Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1314457
Q: What junk food admission are you most sheepish about? A: I don't eat fast food very often, but every now and then a Jack in the Box taco hits the spot. (Disclaimer : I've never eaten one sober.) Q: Are we too afraid of sugar and flour in this country? A: Life is too short. Eat the damn cookie. Q: What three things are always in your fridge at home? A: Banchan from Hong's Market, good ice cream, quality eggs. Q: You worked at some of the finest restau- rants in Las Vegas. Does Sin City reflect your personality? A: Not at all. But it was a great place to work, and I learned a ton. When you get out of work after midnight, everything is still open so you can still go out to eat or drink. I miss that. Q: Why do you think baking became so pop- ular during the pandemic? A: People suddenly had a lot of time on their hands, and the end results—bread and desserts—are comforting. Q: What is your go-to source of inspiration? A: My inspiration mostly comes from my childhood, so there's usually a whiff of nostalgia in my plated desserts. For example, growing up I loved my mom's pineapple upside down cake. Last year for Pebble Beach Food & Wine, I offered my spin on my mom's cake by adding a lemongrass fish sauce caramel, cherry puree and macadamia nut polvoron. Q: Rumor has it that you love Cool Whip. Explain yourself! A: I say if it tastes good to you, eat it and enjoy it. There's so much stigma around certain foods and people like to look down on things because it's considered cheap and not classy. I like Cool Whip with pie, and I say that with zero shame. Q: Describe how you feel when you bake for someone? A: Cooking or baking is an easy way to show you care for someone. If you really pay attention to what you're doing every step of the way, you can taste it. Love has always been the secret ingredient to anything good in life. 172 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 1 %'&#$"!'"' '%%#$ Our 38th Year! &$'!&% '&%!'&#$#" Mission Between 5th and 6th www.katysplacecarmel.com Breakfast & Lunch 7AM to 1:30PM every day Largest Breakfast Menu on the West Coast ® ® ® Lee's Food Network appearance allowed the tender-hearted, socially woke chef to unleash her savage side.