GL: Have you ever run into someone who doesn’t eat dessert at your house?
JR: Even if they don’t eat it, the dessert should be special.
GL: How do you feel about vegans?
JR: I don’t understand them and don’t care! You know what they should do? Bring their own food with them! I think it’s outrageous to expect a hostess to cater to your special needs. If you’re a vegan, bring your own food and we’ll put it on a plate for you but don’t make the other 19 people at the table sit there and suffer.
GL: What is your perfect dinner party?
JR: Never more than twelve people. But a perfect number is six so you can all have one conversation. The guests would always be people in the arts. And always my sister (a staunch conservative) because she’ll mix it up. She’ll say anything to get a conversation going. It’s really important if your guests are all Democrats to get one really good fascist in there. It makes for a great party. She’ll sit next to a gay man and say, “I hate queers,” and her three best friends are gay, you know what I mean. She does it to get the attention and get stuff happening. And it sure works! Everybody goes away with something to talk about.
GL: What’s the worst meal you ever had?
JR: Oh god, its all about color. The worst was an all-white meal. It was cod, and mashed potatoes and cauliflower on a white plate! It was served to me by a friend as a joke. It was July Fourth and we all did a red white and blue theme. I got the white meal.
GL: Well, it was probably better than the blue meal.
JR: That was all dyed and, well, I didn’t trust the blue meal. It’s just not natural.
GL: If you could cook, what would be the dream dish you would make?
JR: Oh god, it would be Beef Wellington. No one does it anymore. Beef surrounded by pate, surrounded by a crust. Very English, very old fashioned — I call it an “Ike and Mamie (Eisenhower)” meal. Before people realized maybe you shouldn’t be eating French fried onion rings and all that stuff ... But it was so delicious!
GL: Is there one thing you just refuse to eat?
JR: No. I am the hostess’ delight. I will say, “I like seconds of the haggis! Gimme some more kimchi! Blood sausage? Delicious!” I look forward to airplane meals. I really will eat anything.
GL: Is there an airline meal that’s your favorite?
JR: Oh British Airlines, delicious! I just came back form London yesterday on British Airways and we had a great steak and high tea with clotted cream and scones. I just love it. And BA gives you real silverware. It’s like, “if you want to knife us, knife us, but do it as a gentleman.”
GL: Is there a cooking show you love?
JR: I don’t watch them except for Martha Stewart. She always gives me easy recipes like “One Stop Pasta.”
GL: Martha’s easy?
JR: Well, whatever it is I know I can’t do it so it just frustrates me. So I’d rather watch Martha (than anyone else).
Paula Froelich is a writer based in New York.
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