Paul Gaita - The Takeout

With Us Since

2020

Location

Los Angeles, CA

School

Emerson College

Expertise

Beer connoisseurship, Pizza recipes, Food history

Paul covered regional dessert makers throughout Southern California for Westways magazine.
He has been making his own pizza dough and pasta for more than a decade.
Though he's eaten at hundreds of restaurants in the United States, Europe, and Mexico, he thinks the bacon, egg, and cheese (with regular coffee) at the Croton Mini Dell in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, is the best thing he's ever had.

Experience

Paul has been a professional writer, editor, and researcher for more than 25 years. During that time, he has contributed to Variety, MasterClass, LA Weekly, Apple News, Company Cue, AAA Westways, Flood, The Fix, The Costco Connection, The Nationwide, Merry Jane, and The Los Angeles Beat, among many other publications and websites. He wrote home video reviews and blogs for Amazon for more than 14 years and penned a daily movie and television awards season blog for the Los Angeles Times. He was also the managing editor of The Newsreel, the Walt Disney Company's monthly corporate magazine. Paul began contributing to Looper in 2020 and has applied his extensive knowledge of and voracious appetite for movies, television, fiction, comic books, and pop culture ephemera to numerous features.

Education

Paul has a bachelor's degree in writing, literature, and publishing from Emerson College.

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 Paul Gaita

The Popular KFC Side Colonel Sanders Actually Hated

One of KFC’s most popular side dishes was reportedly disliked by Colonel Sanders so much that he made disparaging comments, despite its popularity today.
By Paul Gaita Read More
How Your Garlic Confit Can Turn Out To Be Toxic

Garlic confit is a great addition to many dishes, but improper storage is particularly dangerous here. This is how the ingredient can turn toxic.
By Paul Gaita Read More
Why Olive Garden Servers Won't Leave The Cheese Grater At Your Table (Asking Nicely Won't Help)

If you're shy about the amount of cheese you want on top of your Olive Garden pasta, asking your server to leave the grater at the table isn't a solution.
By Paul Gaita Read More
The Unexpected Fish Chefs Turn Into Bacon, Pastrami, And Cracklings

Chefs are transforming an unexpected type of fish into bacon, pastrami, and cracklings using creative techniques that deliver bold, savory flavors.
By Paul Gaita Read More
These Dirt-Cheap Meat Cuts Your Grandparents Ate Are Packed With Nutrients

Most Americans are reaching for the same exact cuts of meat at the grocery store, which makes these overlooked cuts of meat dirt-cheap and nutritious.
By Paul Gaita Read More
The One Place Bartenders Hate Customers Sitting In

Bartenders say they hate when someone sits in one seat at the bar since it can slow service, create stress, and make it harder for everyone to enjoy the night.
By Paul Gaita Read More
The Right Way To Reheat Olive Garden's Doughnuts Back To Perfection

Olive Garden's Warm Italian Doughnuts are a popular dessert which you can take home with you, but you should reheat them to achieve a better taste.
By Paul Gaita Read More
The Rude Customer Behavior Deli Counter Workers Absolutely Hate

Deli counter workers deal with plenty of rude habits but one customer behavior stands out as especially frustrating and happens more often than you think.
By Paul Gaita Read More
The Aldi Soup That Smelled (And Tasted) Like Cat Food

Aldi normally offers great products, but not everything at the affordable grocery chain hits the mark. This soup is one we thought smelled like cat food.
By Paul Gaita Read More
The Hands-Down Grossest Food Recall In US History

A massive food recall shocked the nation, revealing serious contamination issues and raising lasting concerns about safety in the food supply.
By Paul Gaita Read More
Meatloaf Gets A Savory Lift With This Salty Canned Addition

Meatloaf doesn't have to be bland and boring. Reach into your pantry for this overlooked canned good if you want to add delicious savoriness to meatloaf.
By Paul Gaita Read More
This Chain Italian Restaurant Is Wildly Overpriced, According To Customers

All restaurant prices are getting out of hand, but this chain Italian restaurant seems to really be running away with things, according to customers.
By Paul Gaita Read More
Sour Cream Belongs In Your Next Batch Of Brownies. Here's Why (And How Much To Add)

If you've never tried baking hacks to improve your brownie recipe, you're missing out. One secret ingredient swap is to add sour cream for true decadence.
By Paul Gaita Read More
The Beer Brewery Mistake That Will Make Everyone Judge You

Ordering beer isn't supposed to be difficult, but there's one small way you could accidentally be annoying brewery staff and patrons without realizing it.
By Paul Gaita Read More
Give Tuna Salad A Punch Of Sweetness With This Pantry Addition

There are a seemingly endless number of ways to upgrade tuna salad, but this one will provide a touch of sweetness to the mix which you'll certainly enjoy.
By Paul Gaita Read More
Avoid Overcooked Rubbery Shrimp Every Time With This Foolproof Method

The last thing you want to have happen when you cook shrimp is ruin dinner because of a rubbery texture. Try using this cooking method instead.
By Paul Gaita Read More
The Olive Garden Mistake That Will Cost You Your Unlimited Breadsticks

Think nothing could ever come between you and unlimited Olive Garden breadsticks? Making this mistake puts the kibosh on Olive Garden's breadstick train.
By Paul Gaita Read More
The Common Cold Dish You'd Likely Be Served On An Airplane In The 1930s

Even a simple in-flight meal back in the 1930s, featuring this crisp and juicy fan-favorite cold dish, feels super luxurious to most airline travelers today.
By Paul Gaita Read More
A Crustacean Case For The FBI: $400k Worth Of Lobsters Hijacked En Route To Costco

A huge amount of live lobsters were stolen in transit to Costco stores in the Midwest. Here's how this crime impacts both businesses and consumers.
By Paul Gaita Read More
The Breakfast Meat You Might Want To Ignore At Aldi, According To Some Customers

Aldi products are often the topic of discussion, and this breakfast staple is going through it after getting on some customers' bad side. Here's what to know.
By Paul Gaita Read More
The Best Ways To Prevent Mashed Potatoes From Becoming A Gluey Mess

Learn how to keep mashed potatoes light and fluffy with simple expert tips that prevent them from turning dense, gummy, or gluey as you serve your family.
By Paul Gaita Read More
The Stomach-Churning Reason You Might Want To Skip Gas Station Slushies This Summer

Hot summer heat is a great time to run over to a gas station for an ice cold slushy, but there's a very good reason to avoid doing so if you hate getting sick.
By Paul Gaita Read More
Why Trader Joe's KitKat Copycat Is One Of The Worst Chocolate Bars It Sells

Trader Joe's has a KitKat copycat product known as Chocolate Covered Wafers, but the truth is they are a complete miss. Here's what the brand got wrong.
By Paul Gaita Read More
If You Do This At Sam's Club, The Employees Might Just Hate You

Although the public has lost sight of what it means to be a decent human being in a grocery store, that doesn't mean you need to be one of them. Don't do this.
By Paul Gaita Read More
What It Means When Deli Meat Feels Slimy (It's Not Spoiled)

Ever wonder why deli meat usually starts feeling a little slimy? Don't worry, it's not probably not spoiled; the main reason is actually pretty boring.
By Paul Gaita Read More
The Magic Words That'll Get You A Fresh Filet-O-Fish Sandwich At McDonald's Every Time

The magic word required to receive something is usually "please." But if you want a fresh Filet-O-Fish from McDonald's, you'll need a few extra words.
By Paul Gaita Read More
The Potentially Deadly Reason To Avoid Thawing Fish In Its Vacuum-Sealed Package

Vacuum-sealed fish pose the risk of exposure to potentially life-threatening bacteria if stored or thawed incorrectly. Here’s how to do it safely.
By Paul Gaita Read More

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