Photo: Courtesy of Bethenny Frankel
Age: 37
Neighborhood: Upper East Side
Occupation: Health-conscious celebrity chef, star of The Real Housewives of New York City, Health-magazine columnist, Pepperidge Farm Baked Naturals spokeswoman.
Who’s your favorite New Yorker, living or dead, real or fictional?
My dog, Cookie (who is the long-lost twin of Rachel Bilson’s dog, Thurman Murman).
What’s the best meal you’ve eaten in New York?
I’m a huge fan of Craft. I love assorted mushrooms, an eclectic à la carte menu, and I love when the dessert is as wonderful as the meal itself. I also love Tom Colicchio. He’s a humble, talented, real guy.
In one sentence, what do you actually do all day in your job?
No two days are the same. Today, I wrote ten healthy recipes for Pepperidge Farm, wrote an article for Health, and created a new recipe — vegan chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting.
Would you still live here on a $35,000 salary?
I lived here when all I had was $8,000 in my bank account and no salary. Now I have a successful brand, Bethennybakes, I’m a spokesperson for Pepperidge Farm and Health magazine, and I still live in the same apartment. New Yorkers make it work.
What’s the last thing you saw on Broadway?
Jersey Boys.
Do you give money to panhandlers?
No.
What’s your drink?
“Skinny girls margarita”™ Recipe: Patròn Silver on the rocks, four limes, and a tiny splash of Cointreau.
How often do you prepare your own meals?
I either cook or bake every day.
What’s your favorite medication?
Sleep.
What’s hanging above your sofa?
An Ikea $99 mirror that is eight feet long; rich, dark wood; and looks exactly like one in Crate & Barrel for over $1,000. Ikea stopped making them, and I literally tortured the manager until he allowed me to buy it off the wall (an unprecedented breaking of their store policy).
How much is too much to spend on a haircut?
Anything above $40 (what I paid until this year), but that’s not fair because Warren Tricomi gives me the “model rate.” It must be for being a “model” citizen.
When’s bedtime?
As early as possible.
Which do you prefer, the old Times Square or the new Times Square?
I spend no time in Times Square.
What do you think of Donald Trump?
I like that he says, “Do what you love, and you’ll be successful.” This quote defines my life.
What do you hate most about living in New York?
I love New York.
Who is your mortal enemy?
Enemies are negative. I focus my energy on positive role models and people who inspire me.
When’s the last time you drove a car?
Last summer.
Who should be the next president?
In the nation of yoga, sleep, surfing, and snowboarding, ME.
Times, Post, or Daily News?
I love them all.
Where do you go to be alone?
My bed, but Cookie is always with me.
What makes someone a New Yorker?
It’s in their blood.
