Comfort Food Chronicles: Leva Bonaparte from Southern Charm Shares Her Culinary Journey
Southern Charm star Leva Bonaparte owns multiple restaurants in Charleston—what are the foods that truly resonate with her soul?
In the latest issue of Us Weekly, Bonaparte, who showcases her venue Republic Garden & Lounge on Southern Hospitality, reveals which meals hold significance in her life, starting with her go-to comfort foods.
The 45-year-old restaurateur shares that her guilty pleasure is “Lays chips with ranch dressing,” a comfort food she enjoys in secret.
“I’m pretty sure my son was made by that,” Bonaparte quips in her My Life in Food feature, referring to her and husband Lamar Bonaparte’s son, Lamar “Little” Jr., born in January 2018.
Leva also mentions that Lays chips and ranch were “also all I could keep down the first month I was pregnant.”
When she’s not indulging in chips, her favorite treat is Ferrero Rocher chocolate, as she shared with Us.
Keep reading to uncover more of Leva’s unforgettable meals, and grab the latest issue of Us Weekly, available now:
What special dinner would your parents make for you on your birthday?
Fesenjoon [a Persian dish with chicken, pomegranate, and walnuts]. It’s my favorite, full of nostalgia from family dinners with those who are no longer with us, like my grandparents. For my birthday, I would always get that along with a box of mangoes!
What would you order on a first date?
Something light. I’m a fan of a charcuterie board.
What’s the snack you are obsessed with?
I love eggs, tomatoes, and cottage cheese with a generous sprinkle of salt!
What’s a recipe that you made up?
I invent recipes daily! Mushrooms are a staple for me in everything! Whenever I create a dish, I always include mushrooms, even in grilled cheese. My friends chuckle because when we dine out, they know I’ll ask to add mushrooms to whatever I choose!
I’ve also put my unique spin on several traditional recipes. In my culture, there’s a delicacy called Tahdig, where you flip your rice like a cake, creating a crispy top. I love to add caramelized onions and tortillas to the bottom of the rice—it’s absolutely delicious!
What food did you not like as a kid but have since added into your diet?
I despised pomegranate and anything green or containing saffron. Now I absolutely love them, along with all kinds of greens and pomegranate!
What would be your last meal on earth?
Steak and creamed corn. My husband and I are big steak fans! Wherever we go, we seek out the best steakhouses. I had never tried creamed corn until I moved to the South, and it’s become a favorite of mine. Add a touch of truffle butter on the steak and some creamed horseradish, and I’m in heaven!
Southern Charm and Southern Hospitality air on Bravo Thursdays at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET.
