We recently posted a story on the Houston Texans Cookbook, which detailed the NFL pros' favorite foods as well as a few family recipes. Taking a playful social riff on the subject, we decided to poll a dozen of our most glamorous social figures and ask for their fave dishes and how often they indulge.
As trim as these ladies are, they certainly have an appetite for the biggest, baddest calorific dishes imaginable.
But most have enough self-discipline to indulge with caution.
We begin with Jana Arnoldy, who chaired the Winter Ball and will chair the Symphony Ball in the spring. She admits to pigging out — but only once a year on her favorite meal — a double cheeseburger with truffle fries from Ajax Tavern in Aspen. At a svelte 126 pounds, this willowy blond could certainly afford a few more adventures on the foodie dark side.
Mother of twins, Elizabeth Petersen has an appetite that surely belies her size 2 dimensions. Topping her list — queso from Liberty Kitchen, Armandos and Lupe Tortillas and icing on Sprinkles cupcakes and on cakes from Randalls.
"I would eat them 24/7 if they didn't make me sick," she emails. "I probably indulge in both once or twice every two weeks!!! They aren't good for me but living life and being happy is!! And these are my two faves!!! Also, the bread at State of Grace, best bread I've ever ever tasted!!"
News gals talk splurge
NBC Channel 2 news anchor Dominique Sachse admits that she has to be cautious in her diet. "I was' when my family moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, for two years. During that time, I developed an insatiable appetite for boiled crawfish and crabs, the spicier the better," she says. "I adore them still today, however, I only indulge about once or twice a year. The residual salt bloat that follows lasts for days. . . not a good TV look."
NBC News national correspondent Janet Shamlian emails, “I’ll have what J.J. Watt is having! Mine would be a protein bender: Surf and turf. But I don’t get to indulge in it very often, couple times a year, maybe."
Recent Women of Distinction honoree Lisa Holthouse e-mails, "I can eat a large bowl of chili con queso at Escalante's by myself! We go there at least twice a week! I live for chili con queso!! And I only weigh 125 because I starve myself all day! I'm a big dinner girl! Ha!"
Slim, trim identical twins Hanna McNair and Joanna Marks go in different directions when it comes to favorite food. Hanna needs a Tex-Mex fix at least once a week, while Joanna digs into pasta dishes several times a week.
Does it say something about Susan Plank that she describes her favorite foods as her "death row meal" — fried chicken and a good martini. "Not that I would ever be on death row, but I feel like that after a bucket of chicken, downing it with a good martini," she says. "Just being honest."
A few other food obsession confessions:
Amy Lee: She goes for chocolate chip cookies from Tiny Boxwoods, an indulgence on her birthday and Christmas "and sometimes on a cheat day if I am at a good weight."
Lucinda Loya: "My favorite food is the crispy rice with tuna at Uptown Sushi. But my favorite recipe is the family fudge. It is addicting!"
Carrie Colbert: "My favorite indulgences are pasta and wine. I try to save the pasta indulgences for only the best pasta during trips to Italy. The wine, though, is a regular indulgence."
Lora Clemmons: "My favorite food is sand tart cookies from the House of Pies. Two Saturdays a month, I indulge with two cookies."
Phoebe Tudor: As a Louisiana native, she says,"I have to get my po'boy fix every now and then with a fried shrimp po'boy from Ragin' Cajun! Maybe once a month. But I have to have a little bit of chocolate pretty much every day. I have a major sweet tooth."
Estella Cockrell: After recently having had to permanently give up her fave French fries "with truffle and parm," she goes for Hail Mary (gluten free, vegan) chocolate macarons for her food fix.
Carrie Carson: She's hot on Brasserie 19's cheeseburger with bacon and fried egg, a side of fries and kale salad, for good measure. "Nicely paired with chardonnay and a cigar!" she emails.
Girlfriends Amy Lee and Lucinda Loya throw calorie caution to the wind with chocolate chip cookies and fudge, respectively.
