Doing a little bit of everything—but primarily serving as the Website Coordinator—Rachel recently celebrated her fifth year at Tampa Magazines. With prior experience working at a café, she spends her time searching for the perfect black cold brew (or an oat milk cordado), and is always ready with a recommendation, no matter the neighborhood. Still, one small tea shop near USF Tampa will forever have her heart—so much so that you could say it’s where she truly “works from home.”

For Rachel, it’s never just about the food; service also has to be top-notch. She loves connecting with staff to get a feel for how a place really operates. “Once you’ve established a connection, you can always trust that they’ll recommend you something to die for,” she says. “And, if you become a regular, sometimes they know what you’ll want even before you do.”

Forever chasing the high of a Hamachi crudo once served at Rooster & the Till—now rivaled by D.C.’s Moon Rabbit—Rachel craves balance in her food. While she leans savory, nothing beats a thoughtfully balanced dish in her eyes.