Ilene V. Smith - Chowhound

Location

New York, NY

School

New York University, Columbia University

Expertise

Nutrition, Food production, Culinary arts

Ilene has helped the food industry craft stories about the foods they grow, produce, serve, and put on store shelves for 25 years.
She has won two Silver Anvil awards from the Public Relations Society of America for campaigns highlighting the health benefits of specific foods.
She is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).

Experience

Ilene has been a writer and storyteller since she got her first typewriter at age ten. She worked as a full-time editor and writer for various publishing companies until her personal passion for food, nutrition, and fitness led her to seek a degree in nutrition and exercise physiology. After graduation, she found a way to combine her writing skills and nutrition expertise working in public relations for the food industry. Working with everyone from small start-ups to large multinational consumer packaged goods manufacturers to ingredient suppliers and restaurants, Ilene developed a deep knowledge of the food industry and culinary arts, from seed to spoon and farm to fork. In addition to nutrition, she now writes about food ingredients, cooking techniques, growing methods, and more. In her spare time, Ilene is a personal essayist and is at work on a book of essays entitled "The Accidental Career Girl."

Education

Ilene has a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communications from New York University and a master's in nutrition and applied physiology from Columbia University.

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Stories By Ilene V. Smith

Beer And Wine

Beer And Wine By Ilene V. Smith

Craving A Great Wine On A Budget? Here's What To Look For On The Label

Fantastic wine doesn't have to come with an outrageous price tag. Wine expert Helena Nicklin told Chowhound what to look for if you're on a budget.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Beer And Wine

Beer And Wine By Ilene V. Smith

Giada De Laurentiis Buys This Surprisingly Cheap Sauvignon Blanc By The Case

Chef and Food Network personality Giada De Laurentiis can likely afford to drink whatever she likes. However, her go-to wine is surprisingly inexpensive.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Fast Food

Fast Food By Ilene V. Smith

How Much Burger King's Whopper Cost In 1957 Vs Today

It can be fun, taking a look back to the past to compare to today. Other times, like when comparing Burger King's Whopper price in 1957 to today, it's less fun.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Mixology And Techniques

Mixology And Techniques By Ilene V. Smith

Ice Does More Than Cool Your Cocktail — The Size And Shape Can Actually Change The Flavor

Ice and cocktails go hand in hand, but ice doesn't only keep your drink cold. The size and shape of the ice cubes actually impacts the cocktail's flavor.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Kitchen

Kitchen By Ilene V. Smith

The Popular Type Of Kitchen Appliances The Property Brothers Avoid (And What They Buy Instead)

There's one carbon-emitting home appliance that HGTV's Jonathan and Drew Scott steer clear of; here's the eco-friendly solution they opt for instead.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Cooking

Cooking By Ilene V. Smith

The Marinade Mistake You Don't Want To Make When Cooking Lobster

Marinating your lobster can offer it a boost of dimensional flavor, but chef Rick Bayless warns against adding one component that can wreck the meat.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Gardening

Gardening By Ilene V. Smith

The Clever Way To Repurpose Tea Bags For Your Garden

Tea is more than a warm way to get some hydration. You can give your used-up tea bags another life and use them to nourish your garden as well.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Kitchen Tools

Kitchen Tools By Ilene V. Smith

The Ingenious Way College Kids Are Cooking 5-Star Dorm Room Meals

There's a current social media trend spotlighting college kids making fancy meals in their humble dorm rooms. Here's how they're pulling it off.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Food History

Food History By Ilene V. Smith

The Old-School Salad Dressing With A Recipe That's Nearly Impossible To Pin Down

Searching for a recipe that you can't pin down is the worst, especially one that you're craving, like this old-school salad dressing with an unique past.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Storage And Preservation

Storage And Preservation By Ilene V. Smith

How Long Are Potatoes Really Good For?

Potatoes are a hardy vegetable known for their long shelf life, but how long is that exactly? And how should you store these spuds for maximum freshness?
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Facts

Facts By Ilene V. Smith

The Fine Dining Etiquette Rule You Should Never Break, No Matter How Hungry You Are

Fine dining can seem like a complex maze of rules and regulations, and Chowhound asked an etiquette expert about the one unacceptable faux pas.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Facts

Facts By Ilene V. Smith

The Best Cuisine To Cook To Beat Bobby Flay, According To Data Science

Chefs who find themselves cooking against culinary celebrity Bobby Flay have a much better chance of winning if they cook this type of food.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Cooking

Cooking By Ilene V. Smith

The Safest Cooking Method For Ultra Rare Tuna Steaks

Cooking tuna extra rare preserves its rich flavor and buttery texture, but how can you do so safely? We spoke to an expert for their take on the matter.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Restaurants

Restaurants By Ilene V. Smith

Cracker Barrel Sells More Than 11 Million Of This Menu Item Each Year

There's one classic Southern Cracker Barrel dish that outsells many other menu items, even if not everyone's a fan. Read on to find out what it is!
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Coffee And Tea

Coffee And Tea By Ilene V. Smith

Save Money By Making Your Favorite Iced Mocha At Home With Instant Coffee

If you enjoy drinking iced mochas but don't feel like forking over a bunch of dough for one, you can save some cash by making the drink with instant coffee.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Fast Food

Fast Food By Ilene V. Smith

5 Fun Fast Food And Wine Pairings You Need To Try At Least Once

Whether you're a fan of Taco Bell or Chick-fil-A, if you often have wine with dinner, you might find these expert-approved pairings surprisingly pleasant.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Food History

Food History By Ilene V. Smith

The BBQ Rib Competition That Led Sweet Baby Ray's To Fame

Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce rose to popularity following its appearance at a rib competition in the '80s. It didn't come first place but its legacy prevailed.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Restaurants

Restaurants By Ilene V. Smith

Why So Many Restaurants Are Closed On Mondays

At some point, you've probably been annoying or disappointed that you're favoriate restaurant is closed on Monday, but there's a good reason for that.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Cooking

Cooking By Ilene V. Smith

Fixing Undercooked Rice Is Easier Than You Think

Don’t toss that undercooked rice just yet, it's not a lost cause. Try this quick and simple trick to make sure it comes out fluffy and ready to eat.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Cocktails And Spirits

Cocktails And Spirits By Ilene V. Smith

What's The Best Whiskey For Cooking?

Spirits are good for more than just sipping. If you're looking to tenderize meat or give a dish more flavor, here are the best whiskeys to use in the kitchen.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Cooking

Cooking By Ilene V. Smith

You're Just 2 Ingredients Away From Gourmet Black Truffle Butter

Though it may seem like an insane luxury, you can actually make your very own black truffle butter at home for a reasonable price.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Cocktails And Spirits

Cocktails And Spirits By Ilene V. Smith

How The Last Word Cocktail Was Invented In Detroit Over A Century Ago

A powerful cocktail with an electric green color, the Last Word can trace its lineage to the Detroit's glitzy pre-Prohibition days.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Facts

Facts By Ilene V. Smith

Whatever Happened To Coconut Girl From Shark Tank?

Praised for her coconut-milk ice cream sandwiches, Francheska Yamsuan pitched her Coconut Girl business to the Sharks in 2020. Here's what happened next.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Storage And Preservation

Storage And Preservation By Ilene V. Smith

How Long Is Raw Chicken Good For In Your Fridge?

Raw chicken is one of the most notorious foods for harboring bacteria, but how long exactly can you leave it in the fridge before it's no longer safe?
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Food History

Food History By Ilene V. Smith

How 'Desperation Pies' Became The Ultimate Sweet Treat Of The Great Depression

Desperation pies, or "make-do" pies, were an invention of the Great Depression that led to everything from mock apples pies and water pies.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Kitchen Tools

Kitchen Tools By Ilene V. Smith

Knife Sharpeners Vs Whetstones: What's The Difference?

A good knife is the most important tool for a cook, but you must ensure you keep it properly maintained with either a knife sharpener or a whetstone.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More
Cocktails And Spirits

Cocktails And Spirits By Ilene V. Smith

This Mexican Liquor Is Coming For Tequila's Spot

Tequila has long enjoyed a place on the podium of most-enjoyed liqours, but this other Mexican liquor has been picking up steam and may even surpass tequila.
By Ilene V. Smith Read More

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