Stella Totino Title: Freelance Writer Education: Bennington College Location: NY, NY Stella is a former Pastry Chef turned food writer with years of experience testing and researching all things food. She is invested in discovering fun new flavors and the tools that help to create them. Stella is especially passionate about funky condiments, women and BIPOC-owned small brands, and any innovative new product that makes life in the home kitchen effortless and enjoyable. Experience Stella blends her academic background in literature with her deep love of food to work on stories near and dear to her heart. Sometimes her pieces look like a deep dive into what post-pandemic restaurants might look like (which you can find in EdibleLA), and other times as a roundup of the best matcha powders on the market right now (Food & Wine). She kicked off her career as a commerce writer on the Kitchn and Apartment Therapy where she worked to help home-cooks find a little more fun in cooking and cleaning and she has since freelanced for Food52, SheKnows Media, and Food & Wine. She thrives when able to write about brands she feel passionately about, whether that be the unique flavor profile of their product or their mission for sustainable production.Favorite Purchase:My donabe has to be my favorite item I've purchased. I use the traditional Japanese clay pot for everything from simple rice cooking (delicious, chewy, silky grains) to hotpots to stewed veggies. Its porous walls have gathered flavor and seasoning over my 5 years with it and its gorgeous enough to serve straight out of. Education BA (dual Literature and Fine Art) from Bennington CollegeCurrently working towards MA in Food Studies at NYU FoodSafe Certified About Food & Wine Food & Wine, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning online resource for anyone passionate about the culinary world. With rigorously tested recipes and the most trusted restaurant, drinks, culinary travel and home coverage, we inspire and empower people everywhere to discover, create, and devour the best in food and wine. Learn more about us and our editorial process.