Marie Elena Martinez

My first print byline came in 2010 as a freelancer for Newsday’s travel pages. I had recently left my job as a literary publicist and spent years traveling around the world solo, learning, eating and connecting with people of various backgrounds, cultures and customs. I wanted to share those stories, and Newsday, my childhood paper, gave me that opportunity. What followed was a steady freelance gig with Newsday and other publications around the country that allowed me the freedom to explore and record the beauty of the world at large.

It quickly became apparent to me that food was the ultimate connector. While every country has its culinary tradition, it was over meals that language and politics disappeared, and bonds formed. So, I started writing about food, mostly through a Latin American lens. Freelancing led to founding editor positions, even the creation of an editorial brand focused on the Americas. I launched a destination-driven chef dinner series, sat on global restaurant juries, spoke annually at the Culinary Institute of America, and while I was beyond proud of what I was doing, I lacked the stability I needed to build the life I envisioned.

Newsday told the stories of my community as a child, and now – with a mature palate – I get to contribute to telling those stories, through our readers’ bellies.

In 2018, I had my daughter, and began to contemplate a less-nomadic life. Living in Brooklyn didn’t seem as glamorous anymore; I craved green spaces, fresh air and a quieter life without 2 a.m. garbage trucks loitering outside my window. When the COVID pandemic struck, I was out of choices – city life felt untenable. Having grown up in Syosset, it felt obvious to move back to Long Island. When I saw a listing for a food reporter at Newsday, I reached out to that editor who gave me my first shot in 2010. She replied to my email within the hour. I joined the FeedMe team in December 2022.

Revisiting the restaurants of my youth, rediscovering the Island through new eyes, has been a wild ride. I think in some recess of my mind, I always knew I’d come back to Newsday. Newsday told the stories of my community as a child, and now – with a mature palate – I get to contribute to telling those stories, through our readers’ bellies. I couldn’t be more excited for the future.