Amy Cipolla Barnes Amy has 25 years of freelance writing experience, with a focus on food, family, travel, and lifestyle including food writing and recipe development. She's was an International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) 2020 cookbook judge and contributes regularly to McSweeney’s "Reviews of New Foods" columns. She's fascinated by odd foods, limited-edition products, regional specialties, nostalgic recipes, and hyper-local favorites, with a heightened radar for all quirky foods. Amy has written for a wide range of lifestyle publications, including Chowhound, Forbes, Farm Flavor, Parade Media's Relish, Tennessee Home & Farm, The Spruce Eats, Realtor.com, Neighborhoods, Apartment Therapy, Fodor's Travel, Clean Plates, Gayot, Allrecipes, Realtor.com, Well+Good, and Simplemost. She is also a recipe developer and tester for Relish. In addition to food articles, she's an editor for Ruby Lit, a food-related literary journal publishing food fiction and creative non-fiction. Experience Amy Cipolla Barnes has written for food publications for the past nearly three decades. From judging cookbooks to developing recipes, she's been part of all aspects of food writing. She worked as an online concierge where she helped VIP shoppers find specific recipes and tickets to shows and dining. Whether she's researching the history or backgrounds of international and regional foods or interviewing authors, food creators, small business owners, or corporate food companies, she has her finger (and spatula) on the pulse of the food and recipe world. In addition to freelance writing, she's also an avid foodie that doesn't just explore restaurants; she's also been to food factories like the Golden Flake chips and Blue Bell ice cream factories. Education Amy has a bachelor's degree from Wichita State University with continued studies in business and non-profit management from Kansas Newman College and Duke University. Additionally, she's continued her writing education by taking courses from a wide range of sites and individuals. About Southern Living Southern Living, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, celebrates the food, homes, places, and culture of the South. We reach 7.2 million readers a month. Our content is written by experienced journalists and fact checked for accuracy. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines.