Your latest invention “ Infladium ” is brilliant . What inspired it ?
I love football and food . That was pretty much the beginning of the idea . I kept noticing people were building snack stadiums for tailgating parties and wanted one for myself . I just didn ’ t want to build it and the idea that it would take time to build and only be good for one use , was also worrisome . So I said , why isn ’ t there one for sale ? I looked and found nothing that could feed a crowd and solve all of the issues I described . That ’ s when I realized , I had to make snack stadiums available for people like me . It inflates to look like a stadium , has plenty of room for snacks , is easy to clean and most importantly , reusable . I ’ m really happy with it and never thought I ’ d have an invention , it sold out the first day it was on sale online and did very well throughout the football season . Because of that , I have more ideas and inventions on the way !
It ’ s been a while since “ Sunny ’ s Kitchen : Easy Food for Real Life ”. Should we anticipate another New York Times bestseller anytime soon ?
I have another book concept I ’ m working on , but never rush anything .
According to you , You ’ re your best person to cook with , so , too many hands spoil the broth for you then ?
No , it ’ s not that … I just truly enjoy cooking so much , it ’ s one of the few times I can get in my own head and wander around a bit . It ’ s like looking at a beautiful sunset , sometimes it ’ s best quiet , so you can think . But I enjoy cooking with others for work , that ’ s a completely different feeling of teamwork and sharing .
You could have chosen to settle anywhere in the world being that you ’ re something of a globetrotter , why New York ?
Because New York has a piece of every part of the world . From cuisine , to the arts , the people … it ’ s hard to have a bad day in NYC . I ’ ve lived in the area since 2001 and I still look up at the buildings like a tourist and delight in finding new places to eat . More than a decade in and I ’ ve still not seen the whole of NYC . I love NYC .
“ I feel good knowing I ’ ve given my true self , so the support feels real and not empty . Representation matters in many ways .
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What ’ s that thing about classic comfort food that novices get wrong ?
Making something other people want . I make what I want , and hope people like it . If you are a novice , it ’ s easier to work at perfecting your favorite dish . If you don ’ t like fried chicken , don ’ t try to get it right for someone , cook for yourself first .
Who would you like to cook for ?
The troops . The U . S . military troops , anywhere … I ’ d like to feed them .
Last day on earth , what would you eat ?
Mac and cheese from my mom , My grandma ’ s red velvet cake , squash pie and iced tea . Along with my favorite German dish , jaeger schnitzel with spaetzle and an ice cold beer .
30 GTBANK FOOD AND DRINK