Personal Essays
Our personal essays offer thoughtful perspectives on the roles that food, drink, cooking, and gathering over meals play in all of our lives.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/FallbackImage-b8642e5dcb4f405f8d092064d6ced594.png)
The Burrito That Tastes Like Home, Even When I’m 3,000 Miles Away
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20250806-SEA-ChickenPowderLoveLetter-AmandaSuarez-00-fbe130934bc24a9a849bb5e091dbbaa9.jpg)
My Mom's Secret Ingredient Makes Everything Taste Better
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20250728-InDefenseofBreadandButterPickles-AmandaSuarez-01-ca8240f74b684211b3a499a477020ebf.jpg)
Food Snobs Hate This American Classic—Here's Why They're Wrong
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20250623-SEA-esquites-mexican-street-corn-salad-recipe-loveletter-DianaStruga-c2d7582195d0437fa6c3311def272428.jpg)
The Easy Corn Salad I Make Every Summer
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20250711-OrangeWaterBlossom-VickyWasik-20180622-knafeh-vicky-wasik-tip-00-9b4f07cf1e5e4faf9d8cd97bb8160c65.jpg)
This Centuries-Old Ingredient Makes Almost Everything Taste Like Magic
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2021__02__20210208-Spaghetti-al-Tonno-sasha-marx-10-a0d3b3bd2892470883baa1fe0d3e9b46.jpg)
The Killer Pasta I Make When I Have No Time and No Plan
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20250707-SEA_Hardy_PeanutButterLoveLetter-5e3b22761b4a48ec8d9f66114315980c.jpg)
Natural Schmatural—This Is Why "Junky" Peanut Butter Is Better, According to a Pro Chef
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2016__07__20160610-blueberry-pie-vicky-wasik-2-e96b977e47fe4afe891469320e32528a.jpg)
The Only Blueberry Pie My Husband Will Eat
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20250627-SEA-ChineseEggTomato-LoveLetter-vicky-wasik-32-db0709980da84b148a340daf27734ed8.jpg)
The Comforting Chinese Dish My Mom Made When Life Got Busy
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__2013__12__20131212-miso-black-cod-5-d4565f6e05d14292a922e66ccac94665.jpg)
The 10-Minute, Restaurant-Worthy Dinner I Make Several Times a Month
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20250627-SEA-Passata-LoveLetter-VickyWasik-9ae8504deefd40aa9f0702154ac3df87.jpg)
The Genius Tomato Sauce Upgrade Italians Have Always Known About
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2015__11__20151120-ugly-food-001-667b15e1325241e3b93837871c18401d.jpg)
In Praise of Ugly Food
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20220511-CuttingOnions-Amanda-Suarez-_34-2a017b21b6ad46ea8b1a51a4b62e9b45.jpg)
Never Cry While Cutting Onions Again—This Science-Backed Trick Actually Works
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20240408-SEA-SumayyaEidCelebrationEssay-3b48ad7f16e245a3b41f514200173aec.jpg)
Reconnecting With Eid Traditions in a New Home
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20250617-SEA-LaBelle-PatrimioneLoveLetter-AmandaSuarez-6904a9fe23bd4c1b89be01dd5296281d.jpg)
This Is the Only Brand of Chicken I'll Ever Buy—It's That Good
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SEA-hangry-hero-44e70227225a4067b9f986b6f2a08878.jpg)
I Pitched "Hangry" for Dictionary Inclusion in 2003 and Was Rejected
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20240419-SEA-OdetoMatoz-Amanda-Suarez-25-51dcf476bbb1449a966f488456f98f7e.jpg)
A Love Letter to Matzo
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20240408-SEA-FastingForRamadan-5b19b48bd9dd45a19a4140ba967b7af7.jpg)
Why I Fasted For Ramadan This Year
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/LunarNewYearforSluts_final-e5e0f98ac1764664a5150621c7eebbfe.png)
This Is Not Your Grandmother’s Lunar New Year Party
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2014__10__20141022-candy-corn-vicky-wasik-5-a5b656872ed741af8387ab617c3b0a94.jpg)
Why Candy Corn Deserves Our Respect: An Appreciation
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2013__09__20130925-angry-live-music-3098f96e61884df3982e1e18645ae4d7.jpg)
Dear Restaurants: Please Stop Playing Live Music
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2014__07__20140701-spam-restaurants-spam-musubi-courtesy-of-spam-99ccc37d744e44fd83187094b3c3919a.jpg)
How Spam Won Over America's Restaurants
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2016__07__20160715-ghostbusters-twinkie-primary-eeff47fb1adb4b07988eca983942b191.jpg)
Calculating the Ghostbusters Twinkie Size In Real Life
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__newyork.seriouseats.com__images__20090401-30rock-sandwich-6e10c75b31b9452dbc895b97bbbb0b73.jpg)
30 Rock Secrets: Liz Lemon’s Favorite Sandwich Is From Fiore’s in Hoboken, NJ
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2019__06__20190614-yogurt-vicky-wasik-3-1500x1125-62ac707464ca42c89618e2b855e5e45e.jpg)
An Ode to Dahi
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/MothersDayDoughFeature-KristinaCloss-05062022-Hero-d205167381d5454aaa20d132c1983bbb.jpg)
Wisdom You Knead: What I Learned Baking With My Mother
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20200430-ramadan-food-spread-shutterstock-68846a902e4c4be3b30d115d3074528f.jpg)
When Family is Far, Food Offers a Sense of Belonging During Ramadan
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20210420-njahi-beans-coconut-sauce-vicky-wasik-3-fb5c12d6d5c74dec911b248c281ebd44.jpg)
The Njahi Wars: Behind Kenya's Controversial Black Bean
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2015__10__coffee-shutterstock_6571060-3001e65b73e841ffa1e2cd4663ef5de1.jpg)
The Case for Bad Coffee
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2019__10__20191023-chicken-adobo-vicky-wasik-19-12ce105a2e1a44dfb1e2673775118064.jpg)
I Grew Up Abroad. Do I Have a Cuisine?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2020__03__20200322-pasta-rants-sasha-aa063638f61a441581bfba717296965c.jpg)
Please, No: The Pasta Shapes We Won't Eat
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2018__12__20181219-medieval-times-eric-cash-7-3813cf2556c74b70ab2865423a488702.jpg)
Knights, Horses, and...Hummus? An Evening at Medieval Times
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2019__01__20181006-benihana-chef-b85fa7877de44fbe8ad3c51bc8244cea.jpg)
Easy, Peasy, Japanese-y: Benihana and the Question of Cultural Appropriation
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2020__06__20200617-whole-chicken-sho-spaeth-2-e50a9acff6704748898cfdbb8a28cca7.jpg)
Why I Only Buy Whole Chickens (and You Can, Too!)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2020__02__20200218-butter-chicken-vicky-wasik-37-ad21215c944e4a65b60a8a419d8abff3.jpg)
Butter Chicken: Even When It’s Bad, It’s Good!
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2020__09__McDonalds_Breakfast-Sandwiches-Hashed-f1ac693887a54acfafaecb47eaed4b39.jpg)
The 10-Minute Window for the Perfect McDonald’s Mash-Up
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2020__02__20200211-cup-noodles-vicky-wasik-3-2f0b82897f5e467589b2e7965105ef96.jpg)
We Pit Cup Noodles Against Cup Noodle and the Difference Is Real
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2015__02__20150218-ravioli-vicky-wasik-edit-9-051ce561c7cd46adb1868f6a77010b42.jpg)
What's Your Heartbreak Food?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2019__03__20190320-ramen-shack-final-vicky-wasik-3-c5bb74e9706a458baede07522fbb9ccf.jpg)
Saying Goodbye to the Most Exciting Ramen Restaurant in the Country
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2014__08__20140721-serving-pasta-carinaromano-8cdd1e125a794fe0b51084b3ed8a271f.jpg)
Friday Night Meatballs: How to Change Your Life With Pasta
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2019__09__20190916-Bones_Final-michelle-kondrich-eff91a292fc54f40b106863968c9484d.jpg)
How I Got My Toddler Interested in Food and Cooking
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2019__05__Downloads-3-539ee6b9cf454e7aa3661571c6e3b9db.jpg)
What Does Food Media Smell Like?: Diversity and the Beard Awards
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2019__07__Nassner_Accessibility_Final_SeriousEats_spot2-7f4a4605def5412ab7346d7e93a5648a.jpg)
How Cooking Websites Are Failing People With Disabilities
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2019__03__20190223-fire-safety-vicky-wasik-1-66012aab3565488cae8e895f0bcac9c0.jpg)
"Oh, @%#^": Our Most Embarrassing Kitchen Fails
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__drinks.seriouseats.com__images__20120528-iced-capp-primary-6f9e54d1c7dd4df2aa81ca73ee5c5e7b.jpg)
Please Stop Ordering Iced Cappuccinos
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2019__07__20190729-cookie-jars-tram-nguyen-810a360eb1e348b989193c90a4b78378.jpg)
Sweet, Memory: On the Subtle Magic of the Cookie Jar
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2019__12__daniels-fave-recipes-78d9315cbb7542c483900163f46bcb5a.jpg)
Daniel's Favorite Recipes of 2019
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2019__12__sashas-fave-recipes-29989131300e4a118712b469b30d3fdc.jpg)
Sasha's Favorite Recipes of 2019
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__20100817_manychilesLARGE-e5be77caa6f04ba69b9a31d36e03a6f6.jpg)
6 Ways to Build Your Spicy Food Tolerance
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2015__01__20150112-in-defense-of-imos-pizza-1-45302cb2202842a7976885ce77c6899a.jpg)
In Defense of St. Louis-Style Pizza
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2015__05__20150523-shanghai-streetfood-guotie-fionareilly-slide-14-e565f5be78774faab26498adc130a812.jpg)
Essential Shanghai Street Food: 14 Must-Eat Dishes
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2015__05__20150105-steak-bagna-cauda-gd-ead10b7e5c2f46c089a267f9ded0ad7f.jpg)
Facing Gestational Diabetes as a Food Lover
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2016__01__20160106-beans-vicky-wasik-1-a0dc8474c296464ab00848714950c746.jpg)
A Hill of Beans, and How I Cooked Them
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2020__07__20200715-studio-ghibli-Howls_BaconEggs1500-ebebd31467c24b89af81d18bc73f638e.jpg)
Miyazaki’s Magical Food: An Ode to Anime’s Best Cooking Scenes
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2017__01__20161101-chocolate-cream-pie-vicky-wasik-6-d2a0d47a03654fe780334fbc85715bea.jpg)
BraveTart's Ultimate Guide to Sous Vide Desserts
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2016__03__20160226-april-fools-portal-cake-vicky-wasik-1-0ed6f5c7d0b54cc88d3f7c3e00dfeb93.jpg)
We Made the Portal Cake: No Lie, It's Delicious
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__20120208-paulie-gee-vegan-pizza-2-7f3adbd3fdce429092b1e8ecf38d1d63.jpg)
Can Vegans Still Enjoy Pizza?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2008630DodgerDog-e00ab14e47404dc68d9faabb397b803c.jpg)
America's Regional Hot Dog Styles
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2017__08__20170811-chocolate-sprinkles-vicky-wasik-2-393bd2c8a5d24bcd97c0cca3d0714f80.jpg)
Where Have All the Chocolate Sprinkles Gone?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2017__01__20170123-mike-satinover-ramen-lord-kenny-oyama-1-d829d79346b247acb8a48b8bf513e4ad.jpg)
Obsessed: We Talk to Reddit's /u/Ramen_Lord
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__20120117-chickpeas-spinach-vegan-1-e44b25111e9342f4900d70c209ed8b09.jpg)
Top 10 Tips For a First-Time Vegan
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2015__05__20150324-San-Francisco-Bagels-04-b021320310b248e4bce1c7f306589190.jpg)
The Good Bagel Manifesto
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2012__03__20120211-191894-mexican-sandwiches-pelona-primary-6bc63e68cb4d4dff8cd809971bd66b13.jpg)
5 Sandwiches You Should Eat in Mexico
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2011__09__20110831-clambake-primary-c8feb6b8d8c04a67939cc82ae049c050.jpg)
How To Ruin (and Rescue) A Real New England Clambake