Location
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
School
University of King's College, Halifax, Nova Scotia (2012), Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia (2007)
Expertise
Cooking with Local Ingredients, Exploring Local Dining Scenes, Foodie Destinations
- Laura is the senior feature writer for the only dedicated food and drink print magazine in her region, Curated Magazine.
- She got into food writing and editing by starting a (now-defunct) blog in 2009 called Halifood, which she ran for seven years.
- She's worked in social media marketing for the restaurant and hospitality industry for over a decade.
Experience
Laura has worked professionally as a food writer and editor for over a decade, mostly contributing to websites and print magazines. At the same time, she was a marketing professional for restaurant and hotel clients. Laura has also worked as a freelance copywriter for various industries, but food is truly her passion.
Education
Laura earned degrees in both hospitality and tourism management, and journalism.
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.
-
Fast Food
By Laura Oakley
A once-popular restaurant chain famous for unlimited cheese sauce and its fast burgers has dwindled to just a fraction of its former locations.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Cooking Tips
By Laura Oakley
Keeping corn on the cob warm without drying it out can be tricky, but one chef-approved method helps preserve the side dish's flavor and texture.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Fast Food
By Laura Oakley
One restaurant chain’s fish and chips fell flat in our taste test, missing the mark on flavor, texture, and overall quality, yet one menu item may save dinner.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Fast Food
By Laura Oakley
Subway’s meatballs have sparked debate after customers noticed a possible size change, raising questions online about what’s really going on.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Cooking Tips
By Laura Oakley
Perfectly grilled asparagus is all about timing and not overcooking, giving you tender spears with just the right amount of smoky char and bite.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Fast Food
By Laura Oakley
Shake Shack’s drive-thru approach is designed to keep food tasting fresher and more flavorful so that it aligns with the chain's quality standards.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Trader Joe's
By Laura Oakley
One Trader Joe’s mini sheet cake stands out as the best with a warm spiced flavor and rich texture that makes it a must-try dessert option next time.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Shopping Tips
By Laura Oakley
A certain type made our round-up of the 6 hands-down best grocery store cupcakes, according to customers. The sweet treats in question?
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
World Cuisines
By Laura Oakley
Rick Steves shares an easy travel insight about Italy and how locals enjoy food experiences that can help you eat well while spending less in Europe.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Not all rotisserie chicken is worth taking home. Learn the red flag to watch for so you don’t end up with a questionable, disappointing bird.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Food Facts
By Laura Oakley
The next time you want to make ribs, be sure to avoid this particular cut that a pitmaster said will almost always result in tough, chewy meat.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Cooking Tips
By Laura Oakley
Whip up some delicious tartar sauce in minutes using just two ingredients, one of which is a zesty mustard that really complements everything you add it to.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Shopping Tips
By Laura Oakley
While none of the bettergoods options were found to be insultingly bad, one of them still had to come in last. And that was this pizza option.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Wegmans certainly isn't the most affordable grocery store in the U.S., but if you're shopping there on a budget, this is the one aisle to avoid.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Aldi is known and loved for being one of the most affordable grocery stores in the U.S. — however, even some of its products have fell victim to shrinkflation.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Shopping Tips
By Laura Oakley
When our reviewer taste-tested nine spicy snacks at Trader Joe's, they fell hard for this snack, which ranked at the very top.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Shopping Tips
By Laura Oakley
To help you choose the best bites for your breakfast, we ranked 11 store-bought egg bites.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Food History
By Laura Oakley
Over the years, Pizza Hut has come up with some crazy limited-edition creations, but perhaps none as wild as this Australian item.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Shopping Tips
By Laura Oakley
Farmers market etiquette is one thing, but efficiency and safety are another, and going without this one often forgotten essential puts all three at risk.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Shopping Tips
By Laura Oakley
Tasting Table tasted and ranked 13 different varieties of Kraft mac and cheese -- from Thick 'n Creamy to Jalapeño to Ranch.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Cooking Tips
By Laura Oakley
Prime rib can be a showstopping centerpiece on your dinner table, but you would be creating one heck of a faux pas if you serve it with condiments.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Shopping Tips
By Laura Oakley
If you've ever wondered why grapes are sold in such large quantities and whether or not you can just grab what you need, we've got you covered.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Cooking Tips
By Laura Oakley
You might be looking for a way to make this delicious side dish a little more interesting. May we introduce: the bloomin' baked potato.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Cooking Tips
By Laura Oakley
The trick to a crisp, tender, and evenly cooked steak is easier than you'd think. Here's how Gordon Ramsay sears each side of a decadent filet mignon.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
Fast Food
By Laura Oakley
Most of us have have opinions on which fast food chain serves up the best burgers, but if you're looking just at beef quality, we weigh up these two giants.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
A splash of tequila in your creamy chowder might not sound like the best idea, but when you think about it, this variety is practically meant for it.
By Laura Oakley
Read More
-
If the tastes amongst your guests are mixed, you're better off having a classic cheese and meat charcuterie board, with this ingredient added into the mix.
By Laura Oakley
Read More