School
New College of Florida
Expertise
Hispanic cuisines, Street food, Hotel restaurants
- Mariana's first professional internship was with the award-winning site Atlas Obscura, and she wrote various articles for the brand's food vertical, Gastro Obscura.
- She once interviewed the head chef of a Michelin-starred restaurant in South Korea.
- She was a staff writer at Far & Wide, where she regularly covered international cuisine, restaurants, and all things food.
Experience
Mariana was born in Colombia before moving to the U.S. at the age of 10. She's lived in France and South Korea and has traveled to over 45 countries. This has given her a passion for new flavors and the experience to cover international cuisine. She likes fine dining as much as street food and has written about food for numerous publications, including Spruce Eats and Thrillist.
Education
Mariana has a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from New College of Florida. She also completed a semester at the Institut Catholique de Paris, where she studied French and sociology.
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.
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Wings are among the most popular side dishes served as Super Bowl parties every year, but you may be surprised to know exactly how many will be eaten.
By Mariana Zapata
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While this sauce may be a go-to when enjoying homemade steak, you should avoid asking for it at a high-end steakhouse. Discover which sauce you'll want to skip.
By Mariana Zapata
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Arepas are delicious no matter how you prepare them, but the ones you find in Colombia are different than Venezuelan arepas. Here's how the two differ.
By Mariana Zapata
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Maybe you go rogue with ramen eggs, but once you add an egg to ramen at the perfect time for the ideal texture, you'll never eat dry or uncooked eggs again.
By Mariana Zapata
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Bison: a majestic symbol of this country's history and natural beauty. Also: absolutely delicious. How do we reconcile making a meal of this protected animal?
By Mariana Zapata
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Some luxury foods feel worth the splurge, but this pricey tinned seafood struggles to balance cost, quality, and convenience in a way that makes sense.
By Mariana Zapata
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Adding protein to coffee might sound efficient, but taste, texture, and tradition have something to say about whether or not it’s worth the sacrifice.
By Mariana Zapata
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America's top grocery crown just changed hands as a beloved national chain unseats Publix -- find out who claimed the No. 1 spot and the reasons why.
By Mariana Zapata
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This small Kentucky town is home to Kroger's largest deli, a new concept that could serve as a blueprint for future stores in additional markets.
By Mariana Zapata
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Want to ensure your smashed potatoes come out nice and crispy? Skip russet potatoes and opt for this variety instead for perfect smashed potatoes every time.
By Mariana Zapata
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Couscous isn't as popular as it could be because most people who are unfamiliar with the dish don't feel confident about cooking it. It's really quite simple.
By Mariana Zapata
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Miami is a beautiful place to catch a sunset and a rooftop bar is the perfect spot to watch one. Here are five rooftop bars in Miami for stunning sunset views.
By Mariana Zapata
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Skip the milk, and level up your breakfast French toast with rich, custard-y batter that adds creamy sweetness in almost any flavor you find in the freezer.
By Mariana Zapata
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Though Miami might not immediately come to mind as a hotbed for Korean cuisine, it has a thriving Korean food scene, including one comfort food destination.
By Mariana Zapata
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Miami can lay claim as the home of the delicious Cuban sandwich, but where in the city can you find the best one? Our expert has a pick for Miami's best Cubano.
By Mariana Zapata
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Discover the most unique bar in Covington, Kentucky, where you can sip rare liquors aged up to 100 years for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
By Mariana Zapata
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Austrians often add water to wine, and there's logic behind it. But it's important to pair the right type of water with the right type of wine.
By Mariana Zapata
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Those with a sweet tooth should head to this classic hotel in Miami for quite literally the best dessert. Its depth of flavors will have you craving for more.
By Mariana Zapata
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Turn coffee creamer from your fridge into a secret weapon for your cocktails, adding instant creaminess, sweetness, and bold flavor with almost no effort.
By Mariana Zapata
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Nespresso uses aluminum for its single-use pods for a particular reason. However, it's unclear if their objective is being met by the pods using it.
By Mariana Zapata
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If your glass jars still smell like last week’s garlic or kimchi, there’s an easy, zero-effort trick that clears odors without scrubbing or chemicals.
By Mariana Zapata
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If you find yourself filling up on a product that comes from the bulk bins of a grocery store, be sure to have common courtesy by keeping this tip in mind.
By Mariana Zapata
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America's oldest liquor store has been serving patrons for over 300 years, offering historic charm and rare spirits while playing a role in U.S. history.
By Mariana Zapata
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The world's oldest restaurant just marked 300 years of serving diners, continuing a legacy that began back in the early 1700s in Madrid and still going strong.
By Mariana Zapata
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Learn how to safely use a pressure cooker and overcome fears of explosions with simple tips that make cooking faster, easier, and worry-free.
By Mariana Zapata
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Guy Fieri recently had a short interview on controversial cooking topics which revealed strong opinions from the culinary icon about this one ingredient.
By Mariana Zapata
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Miami has its fair share of tourist traps, but that's not where the locals eat and drink. Here are five Miami spots that only people who live here know about.
By Mariana Zapata
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