Allison Engel has written articles for Esquire, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and other publications. She holds a bachelor's degrees in textiles/clothing and journalism, helps run the Los Angeles Institute for the Humanities, and regularly writes about LA's textile district and costume designers. She co-authored Food Finds: America's Best Local Foods and the People Who Produce Them (William Morrow Cookbooks) with her sister, Margaret Engel.