Evan Kleiman is the host of KCRW’s Good Food and the author of eight books on Italian food. Before talking with Tracie McMillan about how Americans eat, she confessed in the green room that while people inspire her, they’re also what makes her most impatient.
Q. When’s the last time you danced?
A. God, what a disturbing question! Actually I danced at home recently by myself-with my dog.
Q. What’s the last good book you read?
A. That’s an unfair question to ask me: I read amazing books. Aside from Tracie’s book, I would say the most intriguing book I’m reading right now is Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman.
Q. What advice do you give aspiring chefs?
A. Choose another career. Before you throw away what you’re doing, make sure you are suited to the work. So, work for free for somebody before you go and spend $30,000 to $50,000 a year to get a degree. Being a chef is like being an ox.
Q. What’s your favorite social media platform?
A. Twitter. I like the hit-and-run bon mot.
Q. What’s your favorite region in Italy?
A. My favorite city is Rome. My favorite region is probably whatever region I last went to. But I would say overall the South-so, Puglia and Basilicata.
Q. What do you proselytize for?
A. Hugs.
Q. What performance would you most like to see live?
A. I’d like to see Jimi Hendrix again. I used to see him play at the Whisky a lot when I was a kid.
Q. Winter or Summer Olympics?
A. Winter. I love the cold, being a native Los Angelena.
Q. What inspires you?
A. People.
Q. What makes you impatient?
A. People.
Q. Where do you go to be alone?
A. My bedroom. My 92-year-old mother lives with me, so I have to go to an ever-more confining space to be alone.
*Photo by Aaron Salcido.