Erin Merhar is a professionally trained chef with over a decade of experience in food media.

She has worked as a freelance food stylist and recipe developer for a broad portfolio of clients in both advertising and editorial; still photography and motion. She has written feature articles and contributed recipes to magazines, cookbooks and digital publications. Additionally, she has worked with private clients throughout the U.S., England, France and Italy. Her freelance career allowed her the flexibility to travel extensively, for work and pleasure, always seeking new ingredients, dishes and cooking lessons from chefs and locals. She speaks conversational Italian.

Erin started her food media career in the test kitchen of Saveur magazine, served as the Director of Food Styling for Southern Living magazine, and led as a Portfolio Manager with the Dotdash Meredith Food Studios. She currently leads the test kitchen team ThePioneerWoman.com, as the Digital Food Director.

Erin is originally from Ohio and has a Bachelors of Science in business administration from The Ohio State University. After a decade in New York City, Erin relocated to Birmingham, AL where she currently resides with her husband and two children. She is a co-creator of the Birmingham Bakers, an organization that hosts charity bake sales to fund local and national initiatives. You can find her at the farmer’s market or perfecting neopolitan-style pizzas in her backyard.