Fabio Viviani: "I'm under the covers, I'm in bed right now. I think I broke my toe. Yesterday I was running and I cracked my left toe. Do you want to hear about my day yesterday? I had two meetings -- I'm about to do web shows about wine and about food. So I drive 60 miles to LA, drive back and do two classes at the restaurant. At 6:30 I'm at the other restaurant to do three chefs tables. I go home, take a shower and then I'm writing a blog about why I hate cilantro. I'm still in bed, I'm in bed with you right now."
Right about now I feel like I should be paying him or some long distance phone carrier from Senegal $4.95 per minute (long-distance rates apply).
Trying to steer him back on the subject of food, I ask Fabio what's on his plate most days, while secretly trying to get visions of what Fabio is wearing out of my head.
"Fresh pasta. I try to eat vegetables, I'm bored out of my ass. Italians don't eat vegetables."
I interject, since in my past there have been several Italian boyfriends and many Sunday dinners where Mama gave me the "mal ochio" because I was taking her 32 year old baby away from her. "Fabio," I say, "I know at every Italian table there's at least escarole. I know because I've dated Italians".
"You? You date Italians? I know you're not supposed to ask a woman her age, but aren't you old enough to not make that mistake again?"
Okay, maybe I shouldn't date Italians, but fool around....a little...every now and again? Especially with ones that can cook? Okay...back on track, I ask Fabio about any new endeavors. Okay, I make a plea for him to open a restaurant in Miami. Because the commute back and forth to LA is so long and these long-distance things never really work out.
"I like Miami. I'll be at the South Beach Food & Wine Festival, doing demonstrations with Bertolli Olive Oil. If you are going to be there, call me. You can do another interview or we can just have a glass of wine together".
Is that a date? Did Fabio ask me out on a date? Okay, back on track..must act professional. I ask Fabio what he's currently working on.
"Since I'm the man I just put out an e-book on Amazon.com. It's called Did I Really Make Breakfast? I don't eat breakfast, but if we were lovers, I would cook breakfast for you. I do eat breakfast, sometimes. I like chorizo, pancakes are too girly for me."
Just as I was thinking how much I love chorizo....I realize that I've been on the phone for over an hour. I have appointments to keep, deadlines to meet. Back to reality, I wrap up the hot chat line session phone interview. I've got a good story and who knows? Maybe I'll just bump into Fabio at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival...after coincidentally spending the entire morning at the salon, wearing my new mini-dress and black boots....Viva Italia!
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