Publisher

I began writing about food what seems like an eternity ago now, right around the time that Eater and Grub Street were born, back in 2005. It was a foodie free for all, food writers like me launching blogs to wax rhapsodic about last night’s dinner, dishing on the hottest chefs and restaurants. We’d race to restaurant openings as if it was opening night on Broadway and try to beat each other to the punch. Me, I was inspired to create Restaurant Girl out of my own need for a young, passionate critic to identify with instead of some anonymous columnist sitting behind a computer. (I know. I’m not so young anymore, but I still have good taste!) Fast forward to 2007, I was hired as the chief Restaurant Critic for the New York Daily News, becoming the first non-anonymous critic in the country as well as the first blogger-cum-official-critic for a national newspaper. (Thankfully these days, everyone’s non-anonymous.) In June 2011, I wrote my first book, Try This: Traveling the Globe Without Leaving The Table, published by Harper Collins. Try This is a modern day guide to dining out — a cheat sheet to everything from British to Thai, Vietnamese, and everything in between. Hopefully, my book empowers readers to navigate any menu, cuisine, or circumstance they encounter at the dinner table. Try This has been featured in everything from The Wall Street Journal to US Weekly and Fox’s Good Day New York. I’m also a regular food expert for several publications and media outlets, including Dr. Oz, Food Network’s Unique Eats, and People Style Watch. A guest judge on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters Season Three, Food Network’s Iron Chef America and NBC’s The Chopping Block, I’ve also appeared as an expert on the Food Network’s Heavyweights, Alex’s Day Off, and Throwdown with Bobby Flay. Just recently, I served as a judge on Food Network’s Kitchen Casino, hosted by Bill Rancic, which premieres Monday, April 7th, at 9 pm. Over the years, I’ve gotten shout outs in various print and online publications, including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, the New York Post and New York Observer, Real Simple, Lucky, Oprah.com, Everyday with Rachael Ray, US Weekly, and Where to Dine. (Though some were nicer than others.)