Taylor Tobin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Author/Co-Author of 131 articles
Taylor Tobin is a freelance food, drink, and lifestyle writer based in Brooklyn. She's contributed content to publications like Insider, HuffPost, Eater, Observer, Apartment Therapy, Wine Enthusiast, and Elite Daily. She loves bikes, books, and bourbon (not necessarily in that order), and her go-to cocktail is the Old Fashioned. Please reach out to The Manual editorial staff with any questions or comments about Taylor’s work.
How to make your own hot honey at home (so you can add it to your food and drinks)
"Hot honey" refers to an infusion of hot peppers (either fresh or dried) added to honey (either pasteurized or raw). Find out how to make your own.
How to cook with rosé wine, according to chefs
According to our expert sources, rosé has just as much relevance as a cooking wine as its red and white counterparts.
9 perfect scotches to sip on warm days
There’s no reason to abandon your Scotch preference on warm summer days, especially because numerous distilleries make lighter expressions.
10 refreshing summer dishes featuring white beans
For a simple and versatile protein that won’t weigh you down, beans make a worthy addition to any summertime shopping list for easy-to-follow recipes.
The 6 Best Pumpkin Coffee Beers You Need to Find Right Now
A boozy take on pumpkin spice lattes, we round up the best pumpkin coffee beers to drink this season and beyond.
How to Turn Your Backyard Into a Bocce Bar
Maximize the beautiful spring and summer weather by building your own bocce setup, as long as you have a reasonably flat lawn and a bit of determination.
How to Pair Wine With Weed
Since marijuana can now be enjoyed out in the open (in certain states, at least), figuring out how to combine cannabis with different foods and beverages is an exciting challenge for hospitality professionals ... and for ambitious home entertainers, too.
Pisco Cocktails are the Refreshing Balm You Need for the Dog Days of Summer
Pisco, a brandy from Chile and Peru, is the perfect cocktail ingredient for summer. Here's why you should pick some up and what to do with it.
10 U.S.-Based Hispanic Chefs You Need To Know
A comprehensive list of every notable Hispanic chef would cover dozens of pages and we acknowledge that we’re hardly scraping the surface.
The Biggest Dining Trends to Watch in 2022, According to the Pros
We asked 10 chefs and restaurateurs participating to share the most promising dining trends of 2022.
10 Beverage Trends That Bartenders Are Happy to Leave In 2022
You know what they say (and by “they,” we mean “professional bartenders and amateur cocktail nerds like us”): New year, new beverage trends. As we head into 2021, we find ourselves remembering the most hyped-up drinking fads of 2022 and wondering which are worth carrying into the future
Best Savory Dishes To Make With Pumpkin, According To Chefs
Chefs offer their favorite pumpkin-based soups, entrees, and savory dishes for fall.
The 11 Best New Summer Beers for 2022
Summer 2022 is already shaping up to be an eventful season, and even in the large-scale absence of beach fêtes, block parties, and street festivals, we’ll find plenty of opportunities to crack open a cold one.
Meet Tinto de Verano, Spain’s Favorite Summer Beverage
'Tinto de verano' translates to 'red wine of summer,' and this fitting name comes from its area of origin: the southern coast of Spain.
Start Your Day the Texan Way With Breakfast Tacos
These hand-held treats offer Texans an excellent reason to wake up. We asked Austin chefs to weigh in on the importance of breakfast tacos.
A Guide to Understanding Mezcal de Pechuga
Mezcal often garners comparisons to Scotch whisky, and this agave spirit is popular throughout the U.S. and all over the world.
It’s Time to Start Drinking White Russians Again
One cocktail with major pop culture cache is still waiting for today’s cocktail world to welcome it back with open arms: The White Russian.
This German Wine Punch Is Sweet, Herbaceous, and Super-Refreshing
If you focus your attention a little farther north in Europe, you’ll discover a fruit-forward and herbaceous white wine punch that’s crisp and light enough for even the hottest July afternoons.
It’s Time to Take Moonshine Seriously
Whatever your preconceived notions of the spirit known colloquially as "moonshine," it's time to set them aside and give it a try (again). It isn't just for hillbillies in stereotyped cartoons. "Moonshine" is a real spirit with real potential.
Swap Out Your Eggnog for Milk Punch This Holiday Season
If you’re on the hunt for a comforting holiday-season cocktail with egg nog’s flavor benefits but without its heaviness, we’d like to direct your attention to milk punch, a vintage beverage (dating back as far as the 17th and 18th centuries) that’s ideal for entertaining.
Everything You Need To Know About Heirloom Tomatoes
What sets heirloom tomatoes apart from their mass-market equivalents? Our curiosity led us to consult both professional gardeners and chefs to get the full scoop.
Budino Is Italian For Pudding, and It’s Amazing
Pudding doesn’t often get much respect in the fancy-desserts arena ... but budino should.
You Can Sous Vide Your Cocktails. Here’s How.
The sous vide machine proves an especially apt example of this shift, since very few non-professional cooks made use of this tool up until a few short years ago. Sous vide machines allow users to put ingredients into sealed plastic vessels and then submerge them in warm water to cook.
Everything You Need To Know About Whoopie Pies
Whoopie pies are essentially the Oreo’s lesser-known but superior cousin. Here's a recipe to make your own at home.
End Your Week The Italian-American Way With Proper Sunday Gravy
The crown jewel of Italian-American cooking comes in the form of “Sunday gravy,” a valued weekly tradition for plenty of families across the United States, but one that often confuses those who didn’t grow up with it simmering on the stove.
What Exactly Is A Jammy Egg?
What exactly is a “jammy” egg? Contestants and judges on the Food Network love this adjective, but what sets a jammy egg apart from a typical soft-boiled version?
The International and Regional Cuisines Poised for a Takeover in 2022
Regional dishes are expected to grow in popularity in 2022. Chefs and restaurateurs name a few that we would be wise to watch for.
How To Make A Perfect Spiked Milkshake in 2022
Spirited shakes are a pretty common sight on restaurant dessert lists, but they’re also easy to re-create at home, as long as you have the right resources.
The 10 Best Whiskies for Irish Coffee This 2022
Want to take your Irish coffee to the next level this 2022? To get you started, we asked bartenders for their picks for the best whiskey for Irish coffee
The Essential Guide to Cocktail Sweeteners
Bartenders give advice for picking high-quality sweeteners and about which versions don’t merit a spot on your at-home bar cart.
How to Turn Astronaut Ice Cream Into a Grown-Up Dessert
A legendary treat among '90s kids,, the foil-wrapped blocks of magic known as astronaut ice cream were the ultimate special occasion during our childhoods.
Why Processed Cheese Doesn’t Need To Be A Guilty Pleasure
Processed cheese products get a lot of hate from gourmands, but I’m willing to go on record with the following statement: In the right context, processed cheese is a powerful force.
7 Maple Cocktails to Enjoy This 2021
The comforting, nostalgia-inducing flavor of maple becomes especially appealing on a hot day. Here are the 7 maple cocktails, all approved by bartenders.
For a Grown-Up Spin on a Slushy, Try A Mangoneada
Mangoneada, also known as chamango or mangonada, is a Mexican dessert-cum-cocktail that is fresh, vibrant, and perfect. Here's how to make it.
7 Easy Cornbread Recipes for Your Next Cookout
As one of the most essential elements of a well-conceived barbecue spread, cornbread manages to serve several useful functions: It’s a carb sponge (and more)!
10 Must-Read Cookbooks by Black Chefs
Whether you're looking for soul or southern, vegan or baked goods, this list of the top cookbooks written by Black chefs will be able to help you out.
9 Delicious Punch Recipes By Adults, For Adults
It's time to let go of childish ways and childish punch recipes. Here are 9 punch recipes from professionals that won't make you feel you're at a keg party.
The 10 Best Spirits For Old Fashioneds, According To Bartenders
We asked 10 bartenders for their top Old Fashioned spirits recommendations, and they provided a broad range of suggestions to suit every taste and preference.
The Best Spirits For Bloody Marys, According To Bartenders
The Bloody Mary’s iconic status as a brunch menu fixture is a testament to its bold flavors ... in addition to its hangover-defeating properties.
The 12 Best Spirits For Gimlets, According To Bartenders
Like most classic cocktails, this drink benefits from a bit of creativity and an open-minded attitude.
The Best Spirits and Cheese Pairings According to the Experts
Wine and cheese is a given, so is beer and cheese these days ... but cheese and spirits? We sat down with cheesemakers, distillers, bartenders, and more to see their favorite spirit and cheese pairings and find out why they work.
The Best Rums For Hurricanes, According to Bartenders
If you want to capture the Mardi Gras spirit without hopping on a flight, pick up one (or more) of these Hurricane-perfect bottles of rum.
The 8 Best Cheap Vodka Brands Under $20
These eight vodka brands deliver a clean, well-balanced drinking experience for under $20 a bottle.
The 10 Best Whiskies For Boulevardiers
A cocktail is only as good as the spirits that are in it. With these, you'll have the best Boulavardier on the boulevard.
We Ranked the 10 Best Fruit Flavors For Beer
Fruit-infused beers can often seem like a complicated topic among self-proclaimed beer aficionados.
The Best Champagnes (and Sparkling Wines) for a French 75, According To Bartenders
The classic French 75, a gin-based (or, sometimes, Cognac-based) libation with lemon juice, simple syrup, and sparkling wine, makes an elegant addition to a December cocktail fȇte, and if you’d like to try making them for yourself, these 8 fizzy wines work especially well.
10 Destination-Worthy Food Halls Throughout the U.S.
Food halls have been a consistent presence for decades, but the last five years witnessed an impressive rise in this food-service model. In this list, you’ll find 10 American food halls with enough excellent eats, attractive environs, and city-specific vibes to make them well-worth a trip.
The Best Brandies For Sidecars, According To Bartenders
This sophisticated (and crushable) drink also includes lemon juice and orange liqueur, but brandy serves as its anchor, so it’s essential to select a version that’s up to the task.
10 Must-Try Blanc de Blancs, According To Wine Experts
Blanc de Blancs got its start in Champagne, France. Translating to “white of whites,” the term refers to Champagnes made exclusively from white grapes.