Betsy Parks
Location
Boston, Massachusetts
School
Emerson College, Castleton University, New England Culinary Institute
Expertise
French Culinary Techniques, Beer And Winemaking, Grocery Trends
- Betsy passed the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) Level 1 course and examination in February 2020.
- She edited "The Brew Your Own Big Book of Homebrewing," "The Brew Your Own Big Book of Clone Recipes," and "The Ultimate Guide to Homebrewing."
- She has been a culinary instructor for Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit working to end childhood hunger and poverty in the United States.
Experience
Betsy has worked in the food and restaurant industry for more than 20 years, and has been writing about food and drinks for almost as long. She started out as a teenage dishwasher, which led to culinary school, and then degrees in journalism and publishing. She started out writing as a stringer for The Rutland Herald in southern Vermont, and quickly moved on to writing feature stories for Stratton magazine before going to work full time as the associate editor and then editor in chief for Battenkill Communications — the publishers of Brew Your Own and WineMaker magazines, which are for hobby beer and winemakers. She started writing regularly for Boston Chefs in the spring of 2022, and joined the team at The Daily Meal in late 2022. She has a longtime interest in fighting hunger, and in addition to a year of service through AmeriCorps at Cooking Matters Massachusetts (Share Our Strength), Betsy also volunteers teaching cooking, nutrition and shopping on a budget for families coping with food insecurity.
Education
Betsy has an associate's degree from The New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont; a bachelor's degree in journalism from Castleton University in Castleton, Vermont; and a master's degree in writing and publishing from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.
The Daily Meal’s content comes from an authoritative editorial staff that is dedicated to current and comprehensive coverage. With an aim to provide only informative and engaging content, our writers, editors, and experts take care to craft clear and concise copy on all things food-related, from news in the food service industry to in-depth explainers about what’s found in readers’ refrigerators, original recipes from experienced chefs, and more.
Our team also regularly reviews and updates articles as necessary to ensure they are accurate. For more information on our editorial process, view our full policies page.
Stories By Betsy Parks
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Costco's reasonably priced rotisserie chickens are one of the grocery chain's most popular items. We did some digging into where they're sourced.
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Admittedly, some are unaware that Aldi is a German company, so don't be surprised by the products it stocks. You should certainly never skip its German aisle.
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Kroger Boost and Kroger Plus are both membership options at the nation-spanning grocery chain. What benefits does each tier offer, and at what cost?
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When it comes to sushi, there are certain types of fish you want to avoid for safety purposes. Here's one type you don't want to mess with.
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Making a home-cooked meal taste absolutely amazing is easy when you use this one flavorful ingredient to turn a fish dish into something delicious.
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Never get scared to grate cheese again! Thanks to this almost-too-easy hack, you'll be grating cheese like a pro in no time.
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Air fryers are known for speedily cooking up some of your favorite dishes -- here's why they are the perfect appliance for making frozen pot pies.
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Walk into any Trader Joe's, and you'll instantly feel that niche nostalgic vibe. Did you know international travel plays a big part in TJ's origin story?
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Even the fanciest celebrity chefs have go-to recipes for comfort food dishes like fried chicken. Here's what makes Gordon Ramsay's taste so good.
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There are two ways to make hot chocolate with a Nespresso device. If you already own these Nespresso products, both ways are pretty easy to pull off.
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Champagne vinegar is a rare inclusion in recipes. Even if it's not in your pantry, a few simple upgrades to this substitution can fit the bill.
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It's hard to beat a classic steak and cheese quesadilla alongside the traditional toppings of sour cream and salsa. Here's the cut to use for tender steak.
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Costco is packed with great deals and products, but you might want to check the label carefully the next time you're buying steaks from there.
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Julia Child's favorite dessert might not as popular as it once was, but trust us -- it's absolutely heavenly, and you'll want to try it as soon as possible.
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Finding the ideal time for you to visit the notorious warehouse depends on a few things. Consider your specific needs for shopping at Costco to start.
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You've likely noticed that third slice of bread in the middle of your stacked club sandwich. Why is it there, and is it still a club sandwich without it?
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Famed French chef Jacques Pépin knows a thing or two about cooking a hearty meat stew. Here's his go-to cut for easy cooking and luscious flavor.
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Even celebrity chefs appreciate a good short in the kitchen. If Jamie OIiver can make this notoriously finicky dessert in an air fryer, so can you.
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McDonald's prices have increased 100% since 2014, which is higher than any other fast food chain. A former corporate chef reveals potential reasons why.
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If you're headed to a serious steakhouse for the first time, it's worth brushing up on your beef knowledge just a little bit. Here's what to study.
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It's hard to improve on a classic pumpkin pie, but there's a simple upgrade that can really boost its flavor. All you have to do is add one easy ingredient.
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Broccoli can be a tough sell to all members of the family, but this frozen side dish includes a scrumptious cheesy sauce with a certain special ingredient.
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There's no need to be intimidated by the lengthy list of different cuts of steak. If it's your first time, this expert says to just keep it simple.
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A good quiche is like a blank canvas for culinary experimentation, and expert Mary Nguyen has an easy-to-memorize ratio that will perfect your egg custard base.
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Onion rings may already seem like the perfect fried food, but it turns out you can take things up a notch by combining savory and sweet in this classic side.
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Who doesn't love to whip up a box of mac and cheese on a busy weeknight, or just for a cheeky late-night snack? Get the creamiest consistency with this add-in.
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If you're thinking of showing off by ordering one of the more expensive steaks on the menu, think again. Your order may be a huge waste of money.