School
University Of Wisconsin-Madison
Expertise
Food Science, Cheese And Dairy, Beer
- Sam runs a cooking blog with his wife, where he helps bring her easy, healthy recipes to life with written descriptions and mouth-watering photos.
- His wife is a food scientist specializing in chocolate. Their house has multiple chocolate storage locations brimming with chocolate chips, bars, wafers, and more.
- As a lifelong midwesterner, Sam is well-versed in all things dairy and beer related, but knows that there's always more to learn and the best way to learn is by tasting.
Experience
Sam began his professional writing career in 2023, writing about everything from food to sports. In addition to his work for Mashed, he writes features on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as a variety of short stories. He's currently working to get his debut novel published.
Education
Sam has bachelor's degrees in journalism and communication arts with a focus on radio, television, and film from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Mashed’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 to help deliver factual, up-to-date information.
Our mission is to inform and engage our readers, telling them things they need to know, things they want to know, and things they didn't know they wanted to know about food. We strive to always provide a well-rounded reading experience, whether that’s the news of the day or a new original recipe you can try making at home. In an effort to provide the most comprehensive, current, and accurate content, our editorial team constantly reviews and updates articles as necessary. Additional information on our editorial process available here.
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Firehouse Subs teamed up with Hot Ones to create two new sandwiches that bring on the heat. Check out our review to see if these subs serve up flavor and spice.
By Sam Zwick
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Sonic is unleashing a new slush just in time for spring. But does this strawberry drink with the addition of Tajin deliver a spicy and sweet sip or fall flat?
By Sam Zwick
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Both Red Robin and Texas Roadhouse make hamburgers that hit the spot when you're hungry. We tried them to learn which establishment makes the superior burger.
By Sam Zwick
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Read on to determine whether or not the Vanilla Creme Cold Brew or the Toasted White Chocolate Iced Coffee should be part of your next Dunkin' run.
By Sam Zwick
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Applebee's and Chili's may not be steakhouses, but both offer a few affordable steaks on their menus. We tasted and compared both sirloin and ribeye cuts.
By Sam Zwick
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While you're waiting for the next county fair, you might want to get your corn dog fix elsewhere. We look at how the options from Sonic and Culver's stack up.
By Sam Zwick
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Chili's introduced Honey Chipotle Mozz just in time for the holidays. See if the sweet and spicy secret menu item is worth ordering at your next Chili's visit.
By Sam Zwick
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As the mayor of Flavortown, Guy Fieri keeps barbecue high on his agenda. We tried and ranked the brand's BBQ sauces, and learned that one needs to be voted out.
By Sam Zwick
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Wendy's released its new Mushroom Bacon Cheeseburger that's covered in garlic sauce and Muenster cheese. Find out if it is worth sinking your teeth into.
By Sam Zwick
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Burger King's Whopper is a classic but the brand recently launched a contest for a new kind of Whopper and we reviewed the top three finalists.
By Sam Zwick
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To find out what makes Cracker Barrel's mashed potatoes so delectable, we went straight to the source and chatted with an expert. Here's the inside scoop.
By Sam Zwick
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Sonic dropped its winter menu just in time for chilly weather. See if the new festive drinks and cheesy smash burger will get you ready for the cozy season.
By Sam Zwick
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With so many options, buying beef can be intimidating. We’re here to help you out, with some of the best and worst beef products you can buy at Walmart.
By Sam Zwick
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The Chicken Big Mac is a new chicken sandwich offered by McDonald's that's similar to its original Big Mac. But is this new menu item actually worth trying?
By Sam Zwick
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Mashed flew down to Miami to get a peek at what Burger King is cooking up for the spooky season with a menu the re-imagines classics and a few new additions
By Sam Zwick
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Sonic released two new Loaded Queso Fries with Bacon Ranch and Southwest options. See if these cheesy fries are good enough to add to your next order.
By Sam Zwick
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Coffee fans may notice seasonal flavors hitting menus earlier this year. Not to be left behind as the leaves change, Dunkin' has released two new beverages.
By Sam Zwick
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Both Costco and Walmart offer rotisserie chickens for a quick grab-and-go dinner, but as we discovered, not all birds are created equal.
By Sam Zwick
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Chili’s has released a new secret menu item: Nashville Hot Fried Mozzarella. We went to our local Chili’s to try them ourselves. Here’s what we thought.
By Sam Zwick
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McDonald's has a new Kit Kat Banana Split McFlurry to help customers cool down this summer. But is this split a success or surprising dessert dud?
By Sam Zwick
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Subway added three new signature subs, sauces, and SubKrunch topping to its menu for the Summer of Footlongs. Discover a new favorite to enjoy this summer.
By Sam Zwick
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Sonic Drive-In released six new drinks for the summer with its Flavorista Favorites menu. See how we ranked these uniquely crafted summer treats.
By Sam Zwick
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We tried two limited-time Buffalo Wild Wings flavors to decide if they're worth getting your fingers messy for or if it's best to stick with your go-to order.
By Sam Zwick
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My/Mochi has released two new flavors. We tried both those and the rest of the current My/Mochi lineup to bring you a ranking of them all, from worst to best.
By Sam Zwick
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Blue Moon Brewing Company teamed up with Hardscoop to create Home Run Twist. It's a refreshing combo of beer-infused ice cream that will beat the heat.
By Sam Zwick
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Culver's has been a beloved Midwest burger joint, but how has it changed -- or not -- over the years? Here's what it was like to eat at the very first Culver's.
By Sam Zwick
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Fast food restaurants offer a quick and easy option to get your coffee fix, but many drink options pack in far more sugar than you might expect.
By Sam Zwick
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