Our TeamChristine Gallary

Christine Gallary

Senior Recipe Editor

I cover all things related to recipes — reading every single one that we publish on The Kitchn, word by word — making sure they are approachable and work for the home cook.San Francisco, CA

About Me

I grew up in a Chinese food-loving family, eating my first restaurant meals in Oakland's vibrant Chinatown. My love of food but lack of cooking experience led me to Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, where I graduated with a Diplôme de Cuisine in French cooking.

After culinary school, I learned how to test and edit recipes in test kitchens at Cook's Illustrated and CHOW, falling in love with the process of rigorously testing recipes to make sure they were foolproof for the home cook. I've worked with thousands of recipes over the past 15 years, including developing recipes for the James Beard-award winning Mister Jiu's in Chinatown cookbook.

Living in the delicious diversity of San Francisco, I never get tired of finding new ingredients or cuisines to try. My favorite type is Cantonese home cooking — I'm on a quest to recreate the dishes my grandmother used to make. All the food I test at home is eagerly tasted and enjoyed by my husband, Hayden, and daughter, Sophie, while our little dog, Mochi, looks wistfully on.

My pronouns

she/her/hers

I'm an expert in

  • recipe development
  • food styling
  • Chinese and French cuisines

My education

Le Cordon Bleu, Paris (Diplôme de Cuisine)

My awards & honors

Recipe Developer on the Mister Jiu's in Chinatown Cookbook, James Beard Foundation Award (2022).


Latest Stories

This Easy Chicken Lo Mein Will Be On Your Table in 30 Minutes
Lo mein is a popular Chinese-American dish for good reason — it’s got savory noodles, crisp veggies, and your choice of protein all packed into one weeknight-friendly dish. But with the help of a sauce that also doubles as a marinade for the chicken breast, you can make and dig into a big pile of noodle stir-fry in less than 30 minutes. That’s quicker than it takes for delivery to arrive! This recipe is also easily adaptable depending on your mood and what’s available.
yesterday
45 Delicious Recipes to Make for Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is celebrated across many different Asian cultures, including Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean communities. It’s always been one of my favorite holidays because in Chinese culture, it centers so much around family and feasting. My family starts with a big, multi-course family dinner on the eve of new year, but family visits and eating are an integral part of the whole extended holiday.
Jan 9, 2025
This Easy Baked Tilapia Has a Garlic Sauce You'll Want to Put on Everything
It’s packed full of flavor.
Jan 2, 2025
The 330-Year-Old French Dessert Recipe That's Surprisingly Easy to Make
Plus, you get to crack the crunchy sugar top.
Dec 28, 2024
My Family Loves This Easy 6-Ingredient Salmon So Much
You’ll want to drizzle the sauce over everything.
Dec 27, 2024
What Is Prime Rib Exactly? Everything to Know
It's the perfect special occasion main.
Dec 19, 2024
25 Best Ways to Use Up Leftover Egg Whites
Have you made mayonnaise, custards, ice cream bases, hollandaise sauce, lemon curd, or a recipe that relies heavily on egg yolks recently? If so, you’re probably staring at a big pile of leftover egg whites. Whatever you do, do not toss them. Instead keep a running list of good egg white recipes handy, so you have a plan for this versatile leftover.From savory to sweet, and even drinks, there are a lot of different ways to use up egg whites, whether you have just one or a dozen.
Dec 19, 2024
This Turkey Pot Pie Is the Tastiest Way to Use Up All Your Leftovers
It might even be better than the Thanksgiving meal itself.
Dec 18, 2024
50 Delicious Ways to Eat Eggs for Dinner
There really isn’t a more versatile ingredient to always have on hand in the refrigerator than eggs. In fact, you can make eggs any time of the day, from breakfast and weekend brunch to a simple lunch and weeknight dinner.Eggs for breakfast help us start our days off right. They give our baked goods moisture and structure. They’re also inexpensive, full of protein, and a lifesaver at dinner when you need to throw a quick weeknight meal together.
Dec 17, 2024
"Chicken in Milk" Is Probably the Best Chicken Recipe of All Time
Bonus: You also get a luscious sauce.
Dec 9, 2024
These Are the "Most Delicious Cinnamon Rolls of All Time", Says Everyone
Tangy cream cheese frosting makes these sing.
Dec 7, 2024
This Is the Only Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe You’ll Ever Need
Did we mention the herb butter?
Dec 4, 2024
How to Make Yorkshire Pudding Just Like the British Do
You might know it as Yorkshire pudding, you might have had it as a popover — whatever you choose to call it, the impressive cloud-like creation that emerges from the oven is always as delicious as it smells and looks. The crispy shell gives way to a tender, eggy interior, and the best way to eat one is to just tear it apart with your fingers. Whether you choose to make one big one or individual ones, here’s how to do it using everyday pans that you already have.
Dec 2, 2024
My Italian Christmas Cookies Are Super-Soft and Impossibly Easy
They’re soft, pillowy, and perfect.
Dec 1, 2024
This 200-Year-Old Cocktail Is the Best Way to Get Into the Holiday Spirit
It’s the perfect after-dinner holiday drink.
Nov 30, 2024
5 Beautiful Ways to Package Cookies for Gifting
Making cookies and treats for the holidays has always been the easy part for me. I can organize a shopping list, prep, freeze, and bake with great speed and efficiency and generally enjoy the whole process. The packaging of it? Not so much for this creatively-challenged baker. I want all my hard work to shine, and for my cookie gifts to look and feel special, but I just don’t have the patience or talent to do anything complicated. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be.
Nov 27, 2024
The Easiest Way to Fix Bland Gravy
You already have it in your pantry.
Nov 27, 2024
Butter vs. Shortening in Cookies: Which Is Better?
It's important to know which to use when.
Nov 26, 2024
Christmas Chex Mix Is the Easiest Holiday Treat You Can Make
Christmas Chex Mix is one of my favorite holiday treats that offers a welcome change from all the cookies and candy canes fighting for attention. This crispy, salty-sweet mixture even looks like Christmas — everything is coated in white chocolate, and red and green M&Ms peek through! My favorite Christmas Chex Mix blend is pretty simple — cereal, pretzels, and candy — but the sprinkle of flaky salt at the end is what takes it over the top.
Nov 24, 2024
Italian Ricotta Cookies Are the Holiday Treat Everyone Loves
When I think of Italian American bakeries, I envision piles of biscotti, rainbow cookies, cannolis, and trays and trays of an array of cookies decorated with colorful sprinkles —including ricotta cookies. Super-soft and cakey, thanks to the ricotta cheese, these cute little cookies remind me a bit of Lofthouse sugar cookies (which are often made with sour cream or yogurt). Want proof of their deliciousness?
Nov 23, 2024
How Long to Cover Ham While Baking (Plus 7 Mistakes to Avoid)
Following a few simple rules goes a long way.
Nov 22, 2024
It's Not Thanksgiving Without My Family's Famous Chinese Sticky Rice
Honestly, we eat it at every family gathering.
Nov 22, 2024
This All-Butter Pie Crust Recipe Is the Only One I Use
It’s absolutely perfect.
Nov 22, 2024
The 4-Ingredient Brussels Sprout Side That's So Good, I Couldn't Stop Eating It
It all starts with a hot baking sheet.
Nov 20, 2024
My Lemon-Cranberry Bars Are Famous Among My Family
All you need is a can of cranberry sauce.
Nov 15, 2024
After 10 Years of Searching, I Finally Found the "Perfect" Fluffy Cornbread
Don’t forget to brush it with honey.
Nov 9, 2024
3-Ingredient Pommes Anna Is the Classic French Side Dish Everyone Should Know
Pommes Anna is a French side dish made of just three simple ingredients: potatoes, butter, and salt. It’s classic and elegant all at the same time; potato slices are arranged in overlapping concentric circles, creating layers upon layers into a round cake that resembles a flower. The outside is golden-brown and crispy — like the fanciest hash browns you’ll ever have — and makes a satisfying crunch when you slice it into wedges.
Nov 3, 2024
This Is the Easiest Way to Turn Roast Turkey Drippings into a Perfect Gravy
Make it while the turkey’s resting.
Nov 1, 2024
The Only Types of Pumpkin I Choose for the Best Pumpkin Pie
Plus which varieties are best for savory cooking.
Oct 31, 2024
The Cooking Secret to the Most Tender Ribs of Your Life
No muss or fuss.
Oct 29, 2024
My Favorite Chinese Comfort Food Takes Just 10 Minutes to Make
Plus, it’s customizable.
Oct 24, 2024
This 1800s 2-Ingredient Cocktail Is the World's Easiest to Make
Just pour and sip.
Oct 18, 2024
5 Easy Ways To Prevent Soggy Pie Crust
No soggy bottoms here.
Oct 18, 2024
My "House Dressing" Is So Good, I’ve Made a Weekly Batch for 5 Years
Trust me, it’s really that good.
Oct 8, 2024
Homemade "Rice-A-Roni" is the Retro Side Dish My Whole Family Devours
It’s the San Francisco treat you can make at home.
Oct 4, 2024