Who would have thought that impoverished white kid from the slums of Detroit would become one of the greatest rappers of all-time? Apparently, he did especially being that he grew up reading the dictionary in order to increase his vocabulary for rhymes. With the help of Dr. Dre, Eminem was able to rise to prominence with his 1999 album, The Slim Shady LP, which gained him an insane following selling millions of records. His next album, The Marshall Mathers LP, took listeners on a journey into his dark and twisted mind as he rapped about his struggles with his mother and girlfriend.
Throughout his career, his projects have sparked controversy about domestic abuse and sociopathic behavior but Eminem reassured the public that it was pure entertainment until years later he revealed via his music that he struggled with prescription pain pill addiction that forced him to seek help. Now, the Detroit rapper continues to make music, which some might say is declining but as long as his health is intact and he's mentally stable all is well and he will remain another legend in the culture as well.
Chefs made their way into celebrity land a while ago. But how many celebrities that weren’t trained as professional cooks are actually whizzes in the kitchen? Here are several that come to mind.
Actress Julia Roberts is confident about her cooking skills. “I’m quite a good cook,” she told E! News. “I’m like a closet home ec teacher…I can really cook anything.” Roberts has said she often cooks fish for herself and her kids. And speaking of her three children, “They think that I’m a good cook,” Roberts told People. “They actually told me that I should open a restaurant.” She also relishes cooking for the holidays, particularly shredded Brussel sprouts. Roberts hasn’t published a cookbook, but we did find recipes attributed to her for peach crisp and banana hemp muffins. Or you can make the same summer salad the actress supposedly eats.
Chrissy Teigen started off as a supermodel. Then her love of cooking filtered into her professional life too. At this point, she’s created recipes for a limited Blue Apron release and also just launched her own home and cooking line at Target named “Cravings,” after the two cookbooks she’s released. Teigen describes cooking as “a time of peace” for herself. So maybe peace out to her tuna melt sandwich or the fried chicken wings that are a favorite of her husband, John Legend.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, comes from a cooking Italian family. Her father started his own restaurant in New York and also published a cookbook. And apparently, Lady Gaga has inherited the family’s cooking genes. Her Instagram account occasionally features photos of her culinary activities. Sure, sometimes it’s topless cooking. But other times it’s more poignant like in the post she shared about her bringing food to the family of her dear friend who passed away. Want to try a Gaga/Germanotta family favorite? Check out her recipe for whole wheat pasta with a sweet fennel sauce.