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Jarrett Melendez head shot - Bon Appétit

Jarrett Melendez

Jarrett Melendez is a Boston-based food and comic book writer. Jarrett has worked in bakeries, diners, and restaurants in Maine and Mexico, specializing in Mexican, Italian, and Japanese cuisine, the latter of which he learned from endlessly patient host mothers while he was studying abroad outside of Tokyo and a short stint in Hiroshima.

Before starting at Epicurious in 2022, he was a regular contributor to Food52, Saveur, and Bon Appétit. Jarrett is the writer and co-creator of the GLAAD Award nominated graphic novel Chef's Kiss (Oni Press), a queer kitchen romance, and a comic-style cookbook called The Comic Kitchen. He is currently writing a graphic memoir, a middle-grade fantasy adventure, and an action-comedy. He lives in Somerville, MA, with his collection of Monokuro Boo plush pigs.

Recipes

Strawberry Cake

This fuss-free strawberry cake is perfect for springtime snacking. You’ll want fresh strawberries—this is not the time for frozen.
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This Is the Best Spice Rack for Small Spaces

If you’re passionate about kitchen organization, you need the YouCopia SpiceStack.
Recipes

Maple-Wasabi Wings

These oven-baked wings get a blast of sweet-salty flavor from a blend of maple syrup and soy sauce and a one-two punch of heat from ginger, wasabi, and ra-yu sesame chili oil (sometimes labeled “la-yu”). 
Recipes

Chicken Fajitas

The marinade for this chicken fajitas recipe packs a big citrusy punch, which means you don’t have to let the chicken marinate for very long.
Recipes

Chilaquiles Rojos

This chilaquiles recipe is the blueprint for one of my favorite comfort foods. It’s a great way to use up tortillas (or tortilla chips) that are past their optimal freshness.
Recipes

Salsa Roja

The scent of homemade salsa roja always takes me back to my childhood. The aroma of rehydrating dried chiles mingling with fresh serrano chiles or jalapeños, tomatoes, onion, and garlic was a weekly occurrence in our household. It was always too spicy for my young palate, but I never got sick of the smell wafting through the house. Though I’ve grown into a heat-seeker as my palate has evolved, this version doesn’t have to be spicy at all. Adding a single serrano chile to the mix gives this mild .…
Recipes

Pollo al Carbon

These bright and succulent grilled chicken breasts are perfect for wrapping in warm tortillas with spoonfuls of fresh salsa verde. 
Recipes

Lamb Burgers With Yogurt Sauce and Arugula

This flavorful lamb patty with lemony yogurt sauce is guaranteed to spice up your burger routine. 
Cooking

Coffee Jelly Is My Favorite Caffeinated Dessert

A cup of jiggly coffee jelly is the perfect boost for when it’s too hot for drip and cold brew isn’t extra enough.
Cooking

This Steel Griddle Turns Your Crappy Stove Into a Diner-Style Flattop

For lovers of pancakes, omelets, hash browns, grilled cheese, etc., etc., etc.
Cooking

How to Make Fresh Ricotta So You'll Never Be Far From Cheese

Forget “love”: All you need is milk, acid, and salt.
Cooking

When I Crave Something Hearty and Homestyle, I Make Udon Gyoza

Hands down the best dish I ate in Japan.