Leslie Kelly

Crazy about all things food! Writing about it for Dish, Allrecipes' go-to spot for articles and tips. I've been cooking since I was 9, turning that life-long love-fest into a food writing career that includes working at major metropolitan newspapers. I've been a restaurant critic and tried making it as a professional cook, but it was way too hard.

I love traveling and have eaten my way halfway around the world, from Buenos Aires to Trondheim, Norway and back again, suitcase always stuffed with exotic ingredients.

My cooking heroes are Julia Child, who I interviewed twice, and Jacques Pepin, Alton Brown and my grandmother, who tried to teach me how to make dill pickles, but I cannot seem to get them to taste like Nana's. WHY? I don't know.

Last thing: I'm obsessed with fried chicken and I trained to be a barbecue judge while living in Memphis, Tenn., a city that has a tremendous food scene I was lucky enough to write about for three years. Miss you, Memphis!