School
University of Western Ontario
Expertise
Comfort food, Budget meals, Creative recipe ideas
- Ian has has worked as a cook in several restaurants, ranging from fine dining to roadhouse to an old-fashioned diner.
- He has developed many of his own recipes with unique twists, including a number of horror-themed recipes for an intended movie-inspired cookbook.
- He has been cooking since he was a child when he learned the value of being frugal, stretching a budget and ingredients to make a lot from a little, while never having to skimp on taste.
Experience
Ian is a professional writer with over 17 years experience. He also went to culinary school and has spent time developing and testing new recipe ideas. Some of his work has also delved into trying new, rare, and even intimidating foods like ghost peppers in pursuit of an interesting story and a fresh perspective. As a writer, Ian has covered food from several perspectives ranging from simple reviews of new products to the more in-depth science of things like GMOs, how chemicals create certain flavors, and more. He doesn't just enjoy the food -- it's also understanding what makes it interesting and unique in the first place, whether that be history, chemistry, or something else.
Education
Ian earned a degree in English and Philosophy before moving on to a post-graduate Communications and Public Relations program
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.
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If you take a trip to Idaho in the spring or summer months, keep your eyes peeled for this sweet and earthy native ingredient that can liven up many dishes.
By Ian Fortey
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You've probably heard about free drinks at casinos and are wondering how many you can expect next time you hit the slots. The answer is complicated.
By Ian Fortey
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Food History
By Ian Fortey
Meals, Ready-to-Eat are methodically thought out and packaged to feed soldiers on the battlefield. These are the foods in the very first U.S. MREs.
By Ian Fortey
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Food History
By Ian Fortey
This mostly forgotten cola was a pioneer in the industry. Now it’s hardly on shelves in the U.S., though it enjoys popularity in other countries.
By Ian Fortey
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Non-Alcoholic
By Ian Fortey
Coca-Cola isn't known as a healthy drink today, but it was actually created to be used medicinally. And some say it can cure a particular medical ailment.
By Ian Fortey
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There's one Asian country that eats more lamb and goat than any other nation in the world — and more than the next three countries combined.
By Ian Fortey
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Casual Dining
By Ian Fortey
Is most of the seafood at Red Lobster fresh or frozen? We know the lobster is fresh, but what about the other menu items? Here's what you should know.
By Ian Fortey
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Saffron is known to be expensive, but it should be good quality for the price. But customers are underwhelmed by the flavor of Costco's 1-gram jar offering.
By Ian Fortey
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Many writers are known for their favorite drink. Oscar Wilde's drink of choice not only influenced many writers, but was once associated with hallucinations.
By Ian Fortey
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Food History
By Ian Fortey
One of the most beloved hard candies out there got its start as a small family-owned ice cream shop in Colorado. Now, it's a worldwide sensation.
By Ian Fortey
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Cooking Tips
By Ian Fortey
Making Nerds Clusters at home doesn't seem that easy, but leave it to TikTok to come up with a way to DIY them that only requires three ingredients.
By Ian Fortey
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Cooking Tips
By Ian Fortey
If you'd like to elevate the taste, texture, and even the appearance of your hot dog, take inspiration from another classic dish: grilled cheese.
By Ian Fortey
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The next time you bite into a pepper and get a nice kick of spice, you might be interested to know that this heat is linked to the vegetable's period.
By Ian Fortey
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Baking Tips
By Ian Fortey
Peanut butter pie is a classic, but if you're making it yourself at home, is it better to go with crunchy peanut butter or smooth peanut butter?
By Ian Fortey
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You might think that a raised bed garden is as good a place to grow berries as any other, but you would be wrong. Here's why you should plant elsewhere.
By Ian Fortey
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If you find wish your microwave could do more, then a combination microwave with convection, steamer, or air fry options might sound too good to be true.
By Ian Fortey
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Panera Bread's flatbread pizza debuted in 2020 but disappeared from its menu in 2024. Find out what happened to the item.
By Ian Fortey
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When you first get into gardening, it's easy to get carried away with all manner of tools. However, this Japanese knife takes the place of several tools.
By Ian Fortey
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Food History
By Ian Fortey
If you check out vintage Coke bottles on eBay, you can find listings that range from a few dollars to quite a lot.
By Ian Fortey
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We love our mac and cheese in the U.S., but there's one country that has us beat in terms of consumption.
By Ian Fortey
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The majority of people store their peanut butter in the pantry. But that's not always the right method. What does Kirkland Signature's peanut butter require?
By Ian Fortey
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The country is the birthplace of popular confections like gummy bears, and legend has it that the candy cane was invented there in 1670.
By Ian Fortey
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Coffee and Tea
By Ian Fortey
A study from the Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology determined that up to 400 mg of caffeine per day was safe for most. How many shots of espresso is that?
By Ian Fortey
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Shopping Tips
By Ian Fortey
You're going to have to bring a friend to Aldi UK to help carry items or limit yourself to the bare essentials, especially if you're used to filling a cart.
By Ian Fortey
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Food History
By Ian Fortey
This company is the oldest brand still mass-produced and has come to dominate the market with not only pizzas and pizza bites, but breakfast bites and ramen.
By Ian Fortey
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You can keep a bottle of whiskey on your shelf for years, but something with cream in it like Kirkland's Irish Cream should be refrigerated, right?
By Ian Fortey
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Food History
By Ian Fortey
The McDonald's spoon came with every coffee and was meant for stirring. It was branded on the end of the handle with the golden arches.
By Ian Fortey
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