Karen Stabin­er teach­es the food writ­ing course at Colum­bia Uni­ver­si­ty Grad­u­ate School of Jour­nal­ism. She is the author of mul­ti­ple books and cook­books, and her essay and fea­ture work has appeared in The New York Times, the Los Ange­les Times, Saveur, Trav­el & Leisure, and Gourmet. She was an essay final­ist for a James Beard Award.