Laura Kiniry

Laura Kiniry is a San Francisco-based journalist who writes about travel, food, and culture, and the ways all three intertwine. A South Jersey native, she's especially enamored by stories about the foods she grew up with, including the beloved Philadelphia soft pretzel, hoagies, and all sorts of diner eats.

Along with Serious Eats, Laura writes regularly for such outlets as Gastro Obscura, KitchenAid Stories, Yummly, Smithsonian, BBCTravel, and more. She's written three guidebooks about New Jersey.

Laura's BBC Travel article, “For Salvadorians, Pupusas Mean Comfort” (done in collaboration with videographer Daniel Kavanaugh), won honorable mention in the 2019-2020 SATW Foundation Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition’s multimedia single work category. Her Smithsonian piece, “These Supper Clubs are Using Food to Cross Cultural Divides,” was named in the outlet’s “Twenty-Five of Our Favorite Stories from 2020.”

What's your desert island food?

"If I have a little rice I can mix it with island fruits, flavor it with island spices, and add some fresh coconut for nutrition. Bring in some fish from the surrounding sea and I've got myself a culinary bonanza."

What's your favorite condiment?

"Peanut butter is the perfect food/condiment mix. I add it to smoothies, mix it with noodles, turn it into a sauce and drizzle it onto chicken. It's my lifeline."