That is Amused Bouche, SAVEUR’s meals questionnaire that explores the culinary curiosities of a few of our favourite individuals. This interview collection will dive deep into their meals routines, together with ceremonial dinner methods, cherished cookbooks, and the memorable bites they’d hop on a flight for.
If I might select a voice for my digital assistant within the kitchen, it could be Phoebe Robinson. One, as a result of her voice has already been surrounding so many people for greater than a decade by her podcasts “2 Dope Queens,” “Sooo Many White Guys,” and “Black Frasier.” However most significantly, as a result of she doesn’t take cooking too severely and enjoys the trial and error of all of it. In a current Zoom dialog, she described her cooking ethos as: “I by no means get too emotionally connected to a dish. So if there’s a cooking catastrophe, I simply say, ‘Oh, effectively that sucks, however I’m nonetheless gonna eat it.’ And if I can’t eat it, I’ll order in. I’m very adaptable.”
Lately, Robinson additionally began marathon coaching—“I’m an unpaid athlete as a result of I’m nonetheless doing the work,” she says—and it took time to develop a meals routine that was straightforward to observe with out being too boring. For lengthy runs on Saturdays, she goes for salad and a giant bowl of cacio e pepe the evening earlier than, and for pre-morning runs, she’ll prep in a single day oats. “I don’t eat something too heavy after I’m going to run as a result of it’s going to suck to run and suck to stay,” she explains. “You understand, Gabby Thomas and I are very comparable. Yeah—Olympian Gabby Thomas!”
Under, Robinson shares a few of her hyperfixation meals, what it feels prefer to eat your favourite nostalgic snacks after the age of 40, and the shocking pasta form she thinks is completely “forgotten.”
Should you might solely eat one factor 24/7/365, what would it not be?
I’m above all a carbs woman, so I might most likely eat pasta on daily basis. Generally I need a bit of bow tie if I’m feeling fancy, typically I need a bit of penne. I’ve leaned away from spaghetti as a result of I’m like, “What am I, 5?” I really like bow ties as a result of they’re enjoyable and also you don’t routinely consider them as a go-to pasta form. They’re omitted of the dialog a bit of bit. Me ordering it’s saying, “I haven’t forgotten about you.”
What’s the very first thing you discovered learn how to prepare dinner?
It was me and my dad baking cookies. I used to be most likely round 5? I can see the image in my head now—me standing with a fork making the marks in peanut butter cookies. I used to be sporting a cute gown, had little white barrettes on the ends of my little braids that my mother put in, and I used to be so excited!
How about your newest kitchen journey?
I’m inconsistent with how usually and what I prepare dinner. I attempted being vegan, I attempted being pescatarian. However the reality of the matter is that I actually take pleasure in meat. I can’t watch the documentaries that present how meat is procured and dropped at us. I don’t have to know—I do know it’s unhealthy! I don’t have to look into it. Once I eat meat, I need it to be filling, yummy, and easy, like this slow-cooked, keto, creamy Tuscan hen factor I simply made. I do take pleasure in cozy meals simply because the world is tough. We’re working lots. I’m marathon coaching. So my default is to eat or make meals that kind of really feel like a giant hug.
What’s your treat-yourself splurge?
Right here’s the factor about getting older: As I’ve turned 40, there’s a transparent distinction in what I can eat and what I completely can’t. In my 20s after I was on the Pratt Institute, I might get a bag of Smartfood white cheddar popcorn, watch “Intercourse and the Metropolis,” and eat the complete party-size bag. I did that in COVID in my late 30s, and it betrayed me. I used to be up within the lavatory for a very long time. I’m lactose illiberal however have at all times performed quick and unfastened, and now I understand my treats must be much less dairy-based, which is sort of unhappy. However I discovered one which’s on my desk proper now: Love Corn. It’s simply little ultra-crispy kernels of corn dusted in bitter cream and onion taste. I eat them by the handful and like their sea salt, cheddar, and barbecue flavors, too.
If I’m going out, I really like the Chinese language hen salad from Restoration {Hardware} Guesthouse in New York. It really is to die for. I’m the queen of claiming I’m gonna decrease and never construct it up, however I construct that salad up as a result of it’s so good. That’s my primary favourite salad in New York. It’s a $30 salad, so I received’t splurge on it 5 occasions per week, however it’s a candy and wholesome deal with that’s at all times effectively dressed. There’s nothing worse than a salad drowning in dressing.
What’s your most cherished cookbook?
I don’t have any cookbooks, however I do distinctly keep in mind my dad having the large Prepare dinner’s Illustrated Cookbook. After which he has his personal little cookbook the place he’s simply continuously tinkering together with his recipes, making notes, and updating it in Microsoft Phrase earlier than reprinting it. It’s actually cute. He made a fully hearth pineapple upside-down cake after I was youthful that I might at all times look ahead to and ask for.
Is there a cooking catastrophe that made you swear off a dish without end?
I obtained an Immediate Pot throughout COVID, and I by no means used it, however my ex did. So after we broke up, I made a decision to go on Instagram Reside and study as I went with the Immediate Pot…and everybody watching was nervous. They informed me to step away from it! There was one time I had a can of tomatoes, however I didn’t have a can opener as a result of I assume my ex took it? So I used to be stabbing a can with a knife and folks had been like, what is occurring? I stated that it’s chaos—I’m not Giada [De Laurentiis], honey. I’m so ignorant within the kitchen. So if I chop my thumb off, you guys will see it first.
Which nostalgic meals from childhood convey you essentially the most consolation?
Starbursts! Hear, let me inform you, we used to barter and commerce for the flavors, honey. It was fairly enjoyable. If I needed to rank my favorites, it’d be purple in final place. Like, woman, I assume we’ll have you ever round. Primary is orange, then pink, yellow, purple.
Once you’re taking part in ceremonial dinner DJ, what’s spinning?
I delight myself on my playlists. Generally I curate them, and different occasions Spotify is aware of what up. However often I’ll curate a playlist, and I at all times get complimented on them. Perhaps in one other life I might have been a DJ. At a cocktail party, I’m at all times going to placed on Luther Vandross’ “By no means Too A lot.” That’s one in all my mother’s favourite singers of all time. There’s by no means a second you hear that tune and also you’re like, “SKIP!” Somewhat Usher second, a bit of Mariah Carey with all her iconic eras and types, and Whitney Houston—classics. Quite a lot of new mainstream stuff is turn-up music, which is enjoyable in some conditions, however not after I’m attempting to have a dialog. I cherished Willow’s final album and can put that on for some extra enjoyable.
What’s your greatest entertaining flex to impress company?
I completely fell for an Instagram advert, and I totally, totally stand by it. Nobody goes to make me really feel any sort of method about it. I obtained this scorching chocolate maker that got here with a four-pack of flavors: basic, milk chocolate, salted caramel, and mint chocolate. You simply put the milk and powder in, press a button, and it whips and heats it up. It takes two minutes after which I pour the recent chocolate into cute little cups with marshmallows on high, and it’s such a enjoyable, enjoyable, and sudden deal with. You don’t take into consideration scorching chocolate usually, but when somebody affords it to you, you’re gonna be like, “HELL YEAH!” Then I ship them off into the evening.
Inform me a few meal so good you’ll hop on a flight to relive it.
The perfect tacos I’ve ever had in my life had been at Hija de Sanchez in Copenhagen. I really take into consideration them a number of occasions a yr. This was in 2018 after I went to see U2 for my birthday and we solely had a couple of days. The situation we went to was very unassuming, and we had unimaginable veggie and pork tacos in essentially the most stunning climate. I do completely wish to return to Copenhagen only for this taco, which sounds insane. I imply, I might clearly construct a visit round it, however the principle purpose could be so I might go and eat these tacos once more.
This interview has been edited and condensed for readability.
