My Culinary Journey: Taye Diggs Reveals His Perfect First Date and More

Taye Diggs is no longer keen on dressing up and heading out for a date.

“Recently, because I’m getting older and feeling a bit tired, I prefer to order food at home,” Diggs, 54, shares about his perfect first date for the My Life in Food feature in the latest edition of Us Weekly, now available on newsstands. “I just don’t have the energy to dress up and go out. If I can invite someone over, order food, and watch TV or a movie, that’s my current vibe.”

The actor adds: “What’s really awesome about Chili’s is that I discovered how much fun I can have just enjoying some time alone.”

Diggs refers to I’ll Be Home for National Margarita Day, a Chili’s television event on Lifetime that features Maria Menuounos and premiered on February 19.

“I truly enjoyed playing this role next to Maria,” Diggs told Us about the campaign, which is a humorous Chili’s-themed twist on classic Lifetime holiday movie tropes. “Romantic comedies are my favorite genre to work in. It was something I loved and can’t wait to do again.”

And naturally, the food from Chili’s made the experience even better: “My son and I brought back a bunch of food to our place, and we really enjoyed it. … The fact that he loved all the Chili’s dishes we ordered and didn’t interrupt our time together was a big deal for me,” he noted.

Continue reading for more delightful food anecdotes from Diggs:

What snack are you currently obsessed with?

I enjoy chips, especially those with cheese and dips. Fried mozzarella is always a favorite. If it’s the evening, an adult beverage is nice, whether that’s a margarita or something similar. I’m not overly fancy; I appreciate something simple that satisfies my hunger.

If you could have one last meal on Earth, what would it be?

Fried mozzarella. There’s something comforting about cheese that warms the heart. Fried mozzarella along with a margarita and great company would be perfect.

Was there a special dinner your parents made for you during your childhood that you loved?

We always had some form of chicken. “Chicken Sunday,” chicken salad—that’s what I remember. With a large family, there was always plenty of chicken for holiday meals.

[My mom and dad] used to compete over cooking. They had different strengths; my mom handled the everyday meals, while my dad would step in for special occasions, adding a little something extra and a bit more spice.

What do you prefer to order on a first date?

Lately, being older and a bit fatigued, I like to order food in. I no longer have the energy to get dressed and go out. Bringing someone over, ordering food, and enjoying some TV or a movie is more my style these days.

Do you consider yourself a good cook?

Absolutely not. But I’d like to be. I wish I could say I have cooked for my son with pride. I plan to work on that; while I enjoy ordering in, I aspire to be able to prepare my child a delicious meal within the next year.

Do you have a comfort food you enjoy eating when no one is around?

I [recently] woke up in the middle of the night and ended up devouring some cheesecake. I wasn’t proud of it, but there you go.

With reporting by Mike Vulpo