Location
New York, New York
School
Harvard University
Expertise
Coffee and frozen beverages, Food trends and viral recipes, Cooking shows
- Nicole first wrote about food for her middle school newspaper, where she did a deep dive into the culinary creations of the school's cooking club.
- She is a Trader Joe's fanatic, frequenting her local TJ's at least once a week.
- Her favorite cooking show is "Chopped."
Experience
Nicole is a seasoned journalist who has spent years writing across nearly every medium imaginable. Her previous experiences include serving on the Harvard Crimson's Editorial Board and writing for a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating global poverty. Beyond journalism, Nicole has written in both creative and academic contexts, from crafting original songs and a cappella arrangements to completing a 110-page thesis during her senior year at Harvard. Outside of writing, you can find her making avocado toast or perfecting her brownie recipe.
Education
Nicole is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College with a bachelor's degree in social studies.
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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Starbucks
By Nicole Alexander
Starbucks' new Blended Matcha Lemonade and Blended Energy Refreshers are as colorful as they are cool, but you'll want to skip the newest flavor.
By Nicole Alexander
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Trader Joe's
By Nicole Alexander
While Trader Joe's might be known for its wide variety of unique snacks and treats, some items on the shelves simply haven't stood the test of time.
By Nicole Alexander
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Fast Food
By Nicole Alexander
Most fast food restaurants offer their versions of a spicy chicken sandwich, so we checked out a few chains to see which sandwich came out on top.
By Nicole Alexander
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Starbucks' latest release is as blue as it gets. But while these coconut drinks might be ready for Instagram, how do they actually taste? We tried them all.
By Nicole Alexander
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Casual Dining
By Nicole Alexander
Detroit-style pizza lovers are passionate about their preferred style, and these are the pizza shops in Michigan they say are doing it best.
By Nicole Alexander
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Starbucks
By Nicole Alexander
Baristas on Reddit have divulged their absolute favorite Starbucks drinks, and they're the experts, so these are the best drinks you can order at Starbucks.
By Nicole Alexander
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Starbucks' 2026 summer menu is a visual delight and packs a punch, but not in the places you'd expect. Our review shares exactly what you should order.
By Nicole Alexander
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Chick-fil-A's spring menu launch features Jalapeno Ranch Club sandwiches and a slew Strawberry Hibiscus Drinks, and Food Republic tasted and reviewed them all.
By Nicole Alexander
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Starbucks
By Nicole Alexander
Starbucks has added some new bakery items to its menu this February, so we gave all of them a try to see what's worth getting, and what to leave.
By Nicole Alexander
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Starbucks has released a brand-new roast to add to its full-time menu: the 1971 Roast. We tried it for ourselves (black) to see how it measured up.
By Nicole Alexander
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Starbucks' latest beverage launch is bright and berry-filled for Valentine's Day. We sampled and reviewed them all to determine if they're sip-worthy.
By Nicole Alexander
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Starbucks
By Nicole Alexander
Starbucks isn't a fine-dining institution, but it still has plenty of etiquette and unwritten rules that are worth knowing. We're here to help.
By Nicole Alexander
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Trader Joe's
By Nicole Alexander
Trader Joe's Product Hall of Fame consists of the grocer's most loved offerings, from chicken to chocolate. After trying all six of them, we liked these best.
By Nicole Alexander
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Trader Joe's
By Nicole Alexander
Trader Joe's sells more varieties of frozen dumplings than you may realize. We set out to try as many variations as possible to see which is the best.
By Nicole Alexander
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Starbucks' new Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate is exclusive to its locations in Target stores, so we tried it for ourselves to see if the sip is worth the trip.
By Nicole Alexander
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Exclusives
By Nicole Alexander
Barbecue sauce and chicken are a dream team, but grill expert Melvin Boots Johnson believes you actually shouldn't put the sauce on your chicken.
By Nicole Alexander
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Starbucks
By Nicole Alexander
Starbucks has released two eggnog drink variations for the holiday season, and we got the chance to try both of them. Here are our full thoughts.
By Nicole Alexander
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Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread and Miso Hot Chocolate are the newest additions to Starbucks winter menu, and we got a first taste of these cozy-sounding items.
By Nicole Alexander
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We sampled Starbucks' new Protein Cold Foam Drinks and Protein Lattes and were pleasantly surprised at the flavor of these macro-heavy beverages.
By Nicole Alexander
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Restaurants
By Nicole Alexander
Ice cream parlors are great places to make memories, so it's always tough to hear that one is closing down forever. Did your favorite make the list?
By Nicole Alexander
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Starbucks released its fall menu, and we sampled two of the coffee giant's new additions with warm, cozy vibes that are perfect to kick off the season.
By Nicole Alexander
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City Guides
By Nicole Alexander
Forget the big chains. We're taking a closer look at the very best hole-in-the-wall restaurants across all 50 states serving up regional and local favorites.
By Nicole Alexander
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Chick-fil-A's new fall menu lineup is chock full of cheddar, chips, and cherry-flavored beverages. We tried them all and have everything you need to know.
By Nicole Alexander
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Fast Food
By Nicole Alexander
While McDonald's, Wendy's, and even Shake Shack are popular fast food spots, there are some lesser-known chains that are totally worth checking out.
By Nicole Alexander
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Shopping Tips
By Nicole Alexander
A lot of tariffs are about to go into effect, and sadly candy is not exempt from them. These are some of the chocolates, gummies, and more to stock up on.
By Nicole Alexander
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Starbucks
By Nicole Alexander
Starbucks is releasing three new Strato Frappuccinos, and we had a chance to try them to see if they provide some much-needed summer refreshment.
By Nicole Alexander
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Starbucks
By Nicole Alexander
Starbucks' Firework Frappuccino is a fruity, colorful concoction that dropped just in time for July 4th. And it won't be around for very long.
By Nicole Alexander
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