Jill McDonnell

Location

Chicago, IL

School

University of Missouri-Columbia, DePaul University

Expertise

Restaurant Openings, Food trends, World cuisine

Jill's love of restaurants began while working as an intern at Chicago Social magazine.
A bit of serendipity led to her sharing a cab and an unforgettable conversation with legendary entrepreneur and founder of Levy Restaurants, Larry Levy.
Jill enjoys extensively researching the restaurant scene of each city, finding hidden gems and taking food tours during her travels.

Experience

Jill McDonnell is a Chicago-based content writer and corporate communications professional. She has written for Success.com, SUCCESS Magazine, and Design Bureau. Jill is a prolific reader who enjoys keeping up with food and restaurant trends and has a passion for creative writing and entrepreneurship. Jill is at work on her second novel, a psychological thriller.

Education

Jill has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a master's degree in public relations and advertising from DePaul University.

Food Republic Editorial Policies

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.

Stories By Jill McDonnell

Food History

Food History By Jill McDonnell

The Chewy Vintage Dessert That Features A Unique Boxed Ingredient

If you're a fan of elegant vintage desserts, or you just really love a soft, cakey cookie, then you're going to need to make this classic confection.
By Jill McDonnell Read More
Fast Food

Fast Food By Jill McDonnell

Popeyes Vs KFC: Which Fast Food Chicken Sandwich Has The Most Protein?

Trying to hit your macros but still want to enjoy a crispy fried chicken sammy? If so, should you head to KFC or Popeyes for the option with the most protein?
By Jill McDonnell Read More
Fast Food

Fast Food By Jill McDonnell

How McDonald's Took Its Egg McMuffin From Good To Great

McDonald's Egg McMuffin is pretty iconic and has lasted on the menu for decades. But it went from good to great when the chain made this one switch.
By Jill McDonnell Read More
Baking Tips

Baking Tips By Jill McDonnell

Use This Canned Food To Whip Up A Deliciously Easy Pie Crust

There's something inherently tantalizing about being able to make a pie crust in minutes with minimal clean up, and with this canned staple, you can.
By Jill McDonnell Read More
Non-Alcoholic

Non-Alcoholic By Jill McDonnell

Does An Energy Drink Count As A Soda?

Energy drinks and sodas seem similar; after all, most contain caffeine, are sweet, and have carbonation. But what's the real difference between them?
By Jill McDonnell Read More
Costco

Costco By Jill McDonnell

Inside The California Costco That Sells The World's Rarest Wines

If you thought Costco was only about discounted goods, you'd be mistaken. In fact, you can get some of the world's rarest wines at this one location.
By Jill McDonnell Read More
Food History

Food History By Jill McDonnell

Bill Murray Praises This Chicago Restaurant, Saying It Serves The Best Pizza He's Ever Had

Bill Murray is no stranger to Chicago, nor its iconic pizza styles. However, shock reverberated when the star declared his favorite isn't deep dish.
By Jill McDonnell Read More