Dani Zoeller - The Takeout

With Us Since

2022

Location

Orlando, Florida

School

Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University

Expertise

Coffee, Disney Cuisine & Festivals, Food History

Dani spent several years working as a Barista at Starbucks and college coffee shops, and she loves making better-than-Starbucks drinks from the comfort of home.
Most days of the week, you'll find Dani enjoying cuisine in and around Disney World.
An avid researcher, Dani loves discovering the rich history behind her favorite foods.

Experience

In elementary school, Dani began her journey to becoming a writer. This path would take her through 11 years of teaching middle schoolers to find their voices before becoming a freelance writer herself. Today, she spends her days playing with food, hopping among Orlando's best restaurants and theme parks, and sharing it all through her writing. In addition to Tasting Table, Dani writes for Study.com and The Orlando Informer.

Education

Dani earned her bachelor's in English from Illinois State University and a master's in English from Northern Illinois University.

The Takeout Editorial Policies

The Takeout’s industry-leading editorial coverage is the result of collaboration between writers and editors with a wide array of experience and expertise in the world of food and drink. Every article is fact-checked by our team of editors to ensure accuracy. Outside experts are also consulted to help deliver factual, up-to-date information.

Our mission is to both inform and entertain our readers, telling them everything they want to know (and more) about food. We strive to always provide a well-rounded reading experience, bringing both the biggest food news of the day and a break from the news. Additional information on our editorial process available here.

Stories By Dani Zoeller

9 Popeyes Chicken Items, Ranked Worst To Best

For this ranking, I set my sights on 9 Popeyes chicken items. My goal was to determine the best of the collection when they were pitted against one another.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Costco Cookie Crunch Sundae Review: We'll Stick With Chocolate Syrup, Thank You

Costco has launched a new Vanilla Cookie Crunch Sundae, but is it worthy of the social media hype? We tried the new seasonal sweet treat to find out.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Costco's Food Court Has Frappes For Half The Cost Of Starbucks — But Are They As Good?

Nothing hits quite like a brain freeze with a caffeine boost. We tried a Starbucks Frappuccino alongside Costco's cold brew mocha to compare taste and texture.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: Starbucks Overplays Its Hand With The Blended Energy Refreshers Menu

The Blended Energy Refreshers menu seemed like the perfect complement to summer. So, I rushed to Starbucks to see if this new line of drinks is worth trying.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
10 Long Drink Flavors, Ranked Best To Worst

Long Drink has expanded beyond its original citrus recipe with bold flavors. Some are easy repeat purchases, while others are best left sitting in the cooler.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
I Tried The Viral Frozen Pickle And Wine Trend So You Don't Have To

The viral frozen pickle and wine trend has been all over TikTok, so we went ahead and sampled it ourselves to give you the scoop. Here's what we thought.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
10 Things Trader Joe's Does Better Than Costco

Who says you can't compare apples and oranges? Trader Joe's and Costco may differ vastly, but some shoppers prefer TJ's more familiar, personalized approach.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
6 Best And 2 Worst New Fast Food Items Of 2026 (So Far)

We're about halfway through the year, and there have been plenty of fast food triumphs and flops to dissect, including new beverages, burgers, and desserts.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Olive Garden's Calabrian Chili Menu Is Tasty Enough To Make Your Italian Nonna A Fan

I visited Olive Garden to try its new Calabrian chili menu items. Should you run to your location before these dishes sell out, or take your chances and walk?
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: Slice Dirty Sodas Certainly Did Me Dirty

Slice has released a new option to its probiotic soda lineup. You can now buy Slice dirty sodas in orange and strawberry flavors. Here's what we thought.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Which Has The Better Fancy Caramel Coffee Drink Now: Dutch Bros Or Starbucks?

Caffeinated beverages loaded with sweet ingredients are all the rage. While you can get similar beverages at multiple chains, some are better than others.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: Starbucks' 2026 Summer Drink Menu Is Great, As Long As You Don't Want Coffee

As the warmer weather approaches, restaurants are beginning to add new menu items to their line up. Some of these are more worth the investment than others.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
6 Costco Bakery Items Worth Buying And 5 To Avoid

Costco is pretty overwhelming, and its bakery department is no exception, so we narrowed down which items to buy and which are worth passing up.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
11 Oat Milk Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

Oat milk can be used in lots of different ways, but some brands are definitely much better than others. We tried a selection to see how they stack up.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Wendy's 2026 Spring Menu Should Go Back Into Hibernation

Wendy's is trying something bold and spicy for its new spring menu. Find out if Wendy's new jalapeño and ranch offerings leave us craving for more.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Cheez-It Chili Cheese Dog Flavor Is Gonna Be A No From Me Dawg

Cheez-It has unveiled a new flavor of its iconic cheese crackers to celebrate the 2026 U.S. Soccer season. Here's what our expert taste-tester thought of it.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
12 Instant Espresso Brands, Ranked From Worst To Best

Instant espresso is quick and convenient, but some brands are definitely much better than others. We tried a selection to see how they stack up.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: McDonald's KPop Demon Hunters Happy Meal Takes It Up Up Up (And It's Not Because Of The Toy)

McDonald's is keeping up with popular movies, with its latest pop culture fast food collab. Discover the KPop Demon Hunters menu for a limited time only.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
10 Frozen Costco Foods That Taste Homemade

Frozen foods are the heroes of weekday meals, but flavor is sometimes lacking. These gems from Costco's freezer aisle are reliable buys for taste and quality.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: Mike's Hard Dirty Lemonade: Fun To Say, Even Funner To Drink (I May Have Had A Few)

Mike’s Dirty Lemonade is a new take on the dirty soda trend, but is it any good? We tried the four new fruity flavors to see if they’re worth buying.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: One Sip Of Starbucks' Hannah Montana Popstar Refresher Had Me Saying 'Sweet Niblets!'

Starbucks is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana with a special Hannah’s Secret Popstar Refresher drink, but is it worth ordering?
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: Taco Bell's New Dirty Sodas Didn't Leave My Mouth In The Gutter

Taco Bell's in the dirty soda game with Pepsi, Mountain Dew Baja Blast, and Baja Midnight flavors. I did a taste test to see if "making it dirty" is worth it.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
I'm A Former Starbucks Barista. Here's What Customers Don't Know

Whether you're a casual coffee drinker or a regular Refresher enjoyer, there are some things at Starbucks that most customers probably don't know.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
I Tried 8 Starbucks Drinks To Dunk Cake Pops In And This Was The Best

Have you ever mindfully paired a Starbucks drink with a cake pop? We wanted to see if the pairings were a good idea, and had a lot of surprises along the way.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
The 13 Best Pantry Staples You Can Find At Costco

With its famously low prices on bulk grocery items, Costco is a great place to stock up on pantry staples. Here are 13 must-buy products to get you started.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
I'm A Former Barista. Here's How To Make The Best Salted Caramel Iced Espresso

A former barista shares expert tips for making the best salted caramel iced espresso at home, with balanced sweetness and bold coffee flavor.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
14 Foods You Probably Thought Were Vegan, But Aren't

Many common foods that may initially seem to be vegan actually aren’t for one reason or another. Here are the items you need to look out for.
By Dani Zoeller Read More

Back