Helena Nichols
Location
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Expertise
Vegetarian Cooking, Baking, Spirits & Cocktails
- Helena wrote her thesis on veganism in punk rock culture.
- During 2020, she made over 300 different cocktails.
- Her whiskey chocolate caramel cake recipe won first place in a baking competition.
Experience
Helena has been a professional foodie for close to a decade. Following a lifelong love of desserts, she worked as a baker, where she honed her skills in making all things sweet. While completing her master's, she began writing about food and has never looked back. She has been published in multiple food and news outlets, including TABLE Magazine, Mashed, Tasting Table, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Helena continues to pursue her passions by trying new foods and interesting cocktails whenever she can.
Education
Helena holds a bachelor's degree in English literature from Chatham University; and a master's degree in food studies from Chatham University. Her program at Chatham provided her with a variety of hands-on food experiences, including making chocolate and brewing beer, as well as a deep knowledge of food history and culture.
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 Helena Nichols
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If you find yourself in Pennsylvania, you have to check out Hersheypark. No need to pack a lunch; we made a list of the best places to eat while you're there.
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Ever wanted to immerse yourself in a world of chocolate? Then Hershey's Chocolate World is the place for you! Here's the lowdown on all it has to offer.
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Hershey's Great Candy Expedition is a new ride at Hershey's Chocolate World. We hopped aboard the candy-inspired ride to find out what it's all about.
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Over the years, M&M's has added new chocolate flavors - but some are definitely more successful than others. We tried every M&M's flavor and ranked them.
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Margarine has been around for a long time and has gone through several reinventions. Learn about the history of margarine and how it's tied to Napoleon.
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Whether you're having a vintage or table wine, there are a few things you might be doing wrong. Here are 12 mistakes you should stop making when drinking wine.
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Now that Dave's Killer Bread is available for purchase nationwide at Costco stores, we thought it was about time to rank this organic bread company's loaves.
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Vizzy is turning a childhood treat into an adult delight with the launch of its Orange Cream Pop hard seltzer. So does it live up to its promises of nostalgia?
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Banza vegan products combine chickpeas with Italian foods. We've tried some of the main items and ranked them so you can confidently find your favorite.
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Since 1984 Rita's Italian Ice has been making delicious Italian ice for the masses. With over 50 flavors, it can be tough to choose, so we ranked them for you.
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Are you a lover of marshmallows? We've got some very interesting information on the origin of marshmallows and how they've grown in popularity. Yum!
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Japan is producing some of the world's finest alcoholic beverages. Here's what you need to know about the huge variety of Japanese alcohol. Enjoy!
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Whether used to treat an upset stomach or as a mixer for a cocktail, ginger ale is a versatile drink. But with so many brands, it can be hard to find the best.
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Just because you've gone vegan doesn't mean you have to give up your favorite snacks. In-fact, some of your guilty pleasures are actually vegan friendly as is!
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Thomas' is the cornerstone English muffin brand, and they've got a variety of different offerings - so, naturally, we decided to rank them all.
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The humble pretzel can be traced back to the Middle Ages ... and then the trail goes cold fast. Here's what we do know about its mysterious, medieval origin.
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When many people think about classic cookware options, they often think about cast iron. However, to some cast iron is a mystery. Here's what you should know.
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Ritz crackers have been around for decades. Over the years, the company has added different flavors. Some flavors are better than others and we've ranked them.
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If you feel overwhelmed by all of the options for baking chocolate out there, do not worry. We will help you find the chocolate of your baking dreams.
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Ranch is a great dressing and ice cream is a delicious treat. But what happens when you combine the two? We ate ranch flavored ice cream so you don't have to.
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People have been enjoying Cadbury chocolates for decades now, but did you know that the British and American versions are distinctly different? We explore how.
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Love them or hate them, Twizzlers are here to stay, and they have a surprisingly storied history featuring famous fans, world records, and more.
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Pedro Pascal's Starbucks order recently took the internet by storm due to the amount of espresso in it. So, obviously, we had to try it. Here's what we thought.
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It can be confusing figuring out what type of dough you need for a pastry. So, we put together a list of different pastry doughs and how to use them.
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All-purpose flour may be your go-to baking buddy, but it's not the only flour option. Depending on what you're making, try one of these flour alternatives.
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Girl Scout cookies are a beloved treat that has gone through some changes over the years. Here are some discontinued flavors we would like to return.
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Pineapples are a versatile ingredient with surprising uses far beyond pizza. The prickly, sweet fruit is eaten in quite a few different ways around the world.