Street: Define “hungree” vs. “hungry.”
Amanda Shulman: First of all, the name hungry, properly spelled, was taken online, and I was like, 'I still like it, so I’m just going to improvise.' So, it’s come to mean that it’s the ongoing “e,” meaning that I’m always hungry for more, not just food, looking to see what else is out there. So it’s an ongoing hunger and search for the best.
Street: If you are what you eat, what would you be?
AS: Carbs.
Street: So you won the Terry B. Heled Travel & Research Grant from the Kelly Writers House to go truffle hunting. Tell us about it.
AS: I went to a Kelly Writers House talk, and I was like, 'I’m going to write the most ridiculous proposal I could ever think of; I want to go hunt truffles. And I won, and then I went to Italy. And my truffle hunter was so hot. My dad had this fear that I was going to marry him. It was the running joke among my family that Amanda will never come back to visit because the truffle hunter doesn’t have a passport.
Street: Tell us the weirdest thing you’ve ever put truffles on.
AS: My body. But actually, ice cream.
Street: What’s your favorite food network show?
AS: I’m kind of in an emotional conflict with the Food Network right now. I used to love it, but it’s not even about the cooking anymore. It’s more about the personality. Half of the people on there don’t have proper knife skills and it really bothers me. But my favorite would still have to be Ina [Garten]. And the camera angles are just beautiful. Even when she turns on the sink, it’s a nice shot.
Street: What’s your favorite part of a pig?
AS: Great question! The cheek for sure. If you think about it, that’s one of the muscles they use the most so it’s so soft and tender. It’s amazing.
Street: What’s the grossest food you’ve ever cooked?
AS: People freaked out when I walked around campus schlepping a twenty pound pig. That caused some commotion. I love whole animals. It’s amazing to see something in its natural state. If you’re going to eat it, you should know what it looks like.
Street: How do you feel about picky eaters?
AS: I think everyone’s palate can change, and that you just have to be willing and not so stubborn. You just got to work on them. They like it, but they just don’t know it.
Street: Be honest, how much time does it take to compose an Instagram?
AS: Depends on the picture. Sometimes I have major anxiety. It can be anywhere from a minute to thirty minutes.
Street: There are two kinds of people at Penn...
AS: Those who have had my late night mac and cheese and those who haven’t.
Street: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
AS: I will have my own restaurant. I’m not sure where yet. And then I will be living in Italy half the year. Also, making pasta and having a farm, so I can make my own goat cheese
Street: Are you milking the goats?
AS: Of course I am. I’m a hands–on type of person. Only I will milk the goats.
Street: What about your truffle hunter?
AS: Oh, my truffle hunter lover will be living right by my side, providing me with ample truffles.
Street: What’s your spirit animal?
AS: A blue whale. It’s really cool that their heart is the size of a car.
Street: Tell us about your first kiss.
AS: It was at a bar mitzvah. All good stories start that way. We were playing Pop–A–Shot basketball, and we started playing dare. Like, if you make this shot, I’ll go get you a water. And then he said, 'If I make this, you have to kiss me.' And then he made it, and I was like,
'oh god.' And he dragged me off in a corner and we made out.
Street: What was your first AIM screenname?
AS: Ponypal456. I was that person with 8 screennames— Borderbabe782, MandasLike.
Street: Kill, Fuck, Marry. Go.
AS: I would kill all the fake gluten–free people. The real ones, I believe you. I would fuck Chris Hemsworth. He’s just got it all. And marry Brad Pitt. You can’t go wrong with Brad Pitt.
Street: Except Angelina would kill you.
AS: Yeah, but hopefully the children would be on my side. Kids like me, I can sway them. I’ll bake them some cookies.
