staple. But Giada De Laurentiis turns it into a brunch dish at her restaurant. Here's how to make her cacio e pepe eggs.
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Despite the fact that they're technically a side item, Cracker Barrel refuses to sacrifice the quality of a Southern staple; its mashed potatoes are made fresh.
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The brown bread at The Cheesecake Factory is iconic. Here's what to know in case you've ever wondered whether or not it was available in unlimited quantities.
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Have you ever wondered whether the Olive Garden dressing served at the restaurants is the same as what you can buy in stores? The answer might surprise you.
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While he has no trouble making other desserts, Andrew Zimmern has admitted that homemade macarons and croissants tend to give him a tough time.
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The special component that makes McDonald's apple pie truly tasty is one that's both intensely flavorful and good for you. So just what exactly is it?
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If you like potato frittatas or are a fan of eating eggs alongside home fries, you'll want to try adding chips the next time you make scrambled eggs.
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When you're looking for the absolute best quick fix to feed your McDonald's craving, look no further than the Big Mac salad. Here's how it's made.
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If you’re craving cookies, you might preheat the oven and grab a baking sheet. But why not give the stovetop a try the next time you’re in a cookie mood?
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What happens when a candy becomes the subject of controversy? That's what happened to the discontinued Pop Rocks knock-off with an unfortunate name.
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Nestlé crafted an out-there commercial in 1986 to support its Alpine White white chocolate bar. Alpine White eventually vanished, but the ad lives on.
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When you're trying to make your veggie burgers have a more believable meat-like texture, there's one ingredient in particular that you need to use.
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If you're trying to make a perfect recreation of Olive Garden's bolognese sauce, there's one crucial step that you absolutely must not skip.
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The ratio of creme to cookie was still the same, but the diameter was nearly twice that of a regular Oreo, making them about the size of your palm.
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Some people like to sneak vegetables into desserts for extra nutrition, but zucchini is also the secret ingredient for moister brownies, too.
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Despite being a hit in the 1990s, the Taco Bell-branded Lunchables offerings didn't end up becoming a permanent part of the Taco Bell grocery line.
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After about three years of selling them, Planters phased out PB Crisps in 1995. Since then, they have yet to make a return, to the disappointment of many.
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Adding a sweet twist to your morning breakfast sandwiches might just be what you need. Making pancake bread is simple enough and can be a game-changer.
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If you're a fan of McDonald's breakfast, you may be happy to hear about the return of a fan favorite. But only if you live in one of these U.S. cities.
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Kellogg's has released so many Pop-Tarts flavors over the years, like the discontinued Strawberry Cheese Danish variety that was prematurely discontinued.
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Were you aware that McDonald's, famous for its enigmatic Grimace Shake, currently still sells spaghetti? You can get some right now. Here's how.
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It's not every day that you see premium seafood on a fast food menu, and there's a good reason why McDonald's was able to afford selling a lobster roll.
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Despite bolstering a huge menu, The Cheesecake Factory actually makes almost everything fresh. The one thing it doesn't? The restaurant's namesake: cheesecake.
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Olive Garden's iconic breadsticks are a big part of the chain's dining experience - they're unlimited, after all. Here's the simple secret to making them.
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If you're looking to Live Más on a budget, there's a simple but clever way to hack a Taco Bell burrito in order to make it an even better deal.
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There is no question that pizza rolls are a frozen food aisle classic. If you're looking to easily upgrade them, TikTok's got you covered with a garlicky hack.
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Don't be confused when a baking recipe calls for mixing the batter to ribbon stage. With these simple tips you'll know exactly when you've reached this point.