The Steeple Times asks the chef, author and BBC America “Chef Race: U.K. vs. U.S.” contestant Phoebe Lapine: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom.” What’s your guiding force?
Food. Friends. Fun.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Be the heroine of your own life, not the victim.” The quote is courtesy of the late but brilliant Nora Ephron.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2012?
Had to Google that one. Um, onesies (or as we call them in America, “footie pajamas”)… Just kidding, those are timeless.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
Horses: I can’t seem to find space for one in my New York City apartment.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
An iron and a bottomless stomach. Or an invisibility cloak.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank.” What’s your view on the banking crisis?
Greed is not good. Sorry, Gordo.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“No.”
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home.” What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I feed a revolving door of twenty-something’s who don’t think they’re capable of roasting a chicken. If only someone had taught them what it takes to prepare real food when they were young. My causes include culinary education for kids and also pediatric cancer research via The Valerie Fund.
The judge in “Law Abiding Citizen” states: “I can pretty do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
You don’t need to shout for the person on the other end to hear you. It’s an iPhone, not a tin can on a string.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Julia Child, Jamie Oliver, Ruth Reichl and Nora Ephron for the first half. Just me and ten clones of Ryan Gosling for the second.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
Sole meunière, frites, haricots vert, strong strong strong French mustard and a vat of mayonnaise. Warm chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I’d eat it on a hillside in Provence surrounded by horses. So, I guess, there should be a bucket of apples too.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
It’s always 5 o’clock somewhere, right?
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
Campari soda.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
My own. I love feeding my friends and having a ball and going to bed with dirty dishes in the sink. Plus, I never have to put on shoes.
Who is the most positive person you know?
Debbie Phillips: Every woman’s spiritual mother.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Trashy magazines.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
A heart shaped spoon.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
I can’t think of an answer that’s not vaguely sexual.
Cilla Black presented “Surprise, Surprise.” Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I’m very social, but also I’m a closet introvert. I need a lot of “me” time to recharge.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
I wish I had one. On the ledge of my sleeping loft I have a candle, an empty water glass and a novel.
Phoebe Lapine is a chef, author and food personality. The daughter of Tony Award winning American stage director and librettist James Lapine, she is a co-founder of the blog Big Girls Small Kitchen and co-author of the cookbook In the Small Kitchen: 100 Recipes From Our Year of Cooking in the Real World.
Phoebe Lapine’s website can be viewed at: http://phoebelapine.com and she shares her recipes at: http://feedmephoebe.com
Follow Phoebe Lapine on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/PhoebeLapine