Stevie Wonder Once Told His Private Chef Not To Make This Food Ever Again

Stevie Wonder's affable personality and memorable chart-topping hits have been part and parcel of the fabric of American music for every decade since he burst onto the Motown scene in 1961 as an 11-year-old. From "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" to "Isn't She Lovely," Wonder's songs radiate positivity and feel-good vibes. Since 2014, Wonder has notably kept himself feeling good by eating a vegan diet. Although he embraces a lot of foods, he was clear with private chef Makini Howell he'd prefer not to repeat eating pickled watermelon radishes, which clearly did not bring him to "Higher Ground."

Seattle-based vegan chef Howell shared with The Stranger that after a tour stop at Seattle's KeyArena, she had the privilege of cooking for Wonder at her restaurant, Plum Bistro. Ultimately, Wonder ended up asking Howell to join them for the remainder of the tour as his personal chef. She was enthused about his openness to a range of foods saying, "He's like, 'Give it all to me,'" but his feeling about pickled watermelon radishes perhaps veered to only-once-in-his-life status, chiding "'Makini, please don't do that again.'"

But let's not totally count out crunchy radish. If Stevie Wonder is open to giving watermelon (or other) radishes another try, perhaps forgoing the pickled avenue and attempting them in Jacques Pépin's take on French sandwich classic radis au beurre might suit. To try this at home, simply butter some white bread, layer with very thinly sliced radishes (stored in the fridge so they last longer), and top with sea salt. The use of a vegetable peeler to keep the radishes extremely fine provides a welcome vegetal crunch without screaming sharp radish flavor — and the French butter, sea salt, and fresh bread certainly help, too. Who knows ... the Pépin treatment may be just enough to have Wonder (and you) exclaiming your love for radishes.

While pickled watermelon radishes may not be Wonder's jam, perhaps he might be open to other popular pickled foods on a lunchtime veggie burger or sandwich. From onions to beets to jalapeños (and of course, most famously, cucumbers), pickled vegetables can instantly liven up a sandwich. The pickling process adds a hit of acidity to these vibrant bits of bounty, which opens up the palate, gets your mouth watering, and provides a zesty foil for the rest of your sandwich fillings.