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 Daily 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.
The Daily 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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In the Philippines, a beloved fast food mascot at Jollibee greets customers on packaging and through appearances. This is the story behind the iconic mascot.
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Cracker Barrel menu items have come and gone since it first opened its doors in 1969. But there's one customer favorite that seems to have disappeared forever.
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The way Coke and Pepsi products dominate the soda market, it's hard to remember novelty sodas that bubbled up then fizzed out. Do you recall Life Savers soda?
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When you've put the time and effort into baking and decorating a beautiful dessert, the last thing you want is for it to topple over on the drive.
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If you follow Ina Garten's recipes, you will come across the need for herbs. But when it comes to dried and fresh, there's a reason she has a preference.
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Fans of Shark Tank and foodies alike might remember the episode with Nature's Wild Berry. Here's what you need to know about where they are today.
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Pillsbury offers so many boxed cake mixes, including chocolate, strawberry, and Funfetti. But there's one discontinued flavor we probably won't see again.
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Do you remember Chef Boyardee's Spider-Man canned pasta? It was a fun lunch for many kids in the late '90s, but like a spider's web, it didn't last very long.
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McDonald's has been serving breakfast sausage for decades. But have you ever wondered what's in it? It turns out there are fewer ingredients than we thought.
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Sure, you can buy macaroni and cheese in a blue box, but did you know for many years, brand Franco-American sold macaroni and cheese in a brightly colored can?
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Krystal is a popular chain restaurant in the south, but customers want to know just how long they have to their breakfast orders in.
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Fish cakes might be the first thing that springs to mind when thinking about how to use up leftover fish. But another option is to make it into fish tacos.
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S'mores don't just belong around the campfire -- they can be a homemade dessert, in egg roll form. Follow these tips to ensure the ingredients stay inside.
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Would a Pop-Tart by any other name still be an American icon? Maybe, but we'll never know if Fruit Scones would've caught on in the pop-culture of the 1960s.
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Jack in the Box gets the concept of "brenner" -- breakfast for dinner. All locations serve all-day breakfast, because hankerings for hotcakes don't end at noon.
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When making ring donuts without a donut pan, there's an ingenious way to create the hole in the middle using something you likely already have in your kitchen.
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No, roasting grapes won't turn them into raisins. In fact, if you don't try roasted grapes you'll be missing out on seriously intensified flavor.
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Taking out the kitchen trash can be a messy job. We've found one of the best tips from TikTok on how to proactively make garbage day little easier.
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Burger King employees were in for a special treat when Snoop Dogg was featured in a training video for a new menu item. But how did that come to be?
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Dr Pepper has experimented with different flavors over the years, but one particular discontinued can will likely never hit grocery store shelves again.
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It turns out there are various factors that affect the shelf life of your leftover soup. There's also best practices when it comes to cooling it down.
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When you order wings from Wingstop, that usually means you have to ask for extra sauce on the side, which will typically cost you an extra $1.99.
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While this soda-flavored product is bound to catch your eye with its unique branding at the grocery store, you may end up disappointed with your purchase.
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When you're cooking steaks in your kitchen for a crowd, there's only one way to do it that'll save you on time and have them seared to perfection.
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Given his southern heritage and the many breakfast foods available, it may be surprising that Willie Nelson’s favorite breakfast is actually this simple staple.
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Although broccoli is easy to cook in a variety of methods nothing brings out the best flavor like roasting. Make it super crispy by altering it in this way.
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There are many ways to ensure your homemade pork chops come out crispy when using the air fryer. There is also one common mistake you should avoid.