FAVORITE CITIES FOR FOOD:

San Francisco, Napa and Sonoma. Everything’s so fresh and creative. Houston has incredible chefs and is finally gaining its place on the food stage. New Orleans… It’s not necessarily on the diet, but every once in a while, it’s fun, and I enjoy New York. Austin has an amazing food scene, and San Antonio is offering so much more than Tex-Mex cuisine these days.

ENTERTAINING:

It’s nice to invite friends into your home. I think that, in and of itself, is a gift from the heart. I want my guests to forget the rest of the world and just have a relaxing, fun evening. I want the food to be good, and we always serve nice wine.

MOST IMPORTANT SURVIVAL SKILL:

I’m a fighter. I like to win. My dad gave me a medallion with a Winston Churchill quote, “Never Give Up.” It’s never left me.

WHAT EMPOWERS YOU:

Making a difference. I don’t mean that in a cheesy way. I think so often we underestimate the power we have, individually, to make a difference in someone’s life. It can be as simple as smiling at a stranger in a grocery store. We never know.

WHAT THROWS YOU OFF YOUR GAME:

When I am not adequately prepared or briefed, or I feel like I should know more about something than I do.

VALUE MORE NOW THAN 20 YEARS AGO?

Time

MOST DARING THING YOU’VE DONE:

When I turned 40, I danced with the San Antonio Silver Spurs during the playoff game with the Lakers. My family knew, but the deal I made with the Silver Dancers was, I didn’t want it advertised. I wanted to try to blend in with them, and after the game, we’ll make a fun thing out of it for the show, so that’s what we did.

MOST NERVOUS:

I guest hosted Regis and Kathie Lee. There were so many similarities to doing the show I was doing in San Antonio, but on a much bigger scale. I was told ‘Laugh at his jokes. Let him finish his story.’ He’s a gentleman. A nice man.

ASPIRE TO:

I want to grow GoodTaste.TV in ways that are pleasing to me from a lifestyle standpoint. This is one of those times in my life where it’s not about climbing or getting to any top position. It’s a journey about where you arrive, not how you get there.

WHAT SCARES YOU:

I used to have a real fear of failure. I don’t think I have that so much anymore. I don’t know that anything scares me.

COMPUTER OR MOBILE:

That little phone is my best friend. My husband nicknamed my phone “Little Tanji.”

BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED:

When I was thinking about leaving television, and doing something online around food and wine, I reached out to Daryn Kagan, who used to be on CNN. She’d left television and started an online business. She said, “Just start doing it. The answers will come, and you’ll learn. Don’t feel stupid about asking questions.”

WHAT ARE YOU READING:

A book about Lance Armstrong called Wheelmen. For me it was a real page-turner because I watched that whole process with Lance, plus he was in Austin. I interviewed Lance when he won his first tour.

GUILTY PLEASURE:

My favorite thing in the afternoon, as a little pick-me-up, is a square of dark chocolate and a handful of almonds.

HIGH OR LOW MAINTENANCE:

Depends on who you ask. My husband would tell you I’m high maintenance. I don’t think I am. I’m pretty self-sufficient.

STYLE NOW VERSUS 20 YEARS AGO:

More relaxed. When you’re young, from a professional standpoint, you’re dressing to look older. Now I find I’m trying to be anything but.

FLATS OR HIGH HEELS:

If I’m going to choose, it would be flats, but with all I have going on, I have to do the heels sometime.

DRESSING FOR FALL OR SPRING:

Fall. I love looking at the boots, the jackets, the sweaters.

FAVORITE DESIGNERS:

Brunello Cucinelli, Max Mara, and I like some of the Etro pieces. I used to do a lot with Armani when I was doing the news, not so much now. It’s just not me, anymore.

PRICE POINTS:

The clothing I have that withstands the test of time are often the ones I’ve paid the most for, but they’re timeless. You can carry them from season to season.

MISSING FROM YOUR CLOSET:

Those Brunello Cucinelli suede pants! They’re on my to-find list.

HANDBAG OF CHOICE:

I’m picky about my bags, but I I don’t change daily. I have a seasonal handbag. I won’t carry a big heavy bag at night. My Louis Vuitton ‘Neverfull’ bag lives up to its name. Michael Kors has functional, stylish bags that stand the test of time.

DEFINITION OF LUXURY:

Comfort, quality, and the time to enjoy them, because luxury can be as simple as having a few hours to yourself.

BIGGEST SPLURGE:

Probably an expensive bottle of wine. I enjoy tasting wine that’s outside my comfort zone, or wines I normally wouldn’t stock. Winemaking is a craft, and the really good stuff is made by masters at what they do. To me that, in and of itself, is like artwork in a glass.

STAY IN SHAPE:

I go up and down. I’ve got probably several different pairs of jeans sizes. It’s easier for me to keep my weight down when I’m just doing chicken and fish, and I do exercise. My one indulgence is Heartbrand Akaushi steaks. It’s actually a heart-healthy beef.