Amy Zavatto

New York City, NY USA
Website: www.amyzavatto.com
Contact

Professional Experience

Curiosity drives me in any story I cover. Whether the topic is wine, spirits, cocktails, food, travel, or women's health, I like to send readers away with information they didn't have before. I am the former Deputy Editor for Edible Manhattan and Edible Brooklyn, a Contributing Editor to Imbibe magazine, and my work appears in Shape, Liquor.com, Men's Journal;, SevenFifty Daily, Beverage Media, and many others. I am the author of Prosecco Made Me Do It: 60 Seriously Sparkling Cocktails; Forager's Cocktails; The Architecture of the Cocktail; The Hedonist Guide to Eat NY; the Renaissance Guide to Wine & Food Pairing, and the Complete Idiot's Guide to Bartending, which features over 1,500 cocktail recipes (currently in its second edition), and have ghost-written numerous projects for restaurateurs, wineries, and bartenders. I am a judge annually for the American Craft Spirits Association, the New York Wine & Food Classic, and the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition. I am the former Director of the Long Isl

Expertise

Writer
20 Years
Editor
25 Years
Book Author
16 Years

Specialty

Food
18 Years
Travel
18 Years
Lifestyle
18 Years

Industries


Magazine - Large Consumer/National magazines
15 Years
Magazine - Local/Regional magazines
18 Years
Book Publishing Trade/B2B
20 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

20 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

Cottage Living (1-2), TheNest.com (1-2), Wine Adventure (1-2), Wine Enthusiast (6-10), Writer\'s Digest (1-2), More magazine (3-5), Go AirTran Magazine (3-5), Palm Beach: The Island (1-2), La Cucina Italiana (3-5), Geico magazine (1-2), Fodors.com (1-2), Plenty (10+), The Staten Island Advance (10+), TimeOut New York (10+), Toque magazine (10+), Wynn Las Vegas Hotel (10+), New York Magazine (10+), Foxnews.com (10+), Frommers.com (10+), Gotham (10+), Priority (Singapore Airlines) (1-2), Scholastic (1-2), Imbibe (10+), Celebrity Living (10+), B&N.com (10+), Edible Brooklyn (10+), Edible East End (10+), Edible Manhattan (10+), Every Day With Rachael Ray (6-10), Alpha books/Penguin Putnam (6-10), Ralph Lauren magazine (6-10), Sommelier Journal (10+), Whisky Advocate (6-10), Men\\\'s Journal (3-5), Beverage Media (6-10), Details (6-10), Real Simple (10+), Liquor.com (10+), CARA (Aer Lingus inflight) (1-2), Shape, Tasting Panel (10+), CARA (Aer Lingus) Magazine (1-2)

Corporate Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

Barnes & Noble (10+), Gnarly Vines (10+), PJ Wine (10+), The Grape Collective (3-5), M. Shanken (3-5), Ralph Lauren (1-2)

Other Work History

In-house wine writer for Gnarly Vines and PJ Wine; food/drink blogger for Barnes & Noble website, B&N.com and Frommers.com; Author: Hedonist's Guide to... Eat NYC (11/08); The Complete Idiot's Guide to Bartending (10/05); The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Being a Mother of the Bride (2/05); The Renaissance Guide to Wine & Food Pairing (9/03); Acquiring Editor, Alpha Books; Development Editor, Alpha Books; Copy Chief, Hamptons/Gotham; Editor, The Princeton Review; author, Read180 Series, Scholastic; proofreader/copy editor Scholastic; copy editor, Matthew Bender

Technical Skills

SEO

Foreign Language Skills

Workable Italian and Spanish

Computer Skills

Word, iContact, Wordpress, Wix, InDesign, MailChimp, Mac and PC

Equipment

Laptop, audio/phone recorder, digital camera

Work Permits & Visas

Passport

References

Upon request.

Awards

Award: Writing Scholarship, The New School, MFA Program

Associations

Les Dames d'Escoffier, International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP)

Showcase

Videos/Podcasts

Culinary Travels with a Kick
(Frommer's Travel Guides 12/1/2006)
PodCast interview with Frommers.com editor David Lytle, in which he interviews me about tequila, American whiskey, and (because you need a little food when drinking all that booze) Southern BBQ.

Blogs

Hunger Compass
(WordPress 12/13/2018)
My personal blog that explores both the technique and emotional motivation behind food & drink.

General

How Sweet It Isn't: 3 Refined Cocktails That Hold the Simple Syrup
(Men's Journal 10/23/2019)
Modern bartenders are moving away from the crutch of sugar, making use of the sweetness and flavors already inherent in spirits and liqueurs. Here are 3 cocktails that strut their their sugar-free stuff.
6 Things About the Bloody Mary You Should Know
(Liquor.com 1/23/2019)
What do France, Indiana, and the St. Regis in NYC have to do with the Bloody Mary? Find out in my latest for Liquor.com...!
Feast of the Seven Fishes
(Wine Enthusiast Magazine 1/23/2019)
Seven great chef-driven recipes to get your Feast of the Seven Fishes swimming up stream.
The Indispensables: The Cuba Libre
(Liquor.com 3/15/2018)
The haunting history and current love affair with the Cuba Libre cocktail.
Why Hybrid Grapes Matter
(Wine Enthusiast 12/12/2018)
A conversation with hybrid-grape grower and winemaker, Deirdre Heekin of La Garagista.
Unlocking Key West's Culinary Scene
(Wine Enthusiast Magazine 12/12/2018)
This historic Florida’s vacation destination, once marred by a reputation for kitsch, has now become the Sunshine State's capital of cool.
Quench Your Thirst for Positive Change
(Wine Enthusiast Magazine 12/12/2018)
Thirsting for positive change? When it comes to giving back, the outpouring of goodwill from these do-gooders will have you clinking your glass to kindness.
Give Egg Nog the Year Off: The Tom & Jerry Is the Cocktail of Your Dreams
(Liquor.com 12/12/2018)
Why the Tom & Jerry is the kind of cocktail that can only exist during this most exhausting of seasons.
Destination: Long Island
(Imbibe magazine 12/13/2018)
A cross-pollinating synergy on eastern Long Island runs like a summer Ferris wheel, scooping up more and more producers excited to come along for the giddy ride. Distillers reap local rye and finish aging it in barrels from Long Island wineries; winemakers morph fermented juice into eau de vie, brandy, gin and vermouth; craft brewers use everything from island-sourced hops and grain to local honey, beach plums, oysters and scallops for only-in-Long-Island brews; old farms find an entirely new purpose and lease on life. But while it may seem like a brave new brewed world, the heart of it all is rooted in the fertile Long Island soil.
Nicole Austin Appointed Distiller of George Dickel Distillery
(SevenFifty Daily 12/13/2018)
The master blender returns stateside to manage operations for the Tennessee whiskey producer.
Making a Case for Whey-Based Spirits
(SevenFifty Daily 12/13/2018)
Distillers discuss the dairy by-product, its use in spirits production, and its potential for sustainable practices.
A New Wave of Craft Coffee Liqueurs
(SevenFifty Daily 12/13/2018)
Small distilleries are redefining the coffee-based spirits category.
18 Great Wines That Will Get You Out of Your Pinot Noir Rut
(Men's Journal 3/1/2018)
Think outside the bottle with these 18 alt-grape suggestions to expand your budding oenophile horizons!
How Dead Rabbit Scaled Up Its Staff Training Program
(SevenFifty Daily 12/13/2018)
Director of education Gregory Buda designed and implemented an education plan like no other.
50 Best Wedding Wines to Serve at Your Pre-Ceremony and Reception
(BRIDES 12/13/2018)
These whites, reds, rosés, and bubblies are perfect for all of your wedding celebrations.
8 Great Cookbook Trends for 2014
(Foxnews.com 1/15/2014)
What's cooking in 2014? Here are my 8 cookbook and drink book predictions for the year.
The Light at the End of the Alley
(Edible Manhattan 1/11/2011)
If you zig and then zag off Bowery onto Rivington Street, you’ll happen upon a pavement path that you could easily mistake for a delivery driveway, or miss entirely in a single long blink. But if you turn your head for just the right slip of a second as you pass by, the sight at the end of what’s called Freeman Alley would surely make you stop.
Mover & Shaper: Melia Marden
(SHAPE 3/1/2015)
Meet your new mentor--and learn why she's making strides in the world of wellness.
Where's There's Smoke, There's Scotch
(Serious Eats 10/15/2012)
Making whisky in Islay, Scotland.
Bueno Tempranillo!
(Imbibe magazine 8/1/2011)
Red before Labor Day? We say yes -- especially if it's BBQ-friendly tempranillo!
Stinky Bklyn
(Edible Brooklyn 4/1/2012)
Cheese, glorious cheese in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.
Ten Great Reasons to Go to Santa Fe, New Mexico
(Frommer's Travel Guides 1/15/2007)
What to eat, drink, see, and do in Santa Fe right now.
Sweet & Lowdown
(Imbibe magazine 11/1/2011)
What's it like to harvest grapes in 13-degree weather? Very, very cold -- but it makes for some pretty delicious wine...
Understanding Cognac and Its Growing Cool Factor
(Foxnews.com 10/27/2013)
What Cognac is (and why it's so popular)...
Eat Farm Fresh in the North Fork
(New York magazine 5/8/2007)
Long Island’s less-posh fork harvests much more than potatoes and corn these days. Its 30-plus vineyards and Slow Food–minded dining scene offers a tasty alternative to the Hamptons.
Irish Whiskey: The Brown Jewel of the Emerald Isle
(Foxnews.com 10/19/2012)
The U.S. is the number-one export for Ireland's soft and lovely whiskies - but what makes Irish whiskey Irish?
The Jewel of the Julep: Following the American Whiskey Trail
(Frommer's Travel Guides 4/23/2006)
Travel piece about the American Whiskey Trail.
Noodle Me This
(Plenty magazine 3/1/2008)
When it comes to organic pasta, there are nearly as many flour bases as there are noodle shapes—semolina pappardelle, whole-wheat fusilli, spinach fettuccine. You could eat a different organic pasta dish every night of the week for a month and not suffer a single repeat. Here, a taste-test to help you twirl your way through the plethora of choices at the grocery store.
Ottoman(elli) Empire
(Edible Manhattan 3/1/2011)
After 60 years on Bleecker Street, these butchering brothers still cut everything -- except corners.
Fishing for Knowledge
(Edible Manhattan 9/20/2011)
Chef Alex Raij’s anchovy addiction lured her to the Spanish seaside and a century-old cannery -- I followed her there and this is what happened...
Melting Pot: D. Coluccio & Sons
(Edible Brooklyn 1/20/2008)
Profile on 50-year-old Brooklyn classic, D. Coluccio & Sons food shop.
Cornering the Market
(Plenty magazine 8/1/2007)
Seven great tips to getting the most out of your local farmers' market.
The Grasshopper's Always Greener
(Imbibe magazine 4/1/2015)
"Drinks like the Grasshopper don't disappear," Paul Gustings says over the phone one recent afternoon. "But they do kind of stay in the background until someone says, 'Oh, you know what? My parents drank those!' or, 'I had one I-don't-know-how-long ago. I'll have one now!' ...
Declaration of Vindependence
(Imbibe magazine 3/1/2011)
Nearly 240 years later, Virginia has finally become Jefferson’s land of the free-run, home of the grape.
This Genie Fills Bottles
(Edible Brooklyn 7/5/2011)
A Brooklyn winemaker wants you to drink deeply from the local well.
Tablehopping: Brooklyn
(Fodors.com 1/23/2006)
Reviews of five great Brooklyn eateries.
Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood
(Edible Brooklyn 11/30/2011)
A wine shop grows in Fort Greene...
Weathering the Storm
(Imbibe magazine 5/1/2009)
Can wine survive climate change?
Learning to Love the Rusty Nail
(Imbibe magazine 11/14/2014)
An essay on the allure of the Rusty Nail.
Pop Goes the Coffee Shop
(Imbibe magazine 6/15/2011)
Temporary cafés are delivering great coffee to the people, one vacant space at a time.
The Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
(Real Simple 12/27/2017)
What's the difference between bourbon and whiskey?
For a Rainy Day
(Imbibe magazine 7/1/2007)
They accumulate, they collect, they stow, they stash. You might even say they obsess. But even when the desire to acquire overcomes the space in a place, these four vinophiles don’t let a little square footage stand in the way of a great love affair.
Double Take
(Imbibe magazine 1/1/2010)
Can't afford the greatest of the great wines? Consider their stunning second-label siblings.
Texas Terroir
(Wine Enthusiast Magazine 7/16/2010)
Great wine in the Lone Star state? You bet your cowboy boots.
Think Pink!
(Imbibe magazine 7/1/2009)
When the mercury makes its annual sweaty climb, it's time to stop and smell the rosés.
Work Up an Appetite in Nashville
(New York magazine 2/28/2007)
More than just a country-music mecca, the Tennessee capital also has an electric food scene powered by one of the nation’s oldest farmers' markets.
Sold, to the Lady in the Grape-Stained Blouse!
(Imbibe magazine 5/1/2010)
Can your average, work-a-day wine-o-phile buy bottles at auction, or will your wallet get crushed under the gavel?
Message in a Bottle
(Edible Manhattan 7/15/2009)
NY wine takes on the Big Apple.
No Whine Zone
(Edible Manhattan 12/1/2009)
How does Long Island wine measure up against the rest of the world's vino? NY's own version of the Judgment of Paris shows promising results.
You May Be Stepping on Your Best Thanksgiving Ingredients
(Foxnews.com 11/15/2011)
By now, we’re all well versed in the notion of farm-to-table and the bounty of farm-fresh products available at the local green market. But hottest trend in uber-locavorism just might be underfoot—literally. Think park-to-table, or curbside-to-table, or, heck, even crack-in-the-sidewalk to table. It’s called foraging – and there’s a pigweed or a lamb’s quarter or a ginkgo nut just waiting to show up on your Thanksgiving table this year.
Who Will Be the Next BBQ World Champion Pitmaster?
(Foxnews.com 5/1/2013)
A chat with Melissa Cookston, three-time whole-hog BBQ Champ, to find out what it takes to be the world's best pitmaster.
Classics That Keep New Orleans' Food Tradition Going Strong
(Foxnews.com 8/23/2012)
From old standards to new innovations, here are a few Crescent City dishes that keep this city’s flavor going strong.
As Far As The Eye Can See
(Edible East End 4/19/2008)
Long Island's oldest familly-owned winery keeps it real.
Wine on Aisle Nine?
(Edible Manhattan 12/29/2009)
State supermarkets lobby for a glass half full, but legislators put a cork in it.