Anna Goldfarb

Anna Goldfarb writes about relationships, careers and pop psychology. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Vice, The Cut, the Washington Post and more. She's the author of the humor memoir "Clearly, I Didn't Think This Through" and she lives in Philadelphia.
What Is a Continental Breakfast?
Chances are you’ve stayed at a hotel and had the opportunity to try out the continental breakfast at some point in your life. During your stay, however, you’ve probably spent some time wondering what exactly a continental breakfast is or what does it even mean for a breakfast to be “continental”?While it may depend on the hotel itself, in general a continental breakfast typically comes with a set list of expectations.
Anna Goldfarb
Oct 25, 2023
I Tried 6 Frozen Pumpkin Pies — The Overall Winner Could Totally Pass for Homemade
"This is classic pumpkin pie in its truest form."
Anna Goldfarb
Nov 22, 2021
The Best Frozen Pizzas You Can Buy at the Grocery Store
Taste Test
Two really stood out as clear winners!
Anna Goldfarb
May 25, 2021
7 Ways to Be a More Hospitable Host to Non-Drinkers
You’ve planned a wonderful party. You’ve picked out the right music (Daft Punk’s Pandora station), you’ve settled on the perfect bites to serve (finger foods all the way!), and handpicked the perfect cocktails to pour. But to really nail the shindig, it’d be wise to account for those who don’t plan on drinking.
Anna Goldfarb
Jun 8, 2019
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Halloween Candy
The National Retail Federation estimates Americans will spend as much as $9 billion on Halloween this year — and we’re betting a ton of that goes to the sugary stuff. But not all candy is created equal (we’re looking at you, Tootsie Rolls).
Anna Goldfarb
May 1, 2019
5 Things First-Time Thanksgiving Hosts Really Want You to Bring
Between cleaning the house, setting the table, and cooking the food, Thanksgiving hosts have a lot on their plates. It takes a lot of effort to make sure everything is up to snuff. This is especially true when you don’t have years of experience under your belt — or any. For the first-timer, this holiday can be particularly overwhelming and, as a guest, you may be wondering how best to contribute to the meal.
Anna Goldfarb
May 1, 2019
10 Rules for a Brilliant Brunch
Let’s talk about brunch. The word brings to mind leisurely late-morning repasts, glorious sweet and savory spreads, and boozy beverages. Now let’s talk about hosting brunch. That can feel like a juggling act crossed with a relay race combined with a high-wire feat. It takes work to make sure the hot food is hot and the cold food is cold, not to mention you have to clean your house and strike just the right upbeat (but not disco) mood with music and lighting.
Anna Goldfarb
May 1, 2019
The Biggest Movie Night Mistake to Avoid
I can’t count how many times I set out to host a killer movie night and watched helplessly as it fell apart before my eyes. While it might seem simple, there’s more to movie night than pushing “play” and throwing some popcorn into a bowl. There are a lot of ways for movie night to go wrong! But there’s one mistake you should definitely avoid: picking a movie dud. I seem to have quite a lot of experience with this common pitfall.
Anna Goldfarb
May 1, 2019
24 Things to Do with Friends — Besides Hitting a Bar
There are a lot of reasons to want to skip the bar for your next hangout with friends. Whether one of you is in recovery, are refraining from alcohol for health or religious reasons, or just want to mix it up because you’re over the bar scene, here are some solid suggestions on where to meet up — somewhere, anywhere — besides a bar. Cook dinner together: Pick a dinner recipe from this site (any dinner recipe!
Anna Goldfarb
May 1, 2019
The Best Bridal Shower Advice, According to Brides
In a perfect world, a bridal shower is a meaningful way to celebrate the bride, and a forum for family members, friends, and coworkers to mingle before the main event. Gifts are given to either make the lady of the hour feel pampered or to enhance her home. The food is tasteful, and planned activities (if any) are low-key and optional. However, there are a lot of things that can complicate a bridal shower. For starters, some brides don’t actually want one.
Anna Goldfarb
May 1, 2019
The Best Vacation for Your Zodiac Sign
Our zodiac sign gives key insight into our personalities, career paths, and love lives — not to mention which cocktails, snacks, and chocolatey indulgences are cosmically approved. What isn’t in the stars? Let’s see what the celestial powers have to say about where your next vacation destination should be.
Anna Goldfarb
Nov 24, 2017
10 Easy, Last-Minute Halloween Costumes for Pun-Lovers
The clock is ticking and you haven’t nailed down a solid costume idea yet. Don’t fret! Here are some clever and silly food-themed costume ideas you can execute in no time flat, using stuff you already have or can find with a quick trip to the market. Pretend like you’re in middle school again and profess your love for Hawaiian Punch with a simple grass skirt and boxing gloves. Please don’t punch people (too hard). Grab an old, empty box and some slips of paper.
Anna Goldfarb
Oct 24, 2017
5 Halloween Costume Ideas That Test Your IQ with Puns
Halloween is right around the corner. If you don’t have a costume yet, we have a few ideas. The only catch? There’s a trick before you get to the treat. Can you figure out what these punny costumes are? They’re all things you can sip, nibble, or chew! Hint: This idea is perfect for trick-or-treating on cold nights — and staying awake on hot, summer days. Hint: This costume will keep you warm and could even spice things up. Hint: Just don’t give away all your gum!
Anna Goldfarb
Oct 23, 2017
The One Thing You Should Get Right for an Epic Pool Party
We’ve waited all year for pool party season to arrive, and it’s finally here. Sure, pool parties are terrific if you’re celebrating a birthday or holiday, but sometimes you don’t even need a reason — it’s just fun to get your loved ones (of all ages!) in the pool to soak up some sun. Whether you’re splashing around a public pool or lounging in a private backyard, you don’t need much money or time to throw a truly epic pool party.
Anna Goldfarb
Jul 2, 2017
The 10 Best Food Podcasts for a Road Trip
As anyone who has taken to the open road can tell you, road trips are the perfect time to queue up a podcast. Not only will it keep your mind busy during long stretches of travel, but once you lose yourself in the story, it will also make those miles fly by. The best part? Food podcasts are booming. What was once a niche market has exploded, and high-quality podcasts about all aspects of the food world are just a few clicks away.
Anna Goldfarb
Jun 27, 2017
The 5 Best Pizza Places in Philly, According to a Local
Philly is known for its gooey cheesesteaks and soft pretzels, but we've been known to sling a mean pizza pie, too.
Anna Goldfarb
Jun 17, 2017
This Passover Candy Sent Me on an Emotional Roller Coaster
Bartons Almond Kisses have been a staple of my family’s Passover seders for as long as I can remember. No Passover with my family would be complete without a tin on the table. And if I’m sinking my teeth into one of these treats, it means it’s Passover, which is one of my absolute favorite holidays. But recently I discovered an unsettling truth: Bartons Almond Kisses are no longer. Or are they?
Anna Goldfarb
Apr 9, 2017
6 Hostess Gifts to Bring to a Passover Seder
Whether you're a Passover pro or a total newbie, here are some thoughtful presents that will help the seder go more smoothly and meet the holiday's rigorous food standards.
Anna Goldfarb
Apr 5, 2017
8 IKEA Finds That Do Double Duty as Travel Essentials
These items may be designed for use in the kitchen, but they're actually pretty handy when you're on the road.
Anna Goldfarb
Mar 27, 2017
10 Healthy Snacks You Can Only Find at Costco
Costco is known for lots of things — humongous shopping carts, a generous free sample policy, and cheap hot dogs, to name a few — but it’s not just a fabulous place to go when you want to stock up on giant jars of peanut butter or massive containers of dish detergent. Costco also has a fantastic selection of healthy snacks. I’ve rounded up my favorite healthy snacks that you can only find if you go to Costco.
Anna Goldfarb
Mar 14, 2017
These Are the 5 Must-Haves from IKEA’s Travel Collection
Swedish mega-store IKEA is more than a great place to snag cheap wine glasses and cube-shaped shelving — the stores also have an ever-changing travel section with some incredible deals on lightweight knapsacks, versatile shoulder bags, and sturdy luggage, to name a few. Most of the prices are steals, and they’re even cheaper if you’re an IKEA family member. (It’s free to join the program, so take advantage if you can.
Anna Goldfarb
Mar 13, 2017
A Surprisingly Awesome IKEA Find for Travelers
At Kitchn, we are big fans of IKEA. It is, after all, the inventor of the RÅSKOG utility cart. But the Swedish superstore is no one-trick pony! It delights and amazes outside the home as well. In fact, an $18 IKEA find is the best travel companion that’s ever hit the road with me. (No offense to past travel buddies!) It was love at first sight when I saw this FÖRENKLA shoulder bag hanging on the wall at IKEA. I adore the color, the functionality, and the smart design.
Anna Goldfarb
Mar 6, 2017
The 10 Best Trader Joe’s Snacks for Travelers
Trader Joe’s is known for their incredible snack selection. Sweet snacks, savory snacks, snacks that are both sweet and savory — they have ’em all. But when you’re traveling, any ol’ snacks won’t do. You need treats that will be easy to slide into your purse, carry-on, or suitcase. They can’t spill or leak. They can’t spoil or require a small pile of napkins to consume. They have to be ultra-portable and ultra-delicious.
Anna Goldfarb
Mar 1, 2017
The Best Podcasts for Every Situation
Whether you're looking for something to enlighten you, amuse you, make you emotional, or just make you think, we've got the perfect podcast to suggest.
Anna Goldfarb
Feb 21, 2017
I Tried 17 Talenti Gelato Flavors and Ranked Them
Can you guess the number-one choice?
Anna Goldfarb
Feb 20, 2017
I Tried 4 New-to-Me Vegetables and Here’s What I Thought
My new life philosophy: When in doubt, roast.
Anna Goldfarb
Feb 17, 2017
I Tried 6 New-to-Me Fruits and Here’s What I Thought
Did I collapse in a heap by the banana display? Let's find out!
Anna Goldfarb
Feb 16, 2017
A Classic Crooner Playlist Inspired by Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
Crank it up and imagine you're seated in a comfy leather booth, surrounded by mounds of roasted garlic mashed potatoes and slabs of seared T-bones, New York strips, and rib-eyes.
Anna Goldfarb
Feb 14, 2017
6 Reasons I’ve Come to Love My Microwave
In my 20s, I’d use my trusty microwave to heat Chinese food leftovers or to make nachos on flimsy paper plates. By the time I hit 30, I thought I’d outgrown using this pedestrian appliance as a cooking method. It sat cold on my countertop, serving instead as a makeshift breadbox. Then, two years ago, I moved in with my partner, Mike.
Anna Goldfarb
Feb 13, 2017
My Healthy Habit Challenge: I’m Gonna Buy More than Four Types of Produce
Welcome to our Healthy Habit Challenge! Instead of focusing on (impossible-to-keep) new year’s resolutions, this year we’re challenging four writers to start a new healthy habit. These challenges aren’t about cutting out sugar, going on a diet, or focused on the negative. They’re about doing something new and good — and making it second-nature.
Anna Goldfarb
Jan 18, 2017
5 Reasons There Should Be Booze at a First Birthday Party
First birthday parties are a big deal. Not only has the little dude or dudette made his or her first trip around the sun, but it also marks the first year of being a new parent. Anyone who’s cared for an infant can tell you parenthood is hard work. After countless sleepless nights and piles of dirty diapers, who wouldn’t want to break out some bubbly to celebrate the occasion?
Anna Goldfarb
Jan 2, 2017
The Best Playlist for Your Post-Thanksgiving Cleanup
Your last guest has departed. Dirty plates are piled in the sink, leftover food sits on every surface, and your tablecloth is stained with red wine splatters and gravy drips. It’s time to clean up, which, for some, is the worst part of hosting the Thanksgiving meal. Fear not! We put together an upbeat, Motown-inspired playlist to liven the mood and make this dreaded chore fly by. Our ideal playlist starts with Otis Redding’s “Hard to Handle.
Anna Goldfarb
Nov 24, 2016
5 Holiday Leftover Etiquette Questions Answered
The holidays offer up a bounty of tasty side dishes, decadent main dishes, and an array of sweets. Turkey! Stuffing! Mashed potatoes! Pecan pie! And when you see how much food is left after the feast — and there’s almost always a lot — it’s understandable to want to snag a few spoonfuls for later. But leftover etiquette can be a contentious undertaking.
Anna Goldfarb
Nov 22, 2016
Why I Hate Pumpkin Pie
Confession: I hate pumpkin pie. It feels crazy to admit this because, like Star Wars and Fitbits, pumpkin pie has so many die-hard fans. And I want to like it, I really do, but store-bought or homemade, I’ve been consistently underwhelmed with every bite. It’s not welcoming like a slice of warm apple pie, or impressive like a proud, browned lemon meringue peak. It’s just there, inert on my plate like a bored cat.
Anna Goldfarb
Nov 22, 2016
The Thanksgiving Post-Meal Game Plan (or How to Make Everyone Else Do the Washing Up)
Congrats! The big event is over. But before you turn off your front porch light and collapse into bed, the kitchen needs to be cleaned. It’s a big job, too. The sink’s full of dirty dishes and crusty pots, and there’s leftover food stacked on every available surface. Since you’ve already done your part making sure the evening came together flawlessly, it’s time for everyone else —including the kids table! — to pitch in with the cleanup effort.
Anna Goldfarb
Nov 22, 2016
Do You Know How Brussels Sprouts Grow?
Nope, you’re not looking at some wacky palm tree — that’s how Brussels sprouts actually grow. We’re blowing your mind a little bit right now, aren’t we? For the last few years, Brussels sprouts have been, um, sprouting up on menus everywhere. While most of our 12-year-old selves hated sprouts (as people sometimes affectionally call them), as adults we now gobble them up served with bacon, covered in buffalo sauce, shredded into a slaw … the list goes on.
Anna Goldfarb
Nov 10, 2016