Dani Zoeller - The Takeout

With Us Since

2022

Location

Orlando, Florida

School

Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University

Expertise

Coffee, Disney Cuisine & Festivals, Food History

Dani spent several years working as a Barista at Starbucks and college coffee shops, and she loves making better-than-Starbucks drinks from the comfort of home.
Most days of the week, you'll find Dani enjoying cuisine in and around Disney World.
An avid researcher, Dani loves discovering the rich history behind her favorite foods.

Experience

In elementary school, Dani began her journey to becoming a writer. This path would take her through 11 years of teaching middle schoolers to find their voices before becoming a freelance writer herself. Today, she spends her days playing with food, hopping among Orlando's best restaurants and theme parks, and sharing it all through her writing. In addition to Tasting Table, Dani writes for Study.com and The Orlando Informer.

Education

Dani earned her bachelor's in English from Illinois State University and a master's in English from Northern Illinois University.

The Takeout Editorial Policies

The Takeout’s industry-leading editorial coverage is the result of collaboration between writers and editors with a wide array of experience and expertise in the world of food and drink. Every article is fact-checked by our team of editors to ensure accuracy. Outside experts are also consulted to help deliver factual, up-to-date information.

Our mission is to both inform and entertain our readers, telling them everything they want to know (and more) about food. We strive to always provide a well-rounded reading experience, bringing both the biggest food news of the day and a break from the news. Additional information on our editorial process available here.

Stories By Dani Zoeller

6 Costco Bakery Items Worth Buying And 5 To Avoid

Costco is pretty overwhelming, and its bakery department is no exception, so we narrowed down which items to buy and which are worth passing up.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
11 Oat Milk Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

Oat milk can be used in lots of different ways, but some brands are definitely much better than others. We tried a selection to see how they stack up.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Wendy's 2026 Spring Menu Should Go Back Into Hibernation

Wendy's is trying something bold and spicy for its new spring menu. Find out if Wendy's new jalapeño and ranch offerings leave us craving for more.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Cheez-It Chili Cheese Dog Flavor Is Gonna Be A No From Me Dawg

Cheez-It has unveiled a new flavor of its iconic cheese crackers to celebrate the 2026 U.S. Soccer season. Here's what our expert taste-tester thought of it.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
12 Instant Espresso Brands, Ranked From Worst To Best

Instant espresso is quick and convenient, but some brands are definitely much better than others. We tried a selection to see how they stack up.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: McDonald's KPop Demon Hunters Happy Meal Takes It Up Up Up (And It's Not Because Of The Toy)

McDonald's is keeping up with popular movies, with its latest pop culture fast food collab. Discover the KPop Demon Hunters menu for a limited time only.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
10 Frozen Costco Foods That Taste Homemade

Frozen foods are the heroes of weekday meals, but flavor is sometimes lacking. These gems from Costco's freezer aisle are reliable buys for taste and quality.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: Mike's Hard Dirty Lemonade: Fun To Say, Even Funner To Drink (I May Have Had A Few)

Mike’s Dirty Lemonade is a new take on the dirty soda trend, but is it any good? We tried the four new fruity flavors to see if they’re worth buying.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: One Sip Of Starbucks' Hannah Montana Popstar Refresher Had Me Saying 'Sweet Niblets!'

Starbucks is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hannah Montana with a special Hannah’s Secret Popstar Refresher drink, but is it worth ordering?
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: Taco Bell's New Dirty Sodas Didn't Leave My Mouth In The Gutter

Taco Bell's in the dirty soda game with Pepsi, Mountain Dew Baja Blast, and Baja Midnight flavors. I did a taste test to see if "making it dirty" is worth it.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
I'm A Former Starbucks Barista. Here's What Customers Don't Know

Whether you're a casual coffee drinker or a regular Refresher enjoyer, there are some things at Starbucks that most customers probably don't know.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
I Tried 8 Starbucks Drinks To Dunk Cake Pops In And This Was The Best

Have you ever mindfully paired a Starbucks drink with a cake pop? We wanted to see if the pairings were a good idea, and had a lot of surprises along the way.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
The 13 Best Pantry Staples You Can Find At Costco

With its famously low prices on bulk grocery items, Costco is a great place to stock up on pantry staples. Here are 13 must-buy products to get you started.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
I'm A Former Barista. Here's How To Make The Best Salted Caramel Iced Espresso

A former barista shares expert tips for making the best salted caramel iced espresso at home, with balanced sweetness and bold coffee flavor.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
14 Foods You Probably Thought Were Vegan, But Aren't

Many common foods that may initially seem to be vegan actually aren’t for one reason or another. Here are the items you need to look out for.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
I Shop At Costco Every Week. Here's The One Item That's Always In My Cart

New member, or loyal fan, we all love a cult-favorite at Costco. That's why we'll never leave Costco without this popular Kirkland Signature dupe in our cart.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: Dunkin' Valentine's Day Drinks Menu 2026, Ranked Dud To Stud

Dunkin' has released a limited-time Valentine's Day drinks menu that's filled with sweet, fruity, and chocolatey treats. Find out which are worth buying.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
The 12 Best Tips For First Time Costco Shoppers

If you're a newly minted Costco member, take heed of these top tips to ensure you have the most productive and efficient shopping experience.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: Snickers Ice Cream Minis May Become Your Favorite Freezer Treat

Snickers Ice Cream Minis may be small in size, but they pack a lot of fun into a few frozen bites. Here's what we thought about each of the five flavors.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: Arby's Peach Cobbler Rolls Should Have You Running To Your Local Restaurant

The new limited-time treat from Arby’s takes the warmth of sweet peach cobbler and packs it in a roll. We took a bite to see if this dessert is worth your time.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: Starbucks' Dubai Chocolate Inspired Matcha And Mocha May Just Become My Go-To Order

Starbucks has added two new Dubai chocolate-inspired drinks to its winter menu, but are they worth ordering? We tried them both to find out.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: We Tried Dutch Bros New Breakfast Inspired Drinks And Only One Hit The Mark

Why sit down for breakfast when you can get it iced and to-go? We try some sweet new offerings from Dutch Bros to see if they’re the right start to your day.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: Burger King's SpongeBob Movie Menu Is A Nostalgic Delight

Burger King is going under the sea for its new menu, inspired by the whimsy of "SpongeBob Squarepants." But does the menu live up to expectations?
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: Dunkin's Winter Holiday Menu Is A Sweet Mix Of Seasonal Flavors

Is this year's holiday menu from Dunkin' a festive treat or a not-so-jolly disappointment? We tried the coffee chain's newest offerings to find out.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Review: Dunkin's Wicked Drinks Cast A Spell On Us

Dunkin’ has launched two new limited-time green and pink drinks to celebrate the new Wicked film. We tried them to see if they’re worth ordering.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
Dirty Mountain Dew Cream Soda Dew Is A Confusing Mix Of Flavors

Most of Mountain Dew's options are fruity, but now we're getting creamy flavors in the mix. We took a sip to see if these new cans deserve the dirty soda name.
By Dani Zoeller Read More
12 Popular Portillo's Menu Items, Ranked

After trying several Portillo's menu items, from hot dogs to sausages, we determined which of the chain's offerings pays proper homage to the Windy City.
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