KCRW Good Food Host Evan Kleiman

I’m Not Really a Foodie

Culinarian Evan Kleiman is the host of KCRW’s Good Food and a veteran of the Los Angeles food scene with a keen interest in food policy. In the green room before helming the panel at the Zócalo/UCLA event “What’s So Bad About GMOs?” Kleiman confessed that she isn’t all that interested in fancy meals—and that she ate a cold burrito for breakfast.

Q:

What salad dressing best describes you?


A:

The salad dressing that I ate every day of my life and that I served for 30 years in my restaurant. I called it the Angeli Forte dressing. It was on the Insalata Forte. It was olive oil, aged red wine vinegar, a ton of garlic, and a handful of parmesan cheese. It’s tart and strong, but mellowed with umami. When I was a child my mother made it with Wesson oil and green shake cheese.


Q:

What year, past or future, would you time travel to if you could?


A:

I think I’m very much a person of now. But if I had to, it would be the ‘40s, strangely enough. I’m good in a crisis.


Q:

If you could legalize one crime, which would you choose?


A:

Wow, that is a really good question. Libel.


Q:

Who is your favorite Rolling Stone?


A:

My favorite Rolling Stone was Brian [Jones] but he left us way too early. I would have to say Keith Richard because he’s so wizened. He’s like a gnome.


Q:

What did you have for breakfast today?


A:

For breakfast today I had the remains of a chile relleno burrito that I couldn’t finish for dinner last night. I ate it cold out of the refrigerator.


Q:

What’s the strangest question your fans ask you?


A:

Well, my fans always ask what fancy restaurant I went to, which to them isn’t strange but to me it is because I’m not really a foodie. I don’t go to super fancy restaurants.


Q:

Who was the last person to leave you a voicemail?


A:

People leave voicemails?


Q:

What’s your favorite plant?


A:

There cannot be a favorite plant! I love sequoia trees.