45 Foods Famous Chefs Refuse to Eat

Even though they have to eat most foods, there are some dishes and ingredients that these famous chefs simply refuse to eat. Just because they work with food all day doesn’t mean they love it all. We all have foods and dishes we don’t like, and chefs are no different. Chefs spend their lives cooking for other people, but when it comes to the foods they like, these chefs don’t compromise. Some of these foods might be your favorite, but they will not pass the lips of these celebrity chefs.

Foie Gras – Nigella Lawson

Chefs aren’t exactly known for shying away from eating meat, but there are some dishes where they will draw the line. Nigella Lawson is so passionately against foie gras, she sued a newspaper that claimed she was buying it in 2012.

Foie Gras – Nigella Lawson

Foie gras is made from the fatty livers of ducks and geese that are overfed to the point where they can’t move. The food is illegal in the United Kingdom, and Lawson wanted to make sure people know she is totally against the cruel dish.

Monday fish – Anthony Bourdain

This might seem strange, but there is some method to the madness the late Anthony Bourdain felt about eating fish on a Monday. Bourdain argued that unless he was in a high-quality restaurant, he wouldn’t order fish on a Monday because it wouldn’t be fresh.

Monday fish – Anthony Bourdain

Instead, he felt as though the fish would have been bought several days earlier, suggesting that fishermen don’t sell their stock at weekends. There’s nothing wrong with being extra careful when it comes to your food, and we think Bourdain was onto something here.

Soup of the day – Gordon Ramsay

When it comes to cooking, Gordon Ramsay demands perfection. One dish that doesn’t meet Ramsay’s standards is the ‘soup of the day,’ which is found in restaurants all over the world. Ramsay warned his viewers to steer clear of the dish because it’s probably not fresh.

Soup of the day – Gordon Ramsay

He explained that the soup of the day often doesn’t sell that well, and it’s a restaurant’s way of selling their old leftovers. If the soup itself isn’t a few days old, then some of the ingredients put into it could well be.

Frozen pizzas – Ted Allen

Frozen pizzas certainly serve a purpose, and they are great for grabbing a quick dinner when you don’t have time to make something else. Despite their convenience, one chef who will not eat a frozen pizza is Ted Allen.

Frozen pizzas – Ted Allen

The chef points out that many frozen pizzas will include artificial ingredients, and you’re probably not getting useful nutrients. Instead, Allen recommends we find time in our busy schedules to make our own pizzas as our taste buds and bodies will thank us for it.

Bananas – Ree Drummond

If you have a bunch of extra bananas and you’re looking for a recipe to use them up, don’t check out Ree Drummond’s books. The famous chef simply does not like the taste of them, and she will avoid using them as much as possible on her Food Network show.

Bananas – Ree Drummond

Over the years, Drummond has included a recipe with bananas on occasion to appease her fans, but she prefers to use almost any other fruit. The taste of Bananas isn’t to her liking, so she simply avoids them where possible.

Truffle oil – Martha Stewart

It has become more common in recent years to see truffle on our menus, with truffle oil being one of the most popular varieties. One celebrity chef who doesn’t enjoy truffle oil is Martha Stewart, who knows more than most about what the oil is made with.

Truffle oil – Martha Stewart

Truffles aren’t that easy to find, so many of the fancy oils we see in restaurants are actually made using synthetic ingredients. That doesn’t fly with Stewart, and she refuses to put it on her food.

Deep-fried turkey – Gordon Ramsay

Let’s face it; turkey is a pretty dry bird. Gordon Ramsay really isn’t a fan of it, and on the ‘Late Show with Stephen Colbert,’ he explained there was a reason why people only eat it once a year.

Deep-fried turkey – Gordon Ramsay

The meat is quite dry already, so deep-frying it isn’t necessarily going to make it any better. Some people seem to love tucking into some deep-fried turkey during the holidays, but one person who will be steering clear is chef Ramsay.

Hollandaise – Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain has cooked around the world and eaten in enough restaurants to have picked up a trick or two. Another food he refused to eat in a restaurant is hollandaise sauce, and it’s for food hygiene reasons.

Hollandaise – Anthony Bourdain

Bourdain believed that restaurants wouldn’t make the sauce fresh for each dish, instead choosing to make it in batches. He was concerned that the raw egg and storage conditions of the hollandaise would encourage bacteria to grow, so he avoided it at all costs.

Fruit juice – Andrew Zimmern

When people are looking for a healthy alternative to sugary sodas, they might think that fruit juice is the way to go. Andrew Zimmern is one who will never buy bottled fruit juice because he believes it sends a confusing message.

Fruit juice – Andrew Zimmern

Store-bought fruit juice might seem like a healthy alternative to sugary drinks, but take a look at the label. It might be surprising to learn there is a ton of sugar in these fruit juices, and they really aren’t that healthy at all.

Green peppers – Aaron Sanchez

Aaron Sanchez only seems to have a problem with green peppers, as he’s more than happy to use red or yellow in his recipes. The reason why Sanchez stays away from the green pepper is that he feels like it doesn’t add any flavor to a dish.

Green peppers – Aaron Sanchez

Sanchez compares green pepper to lettuce, but without taste. He recommends using a different pepper color to add flavor and vibrancy to your dish, or to add chilies and spices to your meal if you have to use green pepper.

Wagyu steak – Wolfgang Puck

There aren’t many chefs around the world who combine ingredients quite like Wolfgang Puck. The world-renowned chef is known for combining exotic foods into seriously tasty dishes. There is one food that Puck refrains from using in his dishes, and that’s Wagyu steak.

Wagyu steak – Wolfgang Puck

Puck believes the steak to be quite fatty, and he prefers to provide leaner cuts of meat to his customers so they can eat more. The chef wants his customers to leave feeling full, rather than only getting a small piece of meat with Wagyu.

Spaghetti bolognese – Antonio Carluccio

You might think that spaghetti bolognese is about as Italian as it gets, but the dish isn’t actually that popular in Italy. Instead, it’s an Italian-style dish that has become popular just about everywhere else in the world other than Italy.

Spaghetti bolognese – Antonio Carluccio

Antonio Carluccio has his own issues with the dish, and the experienced chef believes people add too many herbs to their recipes. Those herbs become detrimental to the flavor according to Carluccio, making the dish one he wouldn’t order for himself in a restaurant.

Airplane food – Gordon Ramsay

We think most people can probably relate to this particular food no-no from Gordon Ramsay. The British chef does whatever he can to avoid eating a meal on an airplane, and perhaps that’s because he’s used to the finer things in life.

Airplane food – Gordon Ramsay

When you’ve tasted chicken at its best, eating a rubberized version of it in a plastic food tray isn’t going to cut it. Ramsay has admitted there is “no way” he eats on planes, and it seems he’d rather be hungry than eat airplane food.

Licorice – Donal Skehan

Some foods have such intense flavors that they really divide opinion, with passionate lovers and haters on both sides. One food that chef Donal Skehan will never put into his mouth is licorice because he really hates the stuff.

Licorice – Donal Skehan

Lots of people around the world enjoy sinking their teeth into some candy, but licorice is the one sweet treat Skehan can’t stand. Skehan treks the globe looking to turn food into art, but it seems there’s no room on his culinary canvas for licorice.

Wasabi – Katie Lee

Although Katie Lee actually likes the flavor of wasabi, she refrains from adding it to any of her dishes. The famous chef doesn’t believe that wasabi is the best way to add spice to your dishes.

Wasabi – Katie Lee

Wasabi is found alongside many Asian dishes, but Katie Lee believes people should be using hot sauce rather than this paste. Lee is much happier when adding hot sauce to her dishes than using wasabi, and it seems she doesn’t think wasabi adds anything to a meal.

Coconuts – Giada de Laurentiis

Coconut is a pretty common ingredient in food, especially when it comes to Caribbean food and curry. Although the fruit is commonly found in recipes from all over the world, it can be divisive among people.

Coconuts – Giada de Laurentiis

Some people love it, while others just can’t stand the taste or texture. Giada de Laurentiis is one of those chefs who does not like coconut in whatever shape or form it comes in. For that reason, she won’t include it in any of her recipes, even the tropical ones.

Diet – Nigella Lawson

Food is a pretty important part of our daily lives, and Nigella Lawson believes people should experience pleasure from the things they eat. The chef doesn’t believe in strict dieting because it takes the fun out of food, and she thinks all foods are acceptable in moderation.

Diet – Nigella Lawson

Nigella believes there is nothing wrong with a little indulgence now and then, and you won’t find her starving herself any time soon. Instead, she makes sure to strike a balance between eating healthy and allowing herself some culinary treats.

Chicken – Ryan Ososky

Chicken comes in many shapes and forms, but one chef who won’t touch this versatile meat is Ryan Ososky. The reason Ryan Ososky isn’t a fan of chicken isn’t because he doesn’t like it, but because he doesn’t believe people know how to cook it.

Chicken – Ryan Ososky

Ososky believes the meat is an overpriced commodity, and people often overcook it, turning it into a bland meal. Because people don’t know how to prepare chicken, Ososky will avoid eating it if he hasn’t created the dish himself.

Pineapple pizza – Gordon Ramsay

For someone who has dedicated their life to cooking food, Gordon Ramsay has a long list of things he won’t eat. Another food that Ramsay avoids at all costs is pineapple on pizza.

Pineapple pizza – Gordon Ramsay

This is a food that people either love or hate, and it seems as though Ramsay falls on the hate side. Ramsay believes that pineapple shouldn’t go anywhere near a pizza, and he isn’t shy in expressing that opinion to anyone who suggests it to the great chef.

Cilantro – Ina Garten

Food Network chef Ina Garten will do anything she can to avoid cooking with cilantro. The chef believes the herb’s strong taste overpowers pretty much everything it comes on the plate with. Although it’s a popular ingredient in Indian cooking, Garten won’t go near it.

Cilantro – Ina Garten

She doesn’t put it in any of her recipes, and Garten has even compared the taste of cilantro to soap. When it comes to adding flavor to a dish, cilantro is the last thing you will see Ina Garten reach for in her kitchen.

Processed foods – Michael Smith

Although some chefs might be opposed to processed food because they are a lazy way of making a meal, Michael Smith has a different problem. The chef passionately believes people should cut processed foods out of their diets as much as possible.

Processed foods – Michael Smith

While they are cheap and convenient, the added sugars, chemicals, and preservatives mean they are bad for our health. Those unwanted ingredients can lead to heart and health problems later in life, and cutting processed foods from your diet could help extend your lifetime.

Eggs – Guy Fieri

Thanks to his show ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,’ you might think that Guy Fieri would eat anything put in front of him. While Fieri doesn’t turn his nose up at many meals on his show, there is one food that the popular restauranter will avoid where possible.

Eggs – Guy Fieri

He doesn’t like eggs and really feels like they shouldn’t be anywhere near the breakfast table. Fieri believes the perfect breakfast consists of ham, gravy, and grits, but he will not appreciate eggs being thrown into the mix.

Whale meat – David Chang

Whale meat is uncommon because it’s illegal to hunt them in most countries. There are still a few countries where it’s legal, like Iceland and Japan. David Chang is one chef who has made a point of distancing himself from whale meat because he believes it’s unethical to eat it.

Whale meat – David Chang

Whales are an endangered species, and the hunting of them has been made illegal pretty much everywhere in the world. Chang is happy to use lots of seafood in his recipes, but whale meat will not be one of them.

Cookie dough – Andrew Zimmern

Andrew Zimmern is famous for eating pretty much anything that comes his way. The chef hosts ‘Bizarre Foods,’ and during his career on our screen has eaten some horrible things like cow placenta and fermented walrus.

Cookie dough – Andrew Zimmern

Despite eating such strange foods, one thing that Zimmern really can’t stand is cookie dough. While most of the world enjoys tucking into some cookie dough ice cream while watching a movie, Zimmern is far happier tucking into his fermented walrus.

Ribeye – Dean Schroeder

If you go to a restaurant that serves steak, you can expect to see a ribeye somewhere on the menu. People who love steak enjoy ribeye, but Dean Schroeder will avoid it when possible. The chef does like eating steak, but he has some concerns about the ribeye when it’s well-done.

Ribeye – Dean Schroeder

He believes chefs will deliberately choose a bad cut of meat for people who like their beef well done, and he finds that many chefs end up overcooking a ribeye.

Varied breakfasts – Ina Garten

When it comes to breakfast, lots of people like a wide variety of fruits, cereals, meats, and bread. While variety may be the spice of life, when it comes to breakfast, Ina Garten likes to keep things simple.

Varied breakfasts – Ina Garten

She doesn’t like having too much choice and would rather stick to what she knows, a cup of coffee, and some oatmeal. Although Garten could have any breakfast she wanted, this is what she likes, so who is anyone to argue she should have anything else?

Onions – Scott Conant

In most countries around the world, onions are a staple ingredient, and there are plenty of dishes that rely on them for flavor. The humble onion is found in many dishes, but the one that Scott Conant simply can’t stand is finding raw red onion on his plate.

Onions – Scott Conant

The ‘Chopped’ celebrity judge has urged people to avoid chopped red onions like the plague, and he says they are one of his top ten hated things. At least Conant won’t be shedding any tears about not having to chop onions.

Michelin-star restaurants – Marco Pierre White

Marco Pierre White is one of the most celebrated chefs in the world, but it seems as though he’s not a huge fan of fine dining. Despite being the first chef to be awarded three Michelin stars, Pierre White doesn’t like what Michelin-starred restaurants stand for.

Michelin-star restaurants – Marco Pierre White

The Michelin star is the highest award a restaurant can be given, but Pierre White thinks many Michelin-starred restaurants are trying to be something they aren’t. Pierre White doesn’t believe meals should be served in tiny portions, but one big hearty plate.

Takeout food – Mary Berry

One of the best things about getting takeout food is the fact you don’t have to cook. Usually in less than an hour, you can have some delicious food delivered to your door without having to lift a finger in the kitchen. Despite its convenience, Mary Berry isn’t a fan of takeout.

Takeout food – Mary Berry

In fact, the chef believes that people eat out at restaurants and get takeout far too often. Instead, she believes we should enjoy delicious home-cooked meals together with family more often.

Carrots – Alex Guarnaschelli

Carrots are another ingredient commonly found in dishes all over the world. Even though they are pretty versatile and can be used to bulk up most meals, Alex Guarnaschelli won’t use them. The chef says that she will tolerate baby carrots, but that’s as far as she’s willing to go.

Carrots – Alex Guarnaschelli

Guarnaschelli admits that she worked with carrots so much during the early days of her cooking career that she has grown sick of them. These days Guarnaschelli does what she can to find a carrot alternative in her dishes.

Durian – Bobby Flay

When it comes to bad-smelling foods, people aren’t always willing to put it in their mouths. Then again, some of the stinkiest cheeses in the world are considered a delicacy, so smell isn’t everything in food.

Durian – Bobby Flay

Still, one food that has earned a reputation for being particularly repugnant is the durian. This fruit smells like vomit, and Bobby Flay’s up-close-and-personal experience with durian has put him off for life. In the past, Flay said of the durian, “It’s awful. I don’t want to be around it.”

Blue cheese and salmon – Anne Burrell

Speaking of smelly foods, Anne Burrell has a distinct disliking for blue cheese. Not only does she refrain from ordering blue cheese in a restaurant, but Burrell also won’t be ordering salmon in a hurry.

Blue cheese and salmon – Anne Burrell

The chef revealed that she doesn’t like salmon and blue cheese, but that doesn’t mean she won’t taste them. While Burrell has no interest in ordering these ingredients for herself, she is still willing to taste them just to see if they have been prepared well or not.

Truffle oil – Alton Brown

Alton Brown is another famous name in the cooking world who doesn’t like to eat truffle oil. Brown has made a name for himself as the creator and host of ‘Good Eats,’ and he does know a thing or two about putting a dish together.

Truffle oil – Alton Brown

While most ingredients remain on the table for Brown, one ingredient he won’t use is truffle oil. Brown feels so strongly against the ingredient he was quoted as saying, “Truffle oil sucks” during an interview with Grub Street.

Okra – Tom Colicchio

Okra can be a great addition to a meal, but for Tom Colicchio, it has to be cooked to perfection, otherwise it’s a no-no. The ‘Top Chef’ host does not want to see anyone putting okra on his plate, and it’s mostly down to the texture of the vegetable.

Okra – Tom Colicchio

Colicchio believes that okra turns slimy when cooked badly, and he doesn’t see many people being able to cook it to his liking. For that reason, Colicchio steers clear of okra as much as possible.

Oysters and clams – Marc Summers

For some people, if their food isn’t aesthetically pleasing, they aren’t going to contemplate putting it into their mouths. It seems that Marc Summers agrees with that theory, and the ‘Unwrapped’ host doesn’t like the idea of eating oysters or clams.

Oysters and clams – Marc Summers

The host admitted that he won’t consider eating anything that looks creepy, and that psychological battle isn’t one he chooses to fight. In ‘Unwrapped’ Summers would explore how foods like movie candies and soda pops are made.

Canned meat – Kathy Wakile

Kathy Wakile may have made her name on reality television, but following her first foray into fame, she became a cooking sensation. It was always Wakile’s dream to open a restaurant, and in 2017, her dream came true.

Canned meat – Kathy Wakile

Now that she works in the food industry, Wakile has given her opinion on what she thinks people shouldn’t eat. She has a real dislike for canned meat because it’s “gross” and Wakile believes that meat simply doesn’t belong in a can.

Trendy food – Angela Dimayuga

Many chefs have a deep passion for food, and they don’t like it when people treat eating as a commodity. Angela Dimayuga is the CEO of Mission Chinese Food, and there is one thing she cannot stand in the cooking world.

Trendy food – Angela Dimayuga

Dimayuga really hates it when food trends sweep across the world, and Instagram. She feels as though people are only ordering the dishes so they can say they have done it, rather than actually enjoying the experience of eating them.

Hummus – Chrissy Teigen

The thought of dipping some warm bread into hummus is a pleasant one for many people, but not Chrissy Teigen. The model and cookbook author doesn’t believe that hummus should make its way onto any menu.

Hummus – Chrissy Teigen

She dislikes the chickpea dip, and Teigen believes it is one of the most boring foods in the world. In a 2009 tweet, Teigen asked whether she was the only person in the world who didn’t like it. Teigen has some strong opinions about the food she describes as “flavorless paste.”

Foie Gras – Ayesha Curry

Another famous chef who despises foie gras is Ayesha Curry. This fatty delicacy is not for the TV chef, who says she has tried it in many different forms, but she cannot stand the texture.

Foie Gras – Ayesha Curry

Curry explained to ‘Entertainment Tonight’ in 2016 that she just hasn’t found a way to enjoy foie gras. It looks as though this duck’s liver dish won’t be finding its way into any recipes written by Ayesha Curry in the future.

Cilantro – Angela Hartnett

Like many world-renowned chefs, Angela Hartnett is pretty versatile in the kitchen, but there is one ingredient she refuses to use. The British chef believes cilantro should never be used as a garnish. Many chefs use the herb to dress up their dishes, but Hartnett is not a fan.

Cilantro – Angela Hartnett

She believes cilantro to be “overpowering and too pungent.” Hartnett believes the only time someone should be using garnish in their dish is when it actually enhances the flavor, otherwise they should leave it off.

Walnuts – Andrew Zimmern

In some ways, it’s strange that Andrew Zimmern can find any foods that he doesn’t like. If he can chow down on pig brains and tarantulas, then how can a little nut be so unappealing to him? The reason Zimmern doesn’t like walnuts is because of their flavor.

Walnuts – Andrew Zimmern

According to Zimmern, eating a walnut is like chewing on a bar of soap. To be fair, there are plenty of tastier nuts available, so we can see why Zimmern isn’t a huge fan of the walnut.

Mayonnaise – Rachel Ray

There is something about store-bought mayonnaise that just doesn’t sit well with Rachel Ray. She is more than happy to make her own, but she worries about how many chemicals are in store-bought mayonnaise.

Mayonnaise – Rachel Ray

When you think about it, this eggy product can sit for months on the shelf without refrigeration and remain completely edible. With mayo being such a common sandwich ingredient, maybe it’s time to learn how to make your own, just like Rachel Ray.

Oysters – Mark Nichols

Although they are not pretty to look at, Mark Nichols actually has another reason why he won’t touch most oysters. The chef believes there is just too great a risk of contamination in consuming the raw shellfish.

Oysters – Mark Nichols

He doesn’t trust that they have been stored correctly and would only suggest people eat them if they have been sourced locally. If your oysters have traveled more than 100 miles to get to your plate, there’s a good chance they haven’t been stored correctly and could make you ill.

Lentils – Bobby Flay

Lentils are a pretty versatile legume, and they will take on the flavor of most sauces they are added to. While lentils may be commonly eaten around the world, one chef who keeps them away from his customers is Bobby Flay.

Lentils – Bobby Flay

The chef thinks they are one of the worst foods in the world, and he won’t put them on his menus. Lentils will only be served in a Bobby Flay restaurant when he is out of town, and someone else designs the menu.

Okra – Tia Mowry

When we are kids, a bad eating experience with some foods is enough to put us off them for life. That’s what happened to Tia Mowry, who was left scarred for life when she ate okra as a 12-year-old.

Okra – Tia Mowry

Mowry’s experience with the green vegetable was so bad she will not go anywhere near it. She won’t even add it to a stew because no matter how small an amount she adds to a dish, her taste buds can find it, and the flashbacks start all over again.

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