Anna Wintour's go-to lunch included a caprese salad with no tomatoes, according to a new biography
- "Anna," a 2022 biography on the Condé Nast executive, was published on May 3.
- The book reveals an unusual lunch order from Wintour: caprese salad with no tomatoes.
The first Tuesday in May brought with it the publication of a new biography about Condé Nast executive Anna Wintour. "Anna," written by journalist Amy Odell, offers a look into the iconic Vogue editor's life, including what she eats for lunch.
In the book, Odell writes: "Her go-to lunch, after Condé Nast moved offices to 1 World Trade Center, was a steak and Caprese salad without the tomatoes from the nearby Palm restaurant."
Representatives for The Palm and Anna Wintour did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
The line provided context to Odell's description of Wintour's disdain for vegetables. But it also made a statement of its own — so much so, that New York Magazine writer Emilia Petrarca published a piece about the order and tried it for herself after saying, "As an Italian, I'm offended." After all, the salad has four main ingredients: mozzarella, basil, olive oil or another dressing, and tomato.
"I was told that she would have this when she didn't have lunch outside of the office," Odell told Insider.
The author said this information came from two separate sources, who remain anonymous to protect their identities. She added that one source told her that Wintour switched to a lunch of fruit and cheese "after having the steak and cheese for a while."
While she didn't report the exact cut of meat Wintour ordered, or what temperature she asked for it to be cooked, Odell told Insider that "Anna is known to enjoy rare red meat and the best of everything in general."
When Petrarca re-created the meal for herself at The Palm, she ordered a fillet mignon, which brought the lunch order to $77.33 after tax and tip.
Though Petrarca was "offended" by the tomato-free caprese salad, Italian chef and restaurant owner Michael Toscano told Insider that he's OK with it.
"Honestly, I don't get upset, people like what they like," the chef told Insider. "If I'm serving a caprese, we have great tomatoes, fresh basil, excellent mozzarella (mozz di bufala or super fresh fior di latte), and grassy, peppery olive oil. Remove the tomatoes, you still have great mozzarella drenched in olive and basil, I'm good with it!"