Michael Palan
Expertise
Food History, Fountain Drinks, Anything Fried
- Michael ate his way through every kind of potato chip that Utz sells and not only lived to tell about it, but he ranked them all for The Daily Meal.
- As one who believes that sharing is caring, Michael is a Level 8 contributor to Google Maps: as a Master Photographer and Expert Reviewer of restaurants and points of general and specific interests.
- He once won a White Castle eating contest, and another time celebrated Valentine's Day at that fine dining establishment (that relationship didn't last).
Experience
Michael was born weighing 10 pounds and thus has been a lover of eating since birth. His amazing cook of a mother always indulged him, making many traditional favorites like noodle kugel and squash soufflé, but also enjoyed dining out at greasy spoon establishments with a bit of history. While he was a former Sandwich Artist at Subway, he chose to channel his talents into the arts of film, video, photography, and writing. For the past 25 years, he has worked on Academy Award winning films, Emmy Award winning television shows, had photographs published by New York Magazine, and has written for Decider, Looper, Explore and The Daily Meal. He also is an unofficial brand ambassador for Popeyes Fried Chicken.
Education
Michael has a bachelor's degree in telecommunications from Indiana University Bloomington.
The Daily Meal’s content comes from an authoritative editorial staff that is dedicated to current and comprehensive coverage. With an aim to provide only informative and engaging content, our writers, editors, and experts take care to craft clear and concise copy on all things food-related, from news in the food service industry to in-depth explainers about what’s found in readers’ refrigerators, original recipes from experienced chefs, and more.
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Stories By Michael Palan
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The Cheesecake Factory is adding a new cheesecake flavor to its ever-expanding menu and we got a first taste. Here are the details on this berrylicious dessert.
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Zaxby's is bringing three of its Zax sauces to select retailers across the nation, ranging from mild to very, very spicy. Here's what we thought of them.
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The new Mediterranean Flavors menu features two wraps, pita chips, and hummus. It’s only available for a limited time, so we hurried over for a taste.
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Pull up a seat, grab a red spoon, and let's relive the glory days of DQ's frozen yogurt, savory sandwiches, Fudge Bars, Treatzza Pizza, and a whole lot more.
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In this new Taco Bell menu item review, we'll find out if the Cheesy Street Chalupas have any street credibility, or if they should be kicked to the curb.
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To get into the Olympic spirit, Krispy Kreme unleashed three new doughnuts featuring the flavors of French pastries. We took one for the team and tried them.
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BK's new Fiery Menu features five limited-time-only items that have spice levels "ranging from mild to wild." We braved a tasting and here are our thoughts.
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McAlister's Deli is famous for its iced teas, available in a variety of flavors to complement the chain's food. Here's why each cup is so tasty.
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Ginger ale is a classic soda and mixer, but did you know there are a variety of flavored versions available? We sipped on 10 of them to find out which is tops.
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McDonald's has a new McFlurry flavor, and for the first time ever in the U.S., it includes Kit Kats! But does a banana split and Kit Kat mix really work?
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In a return to the world of Japanese manga, the Golden Arches has launched a limited-time flavor straight from Japan. We took a dip to see what it's all about.
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KFC was founded in the 1950s and has had quite the run ever since. The 1980s, in particular, saw the company experiment with items you probably forgot about.
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When two popular flavors came together in a collaboration, we knew we had to have a taste. Is it a match made in heaven or one that's better skipped?
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A chocolaty cup of ramen sounds too silly to be serious, but now that it's an actuality, we simply had to give it a try. Is it the perfect summertime treat?
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Dunkin's late summer menu is all set to bring the heat, but are its new drinks and food items hot choices? Here's our review of all their latest offerings.
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Popeyes' menu now features new Boneless Wings made from white meat chicken. We tried them and compared to the other recent add, Popeyes' bone-in chicken wings.
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Starbucks has a range of sunny new offerings for the summer months, both to eat and drink. We got a sneak preview, and here's our review of which are best.
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For over 50 years, Long John SIlver's seafood dishes have have come and gone. Here are 10 forgotten menu items from the 1980s that are no longer on the menu.
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We tried the three new Dippers on Subway's Sidekicks menu to find out whether or not these footlong snacks are worth their bargain price. Here's out take.
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Does Pepsi and Bobby's Flay's one-of-a-kind fragrance capture the essence of summer grilling, or is it all smoke and no fire? We took a whiff to find out.
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After testing six new sauce flavors, Heinz made the most popular two available for a limited time nationwide. We gave them a try before they disappear again.
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A quesadilla made with KFC's fried chicken, gravy, and cheese sounds like it could be a winner, but is it? We gave it a taste to find out for ourselves.
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Goldfish finally listened to fans and launched a new dill pickle flavor with a spicy kick. We decided to try it to see if it's the heat we've been hoping for.
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Wendy's new summer Frosty is a triple threat with strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. But is it worth ordering? We decided to find out.
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Here are the best deals available for summer 2024. The following may be offered for a limited time, are subject to availability, and their prices may vary.
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This year's Crabfest menu features four new dishes. We tried all of them to find out if they're totally claw-some, or if they'd leave us feeling rather crabby.
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Chili's is now an iconic casual dining chain, but had humble origins in Dallas, Texas. Here's the story of the restaurant that started it all.