Earvin 'Magic' Johnson is probably one of the most diverse basketball players to ever grace the professional hardwood. His court vision, insane no-look passes, defensive talent, and ability to get to the basket turned an entire generation into Lakers' fans. Not to mention he was a 6'6" point guard, something that was unheard of during his stint in the NBA. Johnson was drafted first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers after winning an NCAA title at Michigan State. Johnson stayed his entire career with the Lakers before retiring in 1991 and making a return for a single season in 1996.
Throughout his tenure with the Lakers, Johnson earned five NBA Championships, three NBA Finals MVP Awards, three additional MVP Awards, and twelve NBA All-Star appearances. Johnson contracted the HIV virus in 1991 but has beat the deadly illness and is one of the best businessmen the NBA has ever produced. Johnson is currently a partial owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Head of Basketball Operations for his former team the Los Angeles Lakers.
Chefs made their way into celebrity land a while ago. But how many celebrities that weren’t trained as professional cooks are actually whizzes in the kitchen? Here are several that come to mind.
Actress Julia Roberts is confident about her cooking skills. “I’m quite a good cook,” she told E! News. “I’m like a closet home ec teacher…I can really cook anything.” Roberts has said she often cooks fish for herself and her kids. And speaking of her three children, “They think that I’m a good cook,” Roberts told People. “They actually told me that I should open a restaurant.” She also relishes cooking for the holidays, particularly shredded Brussel sprouts. Roberts hasn’t published a cookbook, but we did find recipes attributed to her for peach crisp and banana hemp muffins. Or you can make the same summer salad the actress supposedly eats.
Chrissy Teigen started off as a supermodel. Then her love of cooking filtered into her professional life too. At this point, she’s created recipes for a limited Blue Apron release and also just launched her own home and cooking line at Target named “Cravings,” after the two cookbooks she’s released. Teigen describes cooking as “a time of peace” for herself. So maybe peace out to her tuna melt sandwich or the fried chicken wings that are a favorite of her husband, John Legend.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, comes from a cooking Italian family. Her father started his own restaurant in New York and also published a cookbook. And apparently, Lady Gaga has inherited the family’s cooking genes. Her Instagram account occasionally features photos of her culinary activities. Sure, sometimes it’s topless cooking. But other times it’s more poignant like in the post she shared about her bringing food to the family of her dear friend who passed away. Want to try a Gaga/Germanotta family favorite? Check out her recipe for whole wheat pasta with a sweet fennel sauce.