Alex Van Buren Alex Van Buren is a food writer with over two decades of experience in print and digital publishing. Highlights: * Two and a half years as a research editor at Martha Stewart Living * Seven years as a writer and editor at SELF * One and a half years as food editor at Yahoo Food * One and a half years as a contributing writer at Travel + Leisure * Writing work has appeared in Real Simple, The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, Gourmet.com, Bon Appétit, and Epicurious, among other publications. About Real Simple Real Simple, a Dotdash Meredith Brand, is an award-winning, trusted online resource for smart, authentic solutions to simplify your life. We reach 11 million readers a month. Our content is written by experienced journalists and fact-checked for accuracy. Learn more about us and our editorial guidelines.