Renowned American food writer Alison Roman has given her followers a rare insight into the contents of her home refrigerator, offering a glimpse into the culinary habits that underpin her popular recipes. The organised collection reveals a blend of thoughtful meal preparation, fresh ingredients, and some surprising personal preferences, all reflecting her distinctive approach to cooking.
Among the core items, Roman consistently keeps homemade chicken broth on hand, often freezing batches to ensure a steady supply. She emphasises its versatility, using it for drinking straight with spring onion and lemon, or as a base for quick chicken noodle soup. Another staple is a large quantity of cooked orzo, prepared in advance for her family, particularly when she is away on work trips. This versatile pasta can be quickly transformed into various meals, from being sautéed with greens to added to broth.
Fresh ingredients also feature prominently. A fillet of arctic char, purchased recently from the fish market, is destined for her son Charlie, who enjoys it dressed simply with soy sauce and lemon juice, including the crispy skin. Eggs, sourced weekly from the farmers' market, are consumed in significant quantities, often sunny-side up or incorporated into a thick omelette with kale and rice.
Roman's fridge also houses several flavour-boosting essentials. Kimchi is a constant, enjoyed as a snack, with steak or rice, or added to soups and stews, with Roman even drinking the leftover liquid. Opened tubes of tomato paste and anchovies, always covered in oil, are also readily available for quick additions to dishes. A more unusual item is a forgotten pot of crème fraîche, initially brought for a dinner party dessert that was never served.
Personal touches round out the fridge's contents. Roman maintains a daily ritual of consuming her 'special beverage' – a mix of unsweetened cranberry juice, sparkling water, and lemon, a habit she developed during pregnancy and has continued since her son’s birth 15 months ago. Her husband's unique preference for hot-brewed, then chilled, iced coffee also means a large container of it is always on standby.