Current Contributors
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Mary Bigham
Founder / Author / Community Manager
Mary Bigham, the creator of wcdish, is a self-admitted sushi and travel addict. She has a crush on just about every food but refuses to eat American cheese.
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Erin Phelps
Copy Editor
When she isn’t running, trying new recipes with her family or scouring Craigslist for deals, this mother of two (super-cute little boys) spends her free time (what's that again?) editing for West Chester Dish. This 30-year-old editor in Southern Chester County is always looking for the next best Mexican restaurant, tasty ice-cream treats, local products to incorporate into her meals and kid-friendly places to enjoy with her family.
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Amy Strauss
Editor in Chief / Director of Social Media
Bred a full-blown PA Dutch gal, Amy Strauss is a Philly suburb-based food fiend who lives to chomp up-and-down the East Coast. Weaving through the latest brewpubs and craft breweries, up-and-coming bakeries and eclectic eateries, this twenty-something aims to live her food life as seen on an edible Travel Channel episode and always dashes to eat dessert first.
Recent Articles by Amy Strauss
- Fifteen Minutes with a Foodie: Meet Kellyn McNamara, TownDish’s New Intern
- Surf’s Up! Doc Magrogan’s Hosts Kickoff Party for Famous Shore Shack
- (CLOSED) TICKET GIVEAWAY: Join Brandywine Ballet for their Upcoming Production of “Beauty & the Beast”
- Celebrate Easter 2012 in Chester County with Brunch, Dinner, Egg Hunts, Hayrides, and More!
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Laura Taylor
Marketing Manager
Laura Taylor, a busy young mom of two with a flair for design, created PhoenixvilleFunGuide.com as an online resource that allows readers access to the area's events and activities as well as fun local things to see and do. If she's not attached to her laptop, you can find her enjoying the sights and sounds of Phoenixville with her family, or enjoying creative pursuits such as photography, graphic design, music and writing.
Recent Articles by Laura Taylor
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Jason Tremblay
Founder / Web Developer
Jason Tremblay loves drinking quality coffee (single shot Americano, no room) and writing beautiful code (PHP + HTML + CSS + Javascript)... preferably at the same time.
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Allison Benford
Photographer
Allison Benford is a West Chester-based photographer who has been taking pictures since her Grandmother gave her a camera for her eighth birthday. Allison enjoys photographing events, weddings, candid portraits and delicious food.
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Becca Boyd
Author
Becca Boyd is a certified High School Cooking teacher and new mom – currently out on maternity leave. She’s pretty much obsessed with food, whether she’s talking nutrition, dining out, or doing some good, old-fashioned home cookin'. She thinks cooking is important and exciting, and loves to share recent recipes with LOTS of pictures of the how-tos with non-complicated cooking terms on her blog.
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Kate Brennan
Author
Kate is an event planner by day, economist by degree, and artist by passion. She continues to voraciously read and learn about food, despite never actually cooking much herself.
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Jim Breslin
Managing Editor
Jim Breslin prefers cheeseburgers over filet mignon and porter over pilsner. He once ordered and ate Six Meats and Sauerkraut in Luxembourg, though he didn’t finish the tripe. He’s fumbled with chopsticks in Beijing, eaten conch fritters in Grand Cayman and fish and chips in Australia. His biggest dining faux pas? Asking a Quizno’s employee in Toronto for American cheese. At home, he is known for homemade pizza, stromboli, and killer enchiladas. Jim is also the founder of the West Chester Story slam and a fiction writer. His first collection of short stories, Elephant, is best served with Victory Hopdevil or a a chilled Pinot Grigio.
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Nina Cazille
Photographer
Nina's true passion is reflected in the images she captures. She has chronicled life, love and laughter from her home in Chester County clear across the USA to the Pacific Ocean. Nina seems to be everywhere and always has her camera... so make sure you're smiling.
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Angela Corrado
Editorial Contributor/Special Projects Director
Raised on a mix of authentic Italian cuisine and the German meat n' potato diet, Angela is a goofy food enthusiast who believes there is no such thing as too much garlic. She's giddy about trying nutritious recipes from all over the world, but refuses to measure ingredients. If you can't find her at the nearest Mexican restaurant, food or beer festival, she's most likely enjoying an adventurous outdoor activity.
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Doug and Sandy Essinger-Hileman
Authors
Doug and Sandy Essinger-Hileman are gardeners, cooks, bakers, brewers and vintners. Their most recent gastronomic project had them steaming up the windows with this year’s pickling. Both are passionate about sharing their love of local and seasonal foods prepared with heart and soul. They count among their greatest successes that they passed along their love of gastronomy to their three grown kids. (All three requested cookware for recent birthdays!)
Recent Articles by Doug and Sandy Essinger-Hileman
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Ryan Hudak
Author
Payroll clerk by day and craft beer aficionado by night (and weekend), Ryan Hudak is most often seen with a frosty beverage in his hand while out and about in the local drinking and dining scene. Originally from Cleveland, OH, Ryan developed an affinity for craft beer shortly after finishing college when he realized there was more to life than a night out with Natty Light. With a long list of favorites including local brews and exotic blends, Ryan happily reports on all of his beer-loving escapades around PA.
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Nina Malone
Author
What firecracker red head loves eclectic cuisine, fine wine, craft beer and creative cocktails–Nina Malone, that's who. Mamma and Pappa raised her right, "making" her try new foods and she's embraced that mantra into her veggie-inspired lifestyle. A frequent traveler to Napa and Sonoma, Nina has an appreciation for great wine and can properly use words like “butter esters" ...and she's also never met a freshly-made seasonal micro brew she didn't like. When Nina’s not leading her team as they bring good-for-you Arbonne products to the masses, she and her hubs can be found with a libation in hand and a plate of something good on the table and telling us all about it.
Recent Articles by Nina Malone
- Only Through Mother’s Day: $1 from Each Sparrow Saison at Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant Goes to Charity
- Sparrow Saison is A-Brewin’ and Will Launch May 10
- Alfredo’s Italian Pizza Kitchen Opens March 30 in West Chester
- West Chester Beer Ladies Collaborate with Iron Hill on a Limited-Edition Beer for Charity
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Arianna Marie
Author
After spending much of her childhood traveling and living coast to coast, Arianna’s learned a thing or two about what's delicious and is so thankful for her upbringing. She loves her family, friends and appreciates all cultures.. and their food! She enjoys watching movies, playing with her dogs and going to concerts.
Recent Articles by Arianna Marie
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Kellyn McNamara
Intern
Kellyn is on a mission for nutrition, with a pronounced passion for delicious food. She enjoys a vegetarian lifestyle, and is interested in finding the best local options for her fellow veggies. Local, community sustained agriculture is very important to her. Currently, Kellyn is a WCU student planning to graduate next spring with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, and a minor in Journalism.
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Arne Morin
Author
An avid lover of beer, Arne Morin spends his time sampling new beers on tap or compiling an eclectic "pick your own" six pack to bring home. He has tried over 450 different beers from 34 countries and 29 states. Not only does he spend his time drinking beer, but he also spends his time brewing it as well. Arne enjoys most styles of beer but lately he has been more partial to big beers like scotch and barleywine ales.
Recent Articles by Arne Morin
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LeeAnne Mullins
Author
Born and raised in Canada, LeeAnne traded in her parka and snow boots to sip and sample the Philly-area food scene and hasn't looked back since. LeeAnne is a self-proclaimed travel nut who wanders the world with a food focus, visiting vineyards and photographing tasty nibbles along the way. When not roaming the globe, she can usually be found wielding a chef's knife in her own kitchen, browsing PA farmers' markets or dining on her next great meal at local restaurants
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Sarah Reese
Author
Sarah's dream job is to own a small cafe and bookstore and if that doesn’t work out she wants to be homeless in Europe. In the mean time she's exploring and reporting on the wide and wonderful world of WC Restaurants.
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Jamie Rogers
Author
Jamie Rogers comes from a mixed pedigree of chefs. She prefers describing her culinary prowess as "efficient" rather than "lazy." Her loves include TJ's Restaurant and Drinkery's Boursin Burger, The Drafting Room’s Cream of Wild Mushroom soup, and a Popsicle on a hot summer day.
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Jeff Schaller
Author
Jeff Schaller comes from a humble upbringing in the country, graduating somewhere in the middle of his high school class and graduating from college with a graphic design degree--a major selected after the painting professor told him there was no hope in being a professional painter. Fast forward 16 years, he's married with three kids and a painting career. When he is not painting, he can be found enjoying life with a cocktail, as well as found roaming the great outdoors in search of food and clothing.
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Michael Scott
Author
Michael Scott is a ‘computer guy’ from Texas that will grill/BBQ anything if given the chance. His claim to fame is he has catered, photographed, ushered, DJ’d, best man’d, maid of honor’d (long story), and been in a wedding; although not all at the same time. He and his wife are former PA State BBQ Champions and enjoy sponsoring their two children in quarter midget racing. Always tinkering, he is within days of completing the perfect sous vide setup. Ask him about the cognac that was older than the Republic of Texas for a good laugh sometime.
Recent Articles by Michael Scott
- Project Grill Master: Identifying the Grilling Tools Every Home Cook Should Own
- Project Pit Master: Cook Like a Meat-Smoking Champ, Win a BBQ Bible Too!
- Project Grill Master: Uncover the Best Equipment for Grilling Success
- Meet Michael Scott, Your Local Barbecue Guru (and Our Newest Dish Columnist!)
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Leslie Weinberg
Author
Leslie is a devoted carbivore with a passion for ice cream and the planet. She loves going on adventures and is excited to take on Chester County one dish at a time.
Recent Articles by Leslie Weinberg
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Melissa Woodley
Author
Melissa is rediscovering the local food scene after spending a few years cracking coconuts and living the island life. Now she’s looking to sample new and exciting eats, fancy cocktails and everything tasty.
Recent Articles by Melissa Woodley
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Lisa Yoder
Author
Lisa Yoder is a recent transplant to West Chester, having grown up on a dairy farm in the wilds of Central PA where she ate mostly meat, potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and pie. She spends her days proofreading and dreaming about where she will travel next.