Michael Palan
Expertise
Food History, Fountain Drinks, Anything Fried
- Michael ate his way through every kind of potato chip that Utz sells and not only lived to tell about it, but he ranked them all for The Daily Meal.
- As one who believes that sharing is caring, Michael is a Level 8 contributor to Google Maps: as a Master Photographer and Expert Reviewer of restaurants and points of general and specific interests.
- He once won a White Castle eating contest, and another time celebrated Valentine's Day at that fine dining establishment (that relationship didn't last).
Experience
Michael was born weighing 10 pounds and thus has been a lover of eating since birth. His amazing cook of a mother always indulged him, making many traditional favorites like noodle kugel and squash soufflé, but also enjoyed dining out at greasy spoon establishments with a bit of history. While he was a former Sandwich Artist at Subway, he chose to channel his talents into the arts of film, video, photography, and writing. For the past 25 years, he has worked on Academy Award winning films, Emmy Award winning television shows, had photographs published by New York Magazine, and has written for Decider, Looper, Explore and The Daily Meal. He also is an unofficial brand ambassador for Popeyes Fried Chicken.
Education
Michael has a bachelor's degree in telecommunications from Indiana University Bloomington.
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Stories By Michael Palan
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Movie homes can transport you to different eras and worlds in ways you could never imagine. Here are the famous movie houses that you can go see in real life.
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Bob Barker, Glynis Johns and more beloved entertainers are due to turn 100 years young in 2023. We pay tribute to them - and a few iconic companies as well.
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Let's see whatever happened to the cast of "The Shining," or as hotel manager Stuart Ullman would say, "all the best people."
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Most actors would give their right hand, Luke Skywalker style, to appear in either Star Wars or Indiana Jones -- these lucky ducks managed to appear in both!
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If you love the mob, "Goodfellas," "The Godfather" and "The Sopranos" are sacred texts. From John Apera to Robert De Niro, here are the actors who crossed over.
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The 1985 film "Fletch" is a comedy classic. From Chevy Chase to Geena Davis to George Wendt, we remember a talented cast, who likely have no elephant books.
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From "Bottle Rocket" to "The Life Aquatic," veteran actors like James Caan, Seymour Cassel and Irrfan Khan made a permanent impression before passing away.
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The 80s had so many classic movies that sometimes they were released opposite each other. From Spielberg to Kubrick, "Die Hard" to "Blade Runner," we look back.
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From the "Boogie Nights" tracking shot to a "Reservoir Dogs" discussion of Madonna, these are the most memorable shots to open 1990's-era films.
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As moviegoing got underway in the second decade of the 21st century, predictable trends led the way. Let's re-examine the biggest summer movies of the 2010s.
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From quirky counterculture classics and epic period dramas to James Cameron blockbusters, David Warner did it all. Here are the actor's most memorable roles.
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Discover which movies stars couldn't bear to sit through and some of the surprising reasons why they walked out.
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Audiences in the '00s clearly loved their Spider-Men, Pirates, Shreks and more. These are the biggest summer tentpole flicks of the era.
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Biff was a big part of the "Back to the Future" fun, and = Thomas F. Wilson has had a unique life in the years since. Catch up on his comedy, painting and more.
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Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" is a film that unravels more with each viewing, and pausing. We explore the most pause-worthy moments, and what they reveal.
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There's no time for love, Dr. Jones ... but plenty of time to check in on what "Temple of Doom" stars Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan and others are doing today.
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The Facts of Life is one of the most iconic sitcoms of the 1980s, and it produced some major stars. Here's what the cast has been up to since the series ended.
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Nickelodeon's "Hey Dude" was a staple for kids growing up in the late '80s and early '90s, but what are the cast up to now? Find out right here.
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Ilan Mitchell-Smith, who played Wyatt Donnelly in the John Hughes classic "Weird Science," quit acting, became a professor, and has led an intriguing life.
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"Pretty in Pink" does not fade with age. It only grows more colorful with repeated viewings. Here is what the cast of "Pretty in Pink" looks like today.
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We've lost several members of the "All in the Family" cast over the decades, but a few of them are thankfully still with us. Take a look.
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Not everybody can be The Rock. From Hulk Hogan to Joe Namath, David Beckham to Shaquille O'Neal, these athletes stumbled with their Hollywood careers.
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Here are the 20 best "Unsolved Mysteries" episodes.
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John Vernon, Reni Santoni, Harry Guardino and more supporting vets felt lucky to be in "Dirty Harry," Don Siegel's 1971 classic. We look back on their careers.
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Fans of 1971's "Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" will be glad to know that Mike Teevee, Charlie Bucket, Veruca Salt and other stars are still going strong.
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We present to you 15 movies about food every foodie will love, plus a recipe inspired by each film, with as many overcooked food puns as we could stir up.
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The sci-fi classic Total Recall was loaded with memorable characters, some of whom were portrayed by actors who are no longer with us.