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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KFC's new Apple Pie Poppers are ready to wow diners all around the world. Do they live up to the chain's high standards? Our reviewer has the answer.
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We had the opportunity to try KFC's new Saucy Nuggets at the chain's Louisville headquarters ahead of their April 1 debut, and they didn't disappoint.
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Some menu item that made it into McDonald's locations in the 1980s exist today. But many are forgotten, like the Styrofoam containers they once came in.
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Chips Ahoy! is revamping its chocolate chip cookie recipe. We've tried the brand new treat, and we're here to tell you how it compares to the classic cookie.
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White Castle's sliders are great, but what about its sides? We dropped by our local White Castle and tasted and ranked every side order on the menu.
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We tried Popeyes' new Honey Lemon Pepper Wings, available for a limited time only, and their sweet, tangy, spicy sauce certainly brings the flavor.
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We hit up our local Taco Bell and tried all five of its new Cantina Chicken Menu items. Here's our ranking of what rules the roost and what falls flat.
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Hostess has combined two of its iconic snacks with its new HoneyBun Donettes. We gave these new glazed mini-donuts a try, and here's what we think.
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We got our hands on a bag of Brach's new limited-time-only Easter Brunch Jelly Beans and tasted all six flavors, ranking them from "no" to "nosh."
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Wendy's has teamed up with Cinnabon to offer the Cinnamon Pull-Apart as a sweet breakfast treat -- but is this sugary offering worth the early-morning visit?
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McDonald's new Savory Chili WcDonald's Sauce is unlike anything you've tried from the iconic fast food chain before. Here's everything you need to know.
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KFC's new Chizza combines two favorites, fried chicken and pizza, into one dish, and while the end result is fun, it's nothing to write home about.
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Sweet and spicy is the flavor of the moment, and Lay’s has joined the trend with its new flavor of chips. We grabbed a bag to find out if they hit the mark.
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You may fondly remember certain candy bars as childhood favorites ... and so might your grandparents. These candy bars have been around longer than you think.
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Crystal Light has released three new product lines. Mixology, Immunity Support, and Energy Boost each feature their own flavors, and we tried a handful of them.
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The cheesy chicken Crispanada is the newest item to hit Taco Bell's menu and we wasted no time in taste testing it, not once but twice. Here's all the details.
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We tried Dunkin's new limited-time Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Tom Brady-inspired DunKings Menu and ranked each of the items from miss to hit.
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For Super Bowl LVIII, Tostitos dropped a three-day pop-up restaurant in Las Vegas: Tost by Tostitos. We got a table and tried Tost's tortilla-centric dishes.
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Coca-Cola's adding two new flavors: Coca-Cola Spiced and Coca-Cola Spied Zero Sugar. We tried these new raspberry-spice Cokes, and here's what we think.
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Are the new, limited-time-only hot honey pepperoni pizza and wings from Pizza Hut a toothsome fire we never want extinguished or a saccharine disaster?
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Get ready for some childhood nostalgia - Girl Scout Cookie season is here, and we've tried ranked every cookie in the current lineup worst to first.
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Popeyes is giving its strawberry biscuit a makeover this year for Valentine's Day. We headed to our nearest location to give this heart-shaped treat a try.
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The latest offering on Burger King's menu is the Candied Bacon Whopper -- but is this sweet and meaty treat any good to eat? Here's our review.
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KFC's new Smash'd Potato Bowl has finally launched. It's a mixture of your favorite sides, with an optional addition of chicken nuggets -- but is it any good?
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Did McDonald's put its best foot forward with its new Best Burgers? We taste-tested the chain's old and new burgers to find out, and here's what we think.
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OREO's Space Dunk cookies have landed! Are these extraterrestrial snacks really extra special? We snagged a bag to give them a taste test and find out.
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Cheetos has combined the classic cheesy flavor with Buffalo sauce for a spicy take on the popular snack. But do they actually taste like wings?