September 13, 2024 | Jesse Singer

Celebrity Chefs' Favorite Meals


Chef's Kiss

Just because these are famous chefs doesn't mean they're always eating big fancy meals. In fact, sometimes these celebrity chefs love the most simple of dishes. Here are some of the most surprising meals that make these celebrity chefs' mouths water.

Jamie Oliver: Spaghetti All’Arrabiata

If Jamie Oliver was picking his last meal, it would be spaghetti in tomato sauce, with three types of chilies. And for dessert: rice pudding with caramelized roast peaches.

Spaghetti-All-Arrabiatairis stock, Shutterstock

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Bobby Flay: Cheeseburger

Speaking of last meals, Bobby Flay would be very happy to see a cheeseburger in front of him for his last supper.

A Burger King CheeseburgerFamartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Anthony Bourdain: Pastrami Sandwich

He traveled all over the world and tried all kinds of food, but when he was away from his New York home, the meal he missed the most was a good ol' pastrami sandwich.

A Pastrami SandwichRgen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Selena Gomez: Chicken And Dumplings

She may not be a celebrity chef, but Gomez is a celebrity and she has her own cooking show, Selena + Chef—so it counts. As for her favorite meal...The one she loves to cook is Miso Soup, while her "nana's chicken and dumplings" is her all-time comfort food fave.

Chicken and DumplingsEmily Carlin, Flickr

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Jacques Pepin: Eggs

Scrambled, poached, fried, or boiled—the world-renowned French chef loves eggs all ways.

Two Fried EggsBalise42, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Giada De Laurentiis: Pasta Pizza

We would've been shocked if De Laurentiis' meal of choice wasn't Italian. But what is Pasta Pizza you ask? How does meat spaghetti with parmesan cheese and peas cooked in the shape of a pizza sound? Ya, it sounds amazing to us also.

Pizza with pastaGuilhem Vellut, Flickr

Heston Blumenthal: Macaroni And Cheese

It might not be the simple, boxed version of the mac n' cheese we all grew up with, but we gotta say that Heston Blumenthal's version sounds amazing: creamy macaroni casserole with mornay sauce and cheese sauce (hot tip: he uses Gruyère instead of Cheddar).

Macaroni And CheeseThe Marmot, Flickr

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Thomas Keller: Roasted Chicken

For Thomas Keller, no food reminds him of some of his most special memories like a good roasted chicken does.

Roasted ChickenAlvin Smith, Flickr

Ina Garten: Carrot Salad

Speaking of roasted chicken... few chefs are as synonymous with said dish as is "The Barefoot Contessa", Ina Garten. However, when it comes to one of her favorite meals, Garten loves a maple-roasted carrot salad that she makes with, carrots, olive oil, salt and pepper, maple syrup, cranberries, orange juice, sherry wine vinegar, garlic, baby rocket/arugula, goat’s cheese, and almonds.

Roasted carrot with white goat cheeseFotema, Shutterstock

Emeril Lagasse: Kale Soup

Lagasse even made this classic Portuguese Caldo Verde for contestants on Top Chef one season. BAM!

Portuguese style soup - Caldo VerdeBooFamily, Shutterstock

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Wolfgang Puck: Macarons

One of America's most famous chefs loves one of France's most famous deserts.

French MacaronsMălina Sîrbu, Pexels

Kevin Meehan: Turkey Sandwich Roll Up

Meehan always has deli meat on hand. He'll throw some turkey slices on white bread with cheese and mustard, roll it up and head on out. He's also been known to forgo the bread altogether sometimes.

Turkey Sandwich Roll UpGregReese, Needpix

Gordon Ramsay: Roast Beef

When he's not yelling at failing chefs or struggling restaurateurs, Gordon Ramsay loves a delicious roast beef with a Yorkshire pudding and red wine gravy. What fast food restaurant would Ramsey happily visit also?

Roast Beef with Yorkshire PuddingOli Sandler, Shutterstock

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Gordon Ramsay: In-N-Out

As he told Taste of Home, "Take me to the drive-thru at In-N-Out burger and you'll see me in the back seat with tinted windows with a Double Double [cheeseburger]."

In-N-Out Burger Cheeseburgers And Friespointnshoot, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Nigella Lawson: Chickpea And Pasta Soup

Nothing warms Nigella Lawson on a cold grey day like her yummy chickpea and pasta soup.

Chickpea and Pasta SoupJack7_7, Shutterstock

Jesse Schenker: Omelet

He likes to switch it up, but the New York chef's favorite 10-minute omelet usually consists of burrata, rocket/arugula, lemon, and some smoked paprika.

Omelette With ToppingsEngin Akyurt, Pexels

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Paula Deen: Meatballs

This Southern chef claims her Italian meatballs are the most moist and flavorsome.

Meatball plateKoray Ozyoruk, Shutterstock

Mario Batali: Chips And Salsa

One of Batali's go-to snacks at home is the not-at-all-fancy Doritos and salsa.

Chips and salsaAndrew Bossi, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

Curtis Stone: Lasagna

Another non-Italian chef with a penchant for Italian food, Lasagna is one of his family's go-to favorites.

Lasagnacookiespi, Flickr

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Rachael Ray: Spaghetti Aglio E Olio

It's just a fancy way to say spaghetti with garlic and olive oil.

Spaghetti Aglio E Oliotrawellkat, Shutterstock

René Redzepi: Watermelon

The founder of Noma—regarded as one of, if not the best restaurant in the world—loves Watermelon. But what meal did he almost put on his menu?

Watermelon SlicesKirti Poddar, Flickr

René Redzepi: Potato Skins

His wife made him potato skins once—using a variety of good Danish potatoes. Redzepi called it a "masterpiece". He even considered making it a menu item at Noma.

Potato SkinsFlavio Ensiki, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Jimmy Bradley: Italian-Style Tuna Melt

What makes a tuna melt Italian-style? Well, if you're New York restauranteur Jimmy Bradley, it's olive oil, cucumber and red onion melted with fontina (and tomatoes on top if they are in season).

Tuna Melt Sandwichmosespreciado, Flickr

Ted Hopson: Cheese And Bread

This Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef always has about seven kinds of cheese on hand.

Cheddar cheese sandwichAlpha, Flickr

Tony Mantuano: Mushrooms And Eggs

He runs the only four-star Italian restaurant in Chicago, but when Mantuano is feeling peckish at home, he will often sauté up some mushrooms and crack an egg on top.

Fried Eggs with MushroomsLoopZilla, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Alain Ducasse: Vegetable Casserole

With 19 Michelin stars to his name, the seasonal veggie casserole is one of this French chef's signature dishes.

Vegetable casserolepixabay.com, Picryl

Antonio Carluccio: Spaghetti Alle Vongole

Carluccio is a legend of Italian cuisine in the UK, and when he's home, few things hit the spot better than spaghetti with clams.

Spaghetti Alle VongoleWei-Duan Woo, Flickr

Luc Jean: Pain Au Chocolat

Canadian chef Luc Jean doesn't just love the stuff—he credits a pain au chocolat as changing his life and setting him on the path of his culinary future.

Pain au ChocolatJesse Loughborough, Flickr

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Ryan Rondeno: Gumbo

Chef Rondeno's favorite season is fall. In no small part because it's the best gumbo-making season.

The popular stew - GumboWatch And Rewatch, Shutterstock

Sandra Lee: Steak

She likes her rib-eye medium-rare.

Sliced Medium Rare SteakOndrej Brydl, Shutterstock

Maria Loi: Bread And Olive Oil

Having grown up in Greece, Loi loves her crusty bread with, what else, Greek extra virgin olive oil. She'll even add some feta and tomatoes.

Bread And Olive OilPorto Convention & Visitors Bureau, Flickr

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Marco Pierre White: Ham Sandwich

All this Michelin star chef needs is some ham, bread, and English mustard.

Ham sandwichLara604, Flickr


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