Annie Johnston
School
Empire Beauty School
Pittsburgh Career Institute
Expertise
Global Fusion Cuisine, Artistic Baking, Herbalism
- Annie, a multi-passionate creative and self-taught cook, has looked at cooking and baking as a form of art for as long as she can remember.
- She spends most of her freetime learning the properties and functions of ingredients popular around the world and then figures out unique ways to merge them.
- She once drove for over two hours just to check out a bakery that sold blood orange-poppy seed-matcha cupcakes.
Experience
While joining Static Media in 2022 was Annie's introduction into the world of professional writing, she has been passionate about crafting harmonic sentences and discovering captivating new words since was a child. Annie worked as an editor for Korean photography blog Humans of Seoul, and after landing a job at a high-end hair salon, she began managing and writing the company's sitewide newspaper. There, she reported hair trends, interviewed salon professionals, and learned valuable research skills.
Education
Annie received her license in cosmetology from the Empire School of Cosmetology in 2012. Although she loved her initial career path, Annie felt that she could help women in other ways that were more suited to her skillset. In 2018, she obtained a degree in diagnostic medical sonography from the Pittsburgh Career Institute, and from there took several writing courses through her local community college.
Tasting Table’s editorial coverage hails from a veteran group of writers and editors with expertise in their respective fields in the food and drink, hospitality, and agriculture industries. Outside experts are also consulted to help deliver factual, up-to-date information and original recipes.
We strive to publish knowledgeable, engaging articles to give readers the information they're looking for, whether that is the news of the day; cooking tips, tricks, and trends; or reviews and recommendations. In an effort to provide the most comprehensive, current, and accurate content, our team is constantly reviewing and updating articles as necessary. Click here for more information on our editorial process.
Stories By Annie Johnston
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Author F. Scott Fitzgerald was well known as a heavy drinker, and his cocktail of choice was the gin rickey, which you can enjoy with just three ingredients.
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If you've ever tried étouffée, a dish seen in Creole and Cajun cuisines, you've experienced a traditional French-American method of cooking called smothering.
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You'll be glad to know that as incredibly detailed and elaborate as the piped frosting may appear, there's often a fairly simple tip or trick behind the look.
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Cilantro livens up everything from soups to cocktails with its zesty, herbal flavor. But how do you select the freshest bunch at the store without tasting it?
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Food that can serve as a cooking vessel of its own is a huge win for simplicity and easy clean-up. Pumpkins definitely qualify and make spectacular dishes.
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Originally hailing from Montana, loose meat sandwiches, which are also called tavern sandwiches, are traditional in the Midwest and a famous Maid-Rite staple.
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The acidity in gazpacho can sometimes give off a bitterness. The quick fix? Simply add in a little bit of sugar to neutralize the acid.
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The juniper berry's piney flavor adapts nicely in conjunction with the heavier, smokier notes of chili, while the zest of citrus keeps things light.
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The result is a sweet and sugary cross between classic French toast and a crispy jelly doughnut, two standalones that merge to create something entirely new.
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Sure, the price tags aren't typically as hefty as a cocktail, but why not take the opportunity to elevate something as 'everyday' as a regular glass of Coke?
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To add a touch of sweetness to beef stew, look to two fall staple ingredients for the solution. Apple cider and cinnamon create an unbeatable depth of flavor.
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When it comes to indulgent treats like chocolate ganache, it's actually best to allow the mixture to sit at room temperature (covered) for seven to eight hours.
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In reality, restaurants put a lot of time, energy, and livelihood into every little detail that makes things run smoothly. Find out why you shouldn't no-show.
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There are certain dishes that work better in convection versus convention ovens, and one of those is not cake batter. Here's why you may want to avoid it.
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Among all the famously odd flavor combinations, this one tends to fly under the radar. However, chocolate and curry are enjoyed together across the word.
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This Hungarian soup is called "warming" for a reason. The traditional soup uses Hungary's favorite spice, paprika, to bring smokiness to this comforting dish.
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Together, walnuts and cranberries are an unstoppable, festive combination that balance the perfect amount of sweet with just a little bit of nutty and salty.
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Butter is not the monster we think it is as long as it's used in moderation, and herbs contain immeasurable health benefits while also providing endless flavor.
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Ina Garten recommends making a savory stuffing bread pudding casserole instead of stuffing the turkey with regular dressing. Here's why.
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Chocolate ganache is sure to be a crowd-pleasing addition to any dessert. But, if you're looking to really take it up a notch, try smoking it.
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Fish-shaped carp bread has long been a staple in Korea, but now it's making a splash in cities like Los Angeles and New York, where it's served in many forms.
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In Europe, which covers from Spain all the way to Ireland, the continent was introduced by Starbucks to something new in 2023: a hazelnut crunch hot chocolate.
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What's a great way to gauge the doneness of a baked good other than just eyeballing it? A meat thermometer. This trick ensures a perfectly done treat.
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There's one factor that should never be ignored when it comes to drinking wine, and that is the material that the glass is made from.
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Recipe developer Leah Maroney contends that using crushed crackers instead of bread crumbs can pack a whole new level of texture and buttery flavor to the dish.
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There are other speculations as to how Pittsburgh-style steak came about, but these days, it describes any steak with a very charred outside and a red inside.
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Known as zeppole, the Italian rendition of a beignet may look similar with its crisp outside buried in powdered sugar, but their composition is a bit different.