Chefs and Their Guilty Pleasures
Chefs: They eat great food all the time, right? Wrong.
We turned to some of Dallas’ best chefs and asked what they reach for when they’re too tired to cook.
The answers were validating.
Unconventional Snacks
Self-described “snackaholic” chef Anastacia Quiñones-Pittman loves Slim Jims. That’s a fun departure from what Chef AQ is known for: her contemporary Mexican food menus previously at José and next at forthcoming Dallas restaurant Eledi.
Christophe De Lellis, the French-born chef who will soon open French-Italian restaurant Mamani in Dallas, loves Hi-Chew candies. Yup, the gelatinous, fruit-flavored snacks.
“I can’t stop eating them,” he said. “It’s kind of embarrassing because they’re super sweet and taste nothing like real fruit. … But I still love them.
“Chewy, addictive — and once I open a pack, it’s game over.”
Sweet Treats
Chef Dean Fearing also craves a sweet treat. “Just give me peanut M&Ms or a Snickers and I’m the happiest guy in the whole wide world,” he said. He called a candy bar “my true guilty pleasure.”
When McKinney chef Andrea Shackelford, of Harvest, wants a sweet treat, she grabs a handful of chocolate chips from the dry goods section of the restaurant.
“I have been known to make a trail mix of white chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate and peanuts in my hand, as well. It’s the perfect salty sweet combo,” she said.
Savory Snacks
Tanner Agar, CEO and creative director of Rye in East Dallas and Flamant in Plano, will eat “a tortilla filled with whatever food is closest to the fridge door. I will not heat any of it up, and I’ll eat it standing while deciding what whiskey to drink.”
Via Triozzi chef-owner Leigh Hutchinson prefers a savory snack. When she’s not making housemade pasta or her beloved lasagna, she reaches for mayo slathered on a Saltine, topped with bologna and another Saltine.
“Not even fancy stuff,” she said of the bologna: Oscar Mayer works great.
Drinks and Other Favorites
Starship Bagel owner Oren Salomon loves Promised Land chocolate milk. “If there’s any left, I’m gonna drink it,” he said.
Quarter Acre chef-owner Toby Archibald, who was born and raised in New Zealand, has learned to love an American classic: a Sonic caramel milkshake, hold the whipped cream.
Recent James Beard Humanitarian of the Year Chad Houser loves Kibo Spicy Ranch lentil chips. “They remind me, in many ways, of pork rinds,” said the founder of Cafe Momentum, a non-profit that helps teens in need.
Ice Cream and Other Unique Combinations
Speaking of ice cream, you ready for this? Matt Balke, chef-owner of Oak Cliff restaurant Encina, loves chili cheese Fritos on top of Blue Bell Cookies ’n Cream ice cream.
“He was always trying to get us to taste it,” Balke’s mom, Ellen, told The Dallas Morning News. (In an amazing plot twist, she didn’t like it. Sorry, chef!)
Conclusion
Chefs! They’re just like the rest of us.
They’re tight on time, too.
We’d love to hear what you like to snack on in secret. Tell us in the comments: What do you reach for when nobody’s looking?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What do chefs like to snack on when they’re too tired to cook?
A: Chefs have a variety of favorite snacks, including Slim Jims, Hi-Chew candies, peanut M&Ms, and chili cheese Fritos on top of ice cream.
Q: Are chefs always eating healthy food?
A: No, chefs are not always eating healthy food. They have guilty pleasures and favorite snacks, just like everyone else.
Q: Where can I find Kibo Spicy Ranch lentil chips?
A: Kibo Spicy Ranch lentil chips are available at most grocery stores, Walmart, and Amazon.
Q: Can I try making my own trail mix with chocolate and peanuts?
A: Yes, you can try making your own trail mix with chocolate and peanuts. It’s a great way to satisfy your sweet and salty cravings.
