Expertise
Specialty Food & Drink, Chefs & Restaurants, Home Cooking
- In 2022, Chala was a lead editor for "Food is Queer," an ASME Award-nominated LGBT Pride package from Bon Appétit.
- They were named to Cherry Bombe Magazine's inaugural "Future of Food 50" list in 2023.
- The 2024 James Beard Award-winning Black Kitchen Series podcast features Chala in the episode "On Writing Black Food."
Experience
Chala is a professional food fanatic with nearly a decade of experience cooking and writing about global cuisines. Their career in food began as a sophomore in college working in cafés and on food trucks. Chala landed their first job as a line cook in 2017, inspiring them to deepen their food knowledge base and write about the subject. After getting their degree, Chala moved to Brooklyn and continued to work in food service as a prep cook and cheesemonger while occasionally submitting articles to publications like Culture Cheese Magazine. Chala landed their career-shaping role as Bon Appétit in 2021, where they served as an associate print editor for two years. Since leaving BA in spring 2023, Chala has been working as a full-time freelancer, covering the intersections of culinary and popular culture. Their words have appeared in prominent food and lifestyle publications such as Cherry Bombe, Condé Nast Traveler, New York Magazine, Edible Manhattan, and Wine Enthusiast. Chala is also a prolific public speaker on the topics of food and identity and has participated in panels curated by the James Beard Foundation, Queer Food Conference, Specialty Food Association, and more.
Education
Chala holds a bachelor's degree in writing, literature, and publishing from Emerson College (class of 2018).
Food Republic’s industry-leading coverage is created by qualified and experienced writers, and is reviewed and fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure everything is accurate and timely. Outside experts are also consulted whenever possible to help deliver factual, up-to-date information.
Our mission is to publish knowledgeable, engaging articles to give readers the information they're looking for, whether that is the news of the day or cooking tips, tricks, and trends. We also bring you recipes you can depend on, as well as reviews and recommendations. In an effort to provide the most comprehensive, current, and accurate content, our team is constantly reviewing and updating articles as necessary. Additional information on our editorial process available here.
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Restaurants
By Chala June
In the world of quick eats, fast food and fast casual restaurants reign supreme, but what is the actual difference between these two types of establishments?
By Chala June
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Conventional culinary wisdom dictates that you should always rinse your rice. However, two popular dishes are exceptions to this "unbreakable" rule.
By Chala June
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Whether you call it a donut burger, a Luther burger, or the Mulligan burger, slapping a Krispy Kreme on a hamburger as a bun has relatively modern origins.
By Chala June
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While, at first glance, the two crab cakes might seem the same, Maryland and Carolina crab cakes couldn't be more different from binder to ingredients.
By Chala June
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While it may seem like rinsing your ground beef before cooking it can help keep you from getting sick, it may actually be a safety risk. Here's what we know.
By Chala June
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The Massachusetts food scene is as unique as it is undersung. One establishment that truly exemplifies the best of the state's culinary culture is this bakery.
By Chala June
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Bologna is an American lunch staple, but this cold cut is surrounded by mystery. Let's uncover exactly what's going into those fried bologna sandwiches.
By Chala June
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Rice is a staple starch for many a dinner, lunch, and even breakfast. But when every hob on the stove is spoken for, and there's no rice cooker, what do you do?
By Chala June
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If you don't want to go to the trouble of making your own pizza dough, store-bought is fine. Still, there's some TLC required if you want to use it like a pro.
By Chala June
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Shawarma, just like doner, is a spiced meat that's vertically roasted and sliced thin when served, but what's the spice blend that makes it taste delicious?
By Chala June
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Egg prices are steadily increasing, causing people to think twice about the kind they are purchasing, and question if pasture-raised eggs are worth the price.
By Chala June
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Making tortillas at home can be a super rewarding experience, but not if your dough sticks to the tortilla press. Fortunately, celeb chef Pati Jinich has a tip.
By Chala June
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If the thick and pulpy texture of tomato juice is what's keeping you from indulging in a bloody mary, the bloodless mary is the cocktail you need.
By Chala June
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Poaching eggs is a notoriously complex culinary task that can be daunting for home cooks, especially when serving a hungry crowd. But it can be done!
By Chala June
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Whether you're just sipping a glass of red or diving into the world of winemaking, you may be wondering, what are tannins, anyway? We've got expert answers.
By Chala June
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To create the perfect crispy crust on your French onion soup with almost no effort, all you need is this one kitchen tool to replace your broiler.
By Chala June
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Food History
By Chala June
Whether you love them, hate them, or have never mustered the courage to try them, Vienna sausages are a canned meat with a complex ingredients list and history.
By Chala June
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There are plenty of different ways to make chili, but one unexpected means of boosting flavors involves a sweet ingredient, according to an executive chef.
By Chala June
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There's always room for dessert, especially one as gorgeous and delicious as a traditional trifle. Make one even better with some excellent festive alcohols.
By Chala June
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Cooking Tips
By Chala June
Give those frozen chicken nuggets from the grocery store a major presentation makeover by stacking them sky-high, and doused in your favorite dips and garnishes
By Chala June
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If you want to add kitchen surface area, you might be tempted to use an island. However, if you have a small kitchen, there are better choices available.
By Chala June
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Actual birthday cakes come in a wide variety of tastes and styles, so what exactly is the birthday cake flavor that has taken the world by storm?
By Chala June
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When it comes to properly freezing eggplant, there's one kitchen ingredient that plays a crucial role in the process - and you probably already own it.
By Chala June
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Food Republic spoke with certified sommelier Ang Cosenza to help break down exactly what makes steak such a perfect pairing for heavier wines.
By Chala June
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Food Republic spoke with chef Richard Sandoval, who shared one delicious Japanese ingredient that can instantly elevate an oven-roasted chicken dish.
By Chala June
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To find out how to shop for the best sausage available, Food Republic spoke to chef Thomas Odermatt, founder and CEO of Butcher's Bone Broth.
By Chala June
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Don't waste your overcooked steak by tossing it away. Your meat can be saved with one tangy condiment you probably already have on hand: barbecue sauce.
By Chala June
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