Location
Chicago, Illinois
School
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Expertise
Food and Product Reviews, Cooking and Recipe Development, Restaurant Cooking
- Dennis has written for Bon Appétit (print cover story), Serious Eats, Thrillist, and more.
- He is a former professional pizzamaker.
- He broke the news that the Choco Taco was being discontinued.
Experience
Dennis is a Chicago-based food writer with over 15 years of experience covering everything from local, independently-owned restaurants to reviewing items released by massive fast-food chains. His writing appears in publications such as Bon Appétit, Serious Eats and publications local to Chicago. He's also a former pizzamaker at Paulie Gee's Logan Square, and he now cooks to raise money for various local charities. And if there's one thing he truly believes in, it's that food and cooking should be fun and accessible to all — seriously, play with your food, and laugh at your mistakes, it's okay!
Education
Dennis has a creative writing degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
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.
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McDonald's is bringing back a popular dessert for a limited time and customers have immediately responded with calls to make it a permanent offer.
By Dennis Lee
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Our taster chomped their way through 10 Walmart Bettergoods pizzas to find the best flavor. The hands-down winner boasted no less than five kinds of cheese.
By Dennis Lee
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Unfortunately, not every new Trader Joe's product hits it out of the park. The taste and texture of this breakfast treat leave a lot to be desired.
By Dennis Lee
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A frozen cheese pizza may not sound like the most appetizing thing in the world, but our favorite one comes from a brand you can trust thanks to its sauce.
By Dennis Lee
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There's a fun conspiracy theory going around on the internet right now that claims Guy Fieri never actually swallows any of the food he eats on his show.
By Dennis Lee
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Trader Joe's mini tote bags have gone super viral in previous years, which is why fans are excited to see what this year's version will look like.
By Dennis Lee
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The nostalgic birthday cake favorite, Fudgie the Whale, is stepping outside Carvel locations for a bow at a major grocery chain. And it has a whole new look,.
By Dennis Lee
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In the inaugural edition of Ragebite, Dennis Lee tries out a mashed potato recipe made with a truly curious and disturbing set of ingredients.
By Dennis Lee
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If you've purchased frozen food from either Costco or Walmart recently, this popular pizza brand has just issued a recall for one of its products.
By Dennis Lee
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A new line of hard seltzers has just been released called Fresca Hard, and after trying them for ourselves we think they may just be the drink of the summer.
By Dennis Lee
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Laughing Cow is a cheese brand that many people love, but name brands often come with a higher price tag. This Laughing Cow dupe at Aldi is an affordable hit.
By Dennis Lee
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Costco's deli section has lots of options that can help you cook a meal with minimal prep, but this side dish is ready to go and perfect for an office lunch.
By Dennis Lee
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Are you excited about some new baked beans? No? Well, Bush's hopes to change your mind with three new flavors and we tried them to see if they're any good.
By Dennis Lee
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Costco's premades are not only sizable and convenient but also tasty. However, one of the grocery giant's pasta premades gets middling marks from customers.
By Dennis Lee
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When you're looking to get the most bang for your buck on a to-go order, head on over to Texas Roadhouse. This Family Pack is delicious and affordable.
By Dennis Lee
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Fish sandwiches don't have to taste dry and boring when you make them at home. This simple sauce is easy to make yourself and gives the dish a flavor boost.
By Dennis Lee
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Many fast food chains cut out the middle man by making their own sauces, but this fast food chain bucks the trend by offering the best selling BBQ sauce.
By Dennis Lee
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A fan-favorite Costco food court item is quietly returning to select locations, exciting shoppers who missed the longtime staple that existed pre-COVID.
By Dennis Lee
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Costco’s new bakery item is turning heads with a popular flavor customers are already excited about, sparking plenty of buzz in stores and online.
By Dennis Lee
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Olive Garden has plenty of popular items, but there's plenty that's overlooked. These five menu items are definitely worth giving a try next time.
By Dennis Lee
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Don't grab just any package from the grocery store's meat section when you want to make pulled pork. Here's the best cut of pork for the job.
By Dennis Lee
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Dining trends in 2026 are changing, as they do, and as you might suspect nostalgia is a driving force which is on display with the demand for these dishes.
By Dennis Lee
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Trader Joe’s insulated mini tote bags are back just in time for this summer, perfect for keeping snacks cool and carrying groceries in style.
By Dennis Lee
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Aldi skips a common umami-boosting additive in its products, reflecting its ingredient standards and shaping the flavors shoppers experience daily.
By Dennis Lee
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Costco is testing its food court chicken strips (previously available in Canada) in a few Chicagoland locations. Is this item ready to take America by storm?
By Dennis Lee
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Caramelized onions only require two ingredients: a cooking fat and onions. It's a straightforward preparation, as long as you don't make this fat mistake.
By Dennis Lee
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McDonald's is planning a major shift in how customers experience its restaurants, with plans to move away from a familiar self-serve feature over time.
By Dennis Lee
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