14 Things You Didn't Know About Monti Carlo

You know she's a sought-after restaurant consultant, but can you guess Monti's go-to late-night snack? We have all the answers.

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Her Style of Cuisine: Cali-Rican

"I'm Puerto Rican, born and raised, so if it's fried, came from a pig, and has a side of rice and beans, I am #ALLIN. I live in California now, so I definitely try to incorporate the flavors I grew up with into dishes that are fresh and light and utilize as many locally sourced ingredients as possible," Monti says.

Her Favorite Meal to Cook: Breakfast

"I'm one of those annoying morning people," she reveals. "I love that first cup of coffee from my French press. I love the smell of bacon frying and butter browning. I love the look of bliss my son gets when he's mowing down a stack of blueberry pancakes."

Her Go-To Weeknight Dinner: Meat, Rice and Beans

"Pressure-cooker pulled pork shoulder in a savory sauce over rice and beans, with lots of fresh chopped onion and cilantro, and a fried egg on top," she explains.

Her Signature Dish: Puerto Rican Shepherd's Pie

The 5 Ingredients She Always Has: Unsalted Butter, Brown Sugar, AP Flour, Coffee and Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Squares

Her Favorite Vacation Spot: Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

Her Favorite Smell: Strawberries

Her Favorite Guilty-Pleasure Food: Tres Leches Cake

The Strangest Item in Her Refrigerator: Pickled Green Banana

"It’s a Puerto Rican thing," she says.

Her Favorite Late-Night Snack: Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt

The One Dish She Orders Out and Doesn't Make at Home: Green Papaya Salad

"It’s such a pain to make," she reveals.

Her Favorite Pizza Topping: Basil

Her Favorite Food City: Atlanta

"I love Southern food. I love sweet tea. I love a beautiful, light biscuit," she notes. "I think there's so much going on with some incredible chefs in Atlanta. Rent in New York is really expensive, so we get some really great people in Atlanta."

Her Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Hawaiian Honey

And on top? "Fresh berries," she adds.

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