There are few people I’d be excited to meet, especially famous people. This isn’t because I’m a cynical restaurant owner, although I am, but because it can be disappointing, for a variety of reasons. In Alison Roman’s case, I suspected it would be different, and not just because we are both Virgos, possessed of many similar traits and born almost exactly 10 years apart.

I was right, I instantly liked her. She is very charming and savvy, but it was also because she has this wonderful quality (one I’d like to think I share) of being exactly how you’d expect her to be.