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Jarrett Melendez head shot - Epicurious

Jarrett Melendez

Associate Editor

Jarrett Melendez is a Boston-based food and comic book writer. Jarrett has worked in bakeries, diners, and restaurants in Maine and Mexico, specializing in Mexican, Italian, and Japanese cuisine, the latter of which he learned from endlessly patient host mothers while he was studying abroad outside of Tokyo and a short stint in Hiroshima.

Before starting at Epicurious in 2022, he was a regular contributor to Food52, Saveur, and Bon Appétit. Jarrett is the writer and co-creator of the GLAAD Award nominated graphic novel Chef's Kiss (Oni Press), a queer kitchen romance, and a comic-style cookbook called The Comic Kitchen. He is currently writing a graphic memoir, a middle-grade fantasy adventure, and an action-comedy. He lives in Somerville, MA, with his collection of Monokuro Boo plush pigs.

The Best Ice Cream Makers for Homemade Frozen Treats

Whether you’re making soft-serve or gelato or loading it up with mix-ins, homemade ice cream is an indulgence worth undertaking.

The Best Drip Coffee Makers, Because You Don’t Need to Make Pour-Over to Make Good Coffee

We drank a lot of coffee to find the best machine for caffeinating your mornings.

These Are the Best French Presses

We tested glass, plastic, and stainless-steel French presses to find the best one for everyday use.

The Best Garlic Presses That Actually Make Working With Garlic Easier

Because there are so many cheap and flimsy ones, they don’t have the best reputation. But a high-quality garlic press can make your life easier.

Strawberry Cake

This fuss-free strawberry cake is perfect for springtime snacking. You’ll want fresh strawberries—this is not the time for frozen.

How to Keep Your Cakes From Doming and Cracking

Domed, cracked cakes are not the look. Here’s how to prevent it from happening.

This Pantry Staple Gives Gelatin-Free Panna Cotta a Spring in Its Step

The secret to a bouncy vegan panna cotta: a powder made from the roots of the kuzu (or kudzu) plant.

Stop Crying Over Chopped Onions With These Helpful Tips

There is no shortage of reasons to cry these days, but chopping onions doesn't have to be one of them. 

This Indoor Butane Burner Will Fuel the Good Vibes at Your Next Dinner Party

It’s just the thing for gathering over hot pot or Korean barbecue.

How to Keep Coffee Beans Tasting Fresher, Longer

For optimal flavor, your coffee bean storage method matters.

Nutty, Creamy Gomadare Is the Only Condiment I Need

The sesame-based sauce is savory and sweet, and it works equally well on salads, grilled meats, and pretty much everything else.

This Homemade Snack Mix Is Full of Biscuits

Sorry, rye chips, but there's a new girl in town, and she's taking your place as the best snack mix ingredient.

You Can Find Everything You Need for These Wings in Your Fridge Door

Sticky, spicy, sweet, salty—these maple-wasabi chicken wings get tons of flavor from a bunch of fridge and pantry staples.

Maple-Wasabi Wings

These oven-baked wings get a blast of sweet-salty flavor from a blend of maple syrup and soy sauce and a one-two punch of heat from ginger, wasabi, and ra-yu sesame chili oil (sometimes labeled “la-yu”). 

Don’t Skip This Little (but Crucial) Step Whenever You’re Cooking Meat

Whether you’re searing, roasting, or grilling, this one simple step will give your meat better browning and flavor.

Chicken Fajitas

The marinade for this chicken fajitas recipe packs a big citrusy punch, which means you don’t have to let the chicken marinate for very long.