And if you’re in your career and hiding something, how do you really bring your best game? When people are real and down to Earth, no big egos and you’re being honest and straightforward - I think people connect to that. SF: I think authenticity is what it’s about for me. What advice do you have for queer chefs and writers that are beginning their careers right now? Now, everyone’s coming out process is of course different and challenging in extremely different ways. Well, that’s as good of a story as I’ll hear today. Who, by the way, was the bartender in Kansas City. He was the architect for all our restaurants up until Street and even helped design Liz and I’s current home. Fast forward to today - they’ve been married 37 years and I’m the godmother of their children. So I told her, “You should meet my ex-husband”. SF: Well, I’d say maybe seven years later, I told Mary Sue - my business partner who I had met in Chicago - that she dates the most ridiculous men. But I was persistent in staying friends with my husband. There was a closeness and friendship with my husband and his family, so that was difficult, but as far as coming out, it wasn’t an issue emotionally for me. And two or three days later my parents called me screaming, but you know what? It didn’t really even faze me.

I had to see what it was, so I moved into her apartment. One night we ended up kissing, and I was like, oh, my God. I was working in Kansas City at the time - married to my husband who I had known since 5th grade - and there was a bartender and I just became completely intrigued by her. SF: Well, my story is different from many because I came out later in life, and it never occurred to me until it did. How did you navigate that while still making it such a part of who you are and the food on your plate? Talk to me about that process, particularly during a time when coming out wasn’t immediately embraced. And in the middle of all that - you came out. You’ve had such an incredible career, four decades in LA alone.

Susan feniger santa monica