The Story Behind the Writer

Ellie received her Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) designation in 2017, while attending James Madison University. Her passion for wine started through playful experimentation with unconventional food pairings (snacks on snacks), while working in the Virginia wine industry. Despite her wine expertise, Ellie's personal beverage preferences actually lean towards craft beer and cocktails. Beyond her professional pursuits, she loves comedy, pop culture, and music, always having a playlist ready for every occasion.

More Articles by Ellie

The Future of Flavor

Here are some ways to leverage key flavor predictions for ‘25 and beyond.

Batter Up

Whether you're serving a happy hour crowd, catering a large event, or feeding fans gathered to watch a big game, chicken tenders and wings are the MVPs of patio season.

Meat Your Match

With a variety of slice styles and flavors, dry sausage products are versatile, cost-effective, and elevate any dish — making pepperoni and salami standout options for any kitchen.

Green Beer, No Regrets

Even if your menu doesn’t feature year-round Irish eats, St. Patrick’s Day presents a golden opportunity to attract a crowd with themed promotions, festive decorations, and creative menu twists.

No Meat? No Problem! Lent Menu Ideas and Chef Q&A

Chef David McGurn tells us about all things meatless, including how Lent inspires innovation in menu planning.

LTOrganize

LTOs are powerful tools for driving traffic — the power lies in the planning.

The Sweet Life

From buttery croissants to savory quiches, this is a golden ticket to help boost sales and create a dining experience that leaves guests as excited as if they’ve just entered a famous chocolate factory.

Merry Meatballs

For breakfast, for dinner, for catering delights, this versatile dish saved all the busy nights. With labor-saving ease and flavors so fine, the meatball became this year’s holiday star to shine.

Monster Mashups

This season, we’re not just handing out candy, we're conjuring up monstrously good food mash-ups that promise to haunt your taste buds.

Vine Escalation

Read on for more info on how your tomato selection is essential to unlocking your menu’s potential.

How Do You Like Them Apples?

Whether it's sipping warm apple cider or indulging in caramel-dipped treats, the fall season and apples go hand-in-hand. Fall in love with the idea of adding apples to impact your dishes!

Sauce Studies

This autumn, it’s time to embrace back-to-school season like it’s the latest Taylor Swift album and jump on the hottest trends, while harnessing labor-saving initiatives that work close to college campuses.

Generation Crave

From casual eateries to upscale restaurants, shareable plates have become a culinary staple, shifting towards communal dining experiences and innovative flavor combinations.

Hail to the Pig

Align with barbecue and parade traditions and check out why pork is Uncle Sam-approved for your kitchen.

Taste the Grapeness

Now, pour a glass and read on for best pairing practices.

Host with the Most

Here are a few tips for flexing your private event capabilities.

Dr.’s Orders

Here are a few ways to elevate kids’ menus, inspired by the books on the shelf by Dr. Seuss himself.

Galentine to Shine

Galentine’s Day is a fun and lighthearted way to celebrate the importance of platonic friendships while saluting the support women have for one another.

Hot Shots

Here are some tips to enhance your food presentation for social media, inspiring your audience to dine in just by posting a photo!

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