Annabelle Tometich

Annabelle Tometich is a Filipino-Slavic author, food writer, and restaurant critic born and raised in Fort Myers, Florida, who transitioned from a medical-school reject and line cook to journalism, spending 18 years at The News-Press.[1][5] Her debut memoir, 'The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony' (2024), explores her chaotic upbringing and family life, earning praise from The New York Times and awards including the 2025 Southern Book Prize for nonfiction.[1][2] She lives in Fort Myers with her husband, two children, and Filipina mother, and her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today, and others.[1][3]