Crawford Smith
Expertise
American Regional Cuisine, Food History, Fine Dining
- Crawford paid his dues working on the line at fine-dining restaurants in Austin, Texas, making Neapolitan pizza, tapas, charcuterie, and more.
- He writes a food blog that translates his restaurant expertise into recipes for enthusiastic home cooks.
- Crawford collects historical community cookbooks to study the history of American regional cuisine.
Experience
Since his childhood as a Food Network-obsessed home cook, Crawford has always known he wanted to work in food media. He cooked at some of Austin, Texas's top restaurants to hone his skills before transitioning to a writing career. He has worked as a blogger for The Hoth, and also maintains a personal website where he shares recipes and stories from his life.
Education
Crawford graduated from McGill University in Montreal, Canada with a B.A. in political science and a double minor in philosophy and religion. He wrote for McGill's newspaper and explored Montreal's rich local food culture during his time in 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 Crawford Smith
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Store-bought tortillas can be bland and boring, but there are several tricks to make them as hot, steamy, and tasty as the ones at your favorite taqueria.
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When adding flavors to add to Mexican dishes, sweetness can be low on the list when it shouldn't be. These sweet taco toppings will change your mind.
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Everyone loves a Philly cheesesteak. The next time you're in the city of brotherly love, try a fish cake dog, an endangered local delicacy that needs more love.
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Chef Rick Martinez shares his expert tips for making delicious tacos at home, including how to elevate lackluster winter tomatoes in your salsa.
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Rick Martinez, the chef, cooking show host, and James Beard Award winner, has only one unbreakable taco rule, and it's about how to properly eat them.
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Feeling nostalgic about the retro California Pizza Kitchen menu? Relish in the memory of these 12 discontinued items that are no longer available.
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There are plenty of ways to screw up your tacos, but fortunately, chef Rick Martinez is here to identify and help us avoid these common mistakes.
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Barbecue champ Melissa Cookston has a trick for getting the absolute juiciest meat. She says injecting your meat, rather than a brine, is her go-to method.
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How can Whataburger, the iconic fast food restaurant representing one of America's most spice-loving states, have such a glaring omission on its menu?
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We sampled the new Coca-Cola Ultimate (and were surprised by what we tasted) to deliver our take on the latest twist of this timeless formula.
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There's one myth about Memphis-style bbq that's nearly everywhere on the internet. Melissa Cookston really wishes you'd stop believing it.
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"Barbecue Showdown" judge Melissa Cookston dispels some commonly held smoking and grilling beliefs in an exclusive interview with Tasting Table.
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Kentucky is famous for bourbon and chicken, but there's so much more to the Bluegrass State. Here are some unique Kentucky foods that you need to try.
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Crystal Light has plenty of flavors to enhance your water, and our ranking will let you know which are worth pouring and which should you leave in the packet.
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When a recipe requires more savory deliciousness, the fifth taste is the answer. Stock your pantry with these items to up the umami in any dish.
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Prue Leith of "The Great British Bake Off" and "The Great American Baking Show" names Americans' unique ingredient contribution to the dessert world.
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From sweet spaghetti to lumpia to adobo, here are some essential Filipino foods you need to try at least once in your life, preferably in the Philippines.
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"The Great British Bake Off" judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith explained to Tasting Table how apple pie is different in the U.S. compared to the U.K.
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"The Great British Baking Show" judge Paul Hollywood shared his thoughts on the coronation dishes, and he was not a fan of the prawn tacos with pineapple salsa.
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Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith discussed judging on "The Great American Baking Show," their plans for the coronation of King Charles III, and more.
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The Coronation Quiche hasn't proven popular, but Prue Leith of "The Great American Baking Show" came to its defense.
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Next time you spark up the grill, think beyond meat and vegetables. Fire up these fruits, recommended by chef Abra Berens, for a sweet and smoky treat.
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While The Cheesecake Factory menu is much bigger since the chain opened in 1978, several original items failed to stand the test of time (some for good reason).
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Austin is a town known for its food scene, and if you're a taco lover, you're going to want to save room for every delicious offering our ranking has to offer.
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In an exclusive interview with Tasting Table, Cheesecake Factory executives discuss the restaurant's humble beginnings and original menu items.
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Before you toss out your fruit scraps, check out James Beard Award winner Tamar Adler's tips and tricks for making the most of those stems, pits, and peels.
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We teamed up with the founders of Slim & Husky's to create a list of the absolute best gourmet toppings to take your homemade pizza to the next level.