The Palm - Atlanta

Anna Wintour’s ‘Go-to’ Lunch Is Very Unique

"After Condé Nast moved to 1 World Trade Center, a frequent go-to lunch was a steak paired with a caprese salad explicitly ordered without tomatoes. Orders were often picked up by assistants on proper ceramic plates (which were later returned and cleaned), but the to-go version arrived in sealed plastic containers and a paper bag, diminishing presentation. When placed to go—a filet mignon and a tomato-less caprese—the host sounded confused; the meal cost $77.33. The mozzarella was thick and pillowy and the basil fresh, dressed with olive oil, but without tomatoes the salad lacked brightness and tasted insubstantial (described as like “cotton balls”), and the steak arrived rarer than requested. Overall, the takeout felt visually and texturally underwhelming, especially the tomato-less caprese." - Emilia Petrarca