You may have caught the occasional hint from Billy Joel that he comes from New York State. 'New York State of Mind' is a fairly big hint, as is the entire lyrical content of 'Miami 2017.' Joel is a proud New Yorker, and New York music fans have every reason to be just as proud of him. He's one of the most successful singer-songwriters in history. We have his pushy mother to thank for that - she pretty much forced him to take piano lessons as a child.
It's a small wonder that Joel didn't come to resent the instrument, but instead, he embraced it, even coming to recognize himself as the 'Piano Man,' although some believe that song is actually about his father, who was also a pianist and traveling musician. After releasing thirteen albums, Joel mostly retired from writing new music in 1993, although he still tours his old classics. He devotes much of his time to his other businesses, including his custom motorcycle shop in Long Island.
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.