John Tolley
School
University Of Memphis, DePaul University
Expertise
International Sandwiches, Southern Regional Cuisine, History Of Hot Dogs
- Having served and bartended in a slew of Chicago eateries, from gastropubs to trattorias, John can confidently tell you why a cask-conditioned, malty English lager would pair perfectly with wild boar ragu.
- John's food writing doesn't just cover the factual and historical, but can delve into the humorous and has been featured in McSweeney's Internet Tendency.
- Never one to back down from a challenge, John once found himself in a Ghost Pepper chicken wing eating contest with revered Chicago chef Dominique Tougne.
Experience
John Tolley has been a writer for the better part of two decades, contributing writing to sites as varied as McSweeney's Internet Tendency and the Big Ten Network. While he is happy to track down most any story, those that involve culinary history, the hospitality industry, and spirits particularly pique his interest. John is currently working on a book of Western Michigan cultural food exploration that chronicles curious regional oddities like the Wet Burrito and the Olive Burger. Prior to writing for Tasting Table, he ran the literary webzine "Girls with Insurance," where his popular series "Lunches" chronicled one man's quest to find the beauty in the mundane meals he ate while working in Chicago's Loop.
Education
A communications and creative writing major at DePaul University, John Tolley used the city as his classroom, exploring hidden nooks and crannies that spoke to its unique history, specifically as it relates to food and drink. He turned that into a series of columns for "The DePaulia" newspaper that shed light on the backstory of many famed near-campus eateries and how they came to be.
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 John Tolley
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Bobby's Burgers is Bobby Flay's love letter to patties and fries that serves up a host of burger styles and sides, including his labor-intensive fries.
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Breakfast sandwiches - be it a bacon, egg, and cheese or a sausage biscuit - are a great way to start the day. To kick it up a notch, add refried beans.
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Wine and cheese is a classic alcohol and cheese pairing - but it's just one of many options. Beer, cider, and spirits also pair well with various cheeses.
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While there are plenty of ways of going about adding chilis, and other forms of spice, to steaks, butter has some distinct advantages.
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Canned corned beef can be a fantastic, if not even, dare say, better, alternative to ground beef in a sweet and smoky sloppy Joe recipe.
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There are dishes found in American restaurants that most of think of as Italian food even if it's basically unheard of in Italy, and this is one of them.
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The sweet childhood treat never felt more adults-only than it does with the added creamy notes of caramel, vanilla, and woody undertones of this liqueur.
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These two dishes may sound and look nearly synonymous, but they are prepared with different methods that lead to individual flavors and textures.
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Quit the munching and use those flavor-packed snacks to kick up your next round of pork chops. Doritos, Fritos, BBQ potato chips - they're all fair game.
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It seems impossible for those who have traveled to Paris to identify a favorite, one so special that it stands out from the crowd. Not for Bobby Flay though.
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Many of us rely on our slow cookers for easy meal prep, but when it comes to beef tenderloin it's best to adhere to more traditional cooking methods.
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Bobby Flay opened his own French restaurant in Las Vegas' Caesar's Palace, Brasserie B, which he told Tasting Table about in a recent exclusive interview.
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A Chicago hot dog is strewn with enough crunchy vegetables and tangy sauces that it could make for a nice salad. In fact, it does. And you should give it a try.
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A beautiful Italian-inspired muffuletta sandwich packs in so many punchy flavors, it actually tastes even better the next day, when they've melded together.
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If you're looking for a way to upgrade your next batch of pork chops, consider marinating and glazing them with the easy yet complex combo of jam and mustard.
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For such a thick and rich end result, you may be surprised to find out that a thinner starting point is the way to go. We'll explain why that is.
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Anyone who has visited New Orleans has likely heard of the infamous tiki bar classic, the Hurricane, even if they never actually sipped on one.
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Find out which cut of chicken will give you an evenly thick schnitzel that's juicy on the inside and crisp on the outside, plus some tips on how to prep it.
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Ina Garten never competed against Bobby Flay on 'Beat Bobby Flay.' However, according to Flay himself, Garten has beaten him. Here's how.
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Canned clams offer a convenient way to make dishes like seafood linguine and chowder anywhere you live - but are you supposed to rinse them off first?
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If you're wondering what are the effects, what type or how much water to use, or just whether to do it in general, we've got answers from someone who knows.
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Though you might spring for a box of Barilla pasta, we generally advise you to avoid Barilla's marinara sauce for a number of different reasons.
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Laying drumsticks flat on a baking sheet means you'll be constantly opening the oven to turn them. We've got a better way that takes care of everything.
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For a sauce as robust and assertive as the classic Alfredo, maybe we need pasta with just as much backbone. That's where gnocchi steps in.
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While shopping for winter squash, you might find yourself wondering: What's the difference between those odd-shaped butternut squash and rounded acorn squash?
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At Bobby Flay's latest restaurant, one attention-grabbing new dish is named after his daughter, and the story behind it goes back to her childhood.
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McDonald's snack wraps haven't been around in almost a decade and while they were a fan favorite, they aren't likely to be a permanent menu item.