Matthew Spina
School
University Of Pittsburgh, Loyola University Chicago
Expertise
Home Cooking, Baking, Food Culture
- An experienced digital media writer, when he's not behind a keyboard Matt can be found obsessively hunting down the best street food or at the farmer's market grabbing the freshest fruit for his latest baking challenge.
- A passionate home cook and baker for over 15 years, Matt believes strongly in the power of good food to bring people together and support a healthy and happy life.
- In addition to his experience in the kitchen, Matt has studied and written about the larger-scale impacts of food on culture, the environment, sustainability, and history.
Experience
A longtime writer and editor Matt's work has spent nearly a decade working in digital media. He spent seven years writing comedy and satire for The Onion and has done food writing for Thrillist. His work has often centered on the politics and culture of food in the United States, with a focus on the impact of fast food, the historical origins of different dishes, and the importance of home cooking. Prior to his work in digital media, he worked as a kitchen assistant in a bakery.
Education
Matt has a master's degree in history from Loyola University Chicago and attended University of Pittsburgh as an undergraduate. He studied the social and cultural development of the early United States, including the impacts of immigration, cultural exchange, and geography on the nation's cuisine.
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 Matthew Spina
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If you're want advice on how to properly make a pastry dough, you'll want to listen to what Paul Hollywood from "The Great British Bake Off" has to say.
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A pot of simmering soup is the ultimate symbol of comfort food, but you don't get that perfect homey flavor without layering your ingredients.
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You worked so hard to get your fickle sourdough starter just right; it would be heartbreaking if you then accidentally stored it in the wrong kind of container.
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Spring is fast approaching, and along with it comes four new Starbucks cups featuring pastel hues, colorful tie-die patterns, and wavy, beach-inspired designs.
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Panera has announced its biggest menu overhaul yet, and will be premiering nine new menu items alongside revamped versions of its classics on April 4, 2024.
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Miso is something of a wonder ingredient. The umami paste can even transform those broccoli stems that were destined for the trash into a delicious snack!
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Not all parmesans are created equally, and there's a huge difference between cheeses labeled as parmesan vs. ones labeled as Parmigiano-Reggiano.
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It's time to stop thinking about pickles as a quick snack or a burger topping only. Pickles are far more versatile than many give them credit for.
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You might already be familiar with the concept of a roux, but do you know what a beurre manie is? From a distance, the two sound the same, but they are not.
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From tongue-torching to totally tame, the Mashed Bros tried & ranked 10 hot sauces for heat, taste, & design. Only one had a perfect balance of flavor & spice.
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The "Love Is Blind" season six finale is coming up on March 6, and fans are looking for the show's now-infamous gold wine glasses. Luckily, you can buy them!
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If you enjoy making Korean dishes at home, you can take them and plenty of other dishes to the next level with a custom vinaigrette made from gochujang.
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When making meat sauce, you have a lot of options. However, if you want to make the absolute best sauce possible, you can't outdo the Holy Trinity combination.
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Clams are tasty, but cooking with them can be quite laborious. Next time you're whipping up some linguine with clams opt for the canned variety.
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The array of flavors available at U.S. Starbucks locations represents only a sliver of the full range of flavors offered by international Starbucks locations.
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The choices available in canned sardines can be overwhelming once you start looking into brands. Find out why the best are packed in extra virgin olive oil.
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Elotes - grilled corn with mayo, herbs, chile powder, lime juice, and cotija - is the ultimate way to eat corn on the cob, and it works thanks to mayonnaise.
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Do good things always come in threes? Probably not according to your wallet if you like Texas Roadhouse. The restaurant chain is raising prices a third time.
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The Macallan has released plenty of collection-worthy bottles over the years, but its latest whisky has the added allure of celebrating nature.
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If you're into surprising business partnerships, you'll love this mix of old and new coming together for an updated take on the classic penna alla vodka.
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If you loved Cocoa Puffs cereal growing up, you'll probably want to try the Starbucks secret menu Latte or Frappuccino version of this breakfast classic.
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You don't want to spend the time to bake a full cake or hundreds of cookies. That's why Crumbl has your back with two new cookies for this year's Super Bowl.
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David Chang of Momofuku fame is making waves in the sports concessions scene and bringing his more casual Fuku chicken chain to the 2024 super bowl.
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Consider how you make and eat a burger and that qualities that make a steak good aren't always going to be the same as what will make great ground beef.
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It's game time, but that doesn't mean you have to find yourself stuck drinking cheap beer and snacking on everything fried. It's time to spruce things up.
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As part of the larger Rizo-López Foods cheese and dairy recall, Trader Joe's has issued its own recall for four of its products that include Cotija cheese.
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Red Lobster's limited-time promotion, Lobsterfest, is back for 2024, with five new dishes and three new cocktails, including an indulgent espresso martini.