Author. Poet. Philosopher. Socialite. There seemed to be nothing that Tom Wolfe couldn't turn his hand to successfully, and his influence on the New York nightlife scene of the 1960s and 70s can't be overstated. He was truly something of a pioneer. In fact, Wolfe is heralded as the inventor of 'New Journalism'. He helped usher journalism away from the dry, somber reporting style of the past and wrote it as if it was fiction. He told the stories of the people he wrote about instead of merely presenting the facts. In a way, he invented the tabloid.
Wolfe's love of fiction eventually led him to walk away from a very successful journalism career to become a fiction writer full time. The move worked out, with successful titles like 'The Bonfire of the Vanities'. He wasn't born a New Yorker, but he moved there in 1962, and remained there until his death at the age of 88.
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.