Fame Bites - Gayle King

Fame Bites goes inside the belly of the entertainment beast. We're dishing out where the celebrities are eating, what they're eating and who they're eating with.

It's not easy being King.

That is, unless you're Gayle King - editor-at-large of "O, The Oprah Magazine" and host of "The Gayle King Show" - who we recently talked soup (and sprouts and Sprinkles) with.

You describe yourself as a food lover.
"Big time!"

Who taught you to love food?
"Nobody taught me - it’s not something that you have to be taught. You just have to put your mouth around something that was really tasty and I was hooked.

It’s not like I grew up in a house where my mother was a fabulous cook. My mother was an O.K. cook, so its not like I grew up thinking, 'oh my God, food is so wonderful.' But certainly in my young adult life I realized through having really great meals that food is a source of pleasure. And, I believe that one of the most loving things you can do is prepare a meal for someone you love. None of which I know how to do!"

Was there a defining moment or memory where you said "Wow, this is taking me to a higher level?"
"I guess it's maybe when you go to some fine dining restaurant where you look at the menu and you have no idea what it is. And you go, 'I’m going to give it a try' - and you end up liking things that you didn’t think that you would.

For instance: I thought I would never like beets a long time ago when I was younger. I went to a restaurant that prepared them really well - the same with Brussels spouts. I said there is no way I am going to like Brussels sprouts. Then yesterday I went out to Café Luxembourg on the West side with my favorite daughter Kirby and favorite son Will, and they had Brussels sprouts cooked in an apple brown butter. Think about that for a second - with bacon bits! Lord have mercy! I was thinking I don’t really like Brussels sprouts but anything described as caramelized, I’m in."

Seriously, that is a good rule to live by. Have you taught your children to have the same appreciation? Do they love food like you do?
"My daughter Kirby does. Will still has some habits which he needs to of course correct - all of which he blames me! They didn’t grow up with a love of vegetables and if I had to do it over, that is one of the things I would do differently in terms of parenting. I would make sure they had much better nutrition than they had. I was a throw it in the microwave kind of girl. They ate a lot of processed food - so I would do that very differently."

What is one food or drink that you can’t go a day without?
"I don’t have something I cant go one day without. There are things that I love, love, love. But I’m not that extreme about anything like that in the food world."

What is one food that you absolutely love?
"I love a great cheeseburger. Love, love, love a great cheeseburger."

You’ve interviewed really incredible and diverse people on your various shows. Who is your dream dinner date and where would you take them?
"I would love to have dinner with Jay-Z and Beyoncé. I think we would have a lot to chat about. I like them both so much, and I love them as a couple. I like that they are both at the top of their game - and that they have a mutual respect and admiration for each other. And I feel the same about them. We’ve been at places where we were at the same room at dinner parties, but when it’s just us just chilling and kicking back, I think that would be a kick."

Is there a certain restaurant you’d take them to?
"I love Per Se. Per Se has some of the best food I’ve ever tasted in my life. They really make food an art. It’s an art form there.

Sometimes you can’t go wrong with a great pizza place or a great burger place. You know it doesn’t always have to be fancy schmancy. I don’t believe that either. Great food does not always come from five-star, gazillion-star restaurants. You can find the perfect mom-and-pop place where you can take ownership and say, 'I love the food here.' I’m still looking for something on the Upper West Side."

What is your favorite spice or flavor?
"I love anything sweet. I’m a sweet girl. I love bananas, peaches and icing out of the can."

Can’t go wrong with that!
"I dare you to take a spoonful of Duncan Hines and not just drive yourself absolutely nuts."

You know a lot of cupcakes places like Sprinkles in L.A. will sell shots of frosting.
"Do they?"

They do – so many people just love the frosting and go crazy for it.
"I did not know that - I’ve never heard that! I was just at Sprinkles in L.A. I have almost missed a plane going to Sprinkles that is how ridiculous it is. I’m not kidding."

What’s your favorite cupcake there? I’ve been in the same boat!
"Banana."

What would you say is one of the best or most memorable meals you’ve had?
"When Oprah did the trip of a lifetime, it was in Turkey in the mountains. The driver knew of it and called ahead. It was so memorable because the setting was so spontaneous and off the beaten path. He called with less than two hours notice and this woman put on a spread like you wouldn’t believe. It was a bed and breakfast type place, it wasn’t a big fancy schmancy place, but the food was so fresh. It was a big group of us and it was just really wonderful.

A good restaurant just makes me giddy. I can go all day with anticipation just knowing where I’m going to eat. Sometimes it’s well planned, sometimes it’s spontaneous. Either way works.

You know, I’m going to Gaga’s concert tonight. I think she’d be fun to have dinner with."

We say she’d be the dinner and the entertainment all in one.
"I’d be curious to see, I think she’d be fun."