by Bruce Willis may be best known as John McClane, the tough talking New York cop in the Die Hard franchise, but off screen this leading man has a sophisticated palate. His varied foodie tastes showcase Willis as more than just an action hero. From gourmet restaurants in Los Angeles to local eats in his native New Jersey, Willis knows good cuisine.
All-American Classics Are His Go-To Comfort Food
When Willis craves comfort food, he often turns to hearty all-American dishes. A nice, juicy burger and fries can hit just the spot after a long day. According to those close to him, some of his favorite burger joints include In-N-Out Burger and Tommy’s Original World Famous Hamburgers when he’s on the west coast. Their patties layered with cheese, lettuce, tomato and sauce deliver the ultimate burger experience.
As a New Jersey native, Willis also knows a good east coast pizza. He’s been known to order New York style pies loaded with pepperoni and extra cheese from beloved chains like Grimaldi’s. The handmade mozzarella and tasty tomato sauce ensure next-level flavor.
Other comfort food favorites in Willis’s rotation include mac and cheese, fried chicken, BBQ ribs, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, baked beans and cornbread. He meets his salty cravings with crunchy potato chips, buttery popcorn and fried pickles too. And given his childhood in New Jersey, boardwalk salt water taffy and funnel cake round out his love for all-American treats.
An Adventurous Appetite for International Fare
While Bruce loves his all-American staples, he also enjoys food from around the globe. Over the years, he’s stepped out of his comfort zone to sample various world cuisines. This adventurous side reflects in the diverse international restaurants he frequents in Los Angeles near his home.
For Asian food, Bruce is a fan of sushi, ramen and curry dishes. Some of his go-to sushi rolls include yellowtail sashimi and California rolls with crab and avocado. And he meets his spice cravings with spicy tuna or salmon sushi variations too.
When he hits up local ramen bars and Japanese restaurants in LA, he goes for tasty tonkotsu pork broth ramen loaded with pork belly. And he turns up the flavor with extra garlic, greens, and chili oil mixes.
Some of Bruce’s favorite Indian and Thai curry picks include red, yellow and green curries. He likes the complex layers of flavor created through spice blends, herbs, and aromatics. Dishes like Thai red curry, Indian chicken tikka masala, and Malaysian beef rendang have become regular orders.
Beyond Asian fare, Bruce shows interest in other world flavors as well. He’s a frequent guest at Italian eateries, where he orders pasta classics like spaghetti bolognese and fettucine alfredo. And at Mexican restaurants, you can find him digging into enchiladas, burritos, and tacos filled with all the fixings.
Indulging His Sweet Tooth for Desserts
Even action stars have a sweet side – and Willis is no exception. This leading man has been known to indulge in decadent cakes, pies, ice cream and more after the occasional meal. Some desserts he’s enjoyed from LA bakeries include moist chocolate cake layered with silky frosting, rich carrot cake made with walnuts and cream cheese icing, and fruit-filled pies.
His ice cream pics range from simple chocolate and vanilla to more adventurous salt and caramel or chocolate chili. He also meets his sweet tooth cravings with chocolate chip cookies, butter pecan ice cream, and the occasional candy bar.
Despite his ability to indulge, Willis does know the importance of balance. He works fitness into his routine, whether weight training for action movie roles or staying active in general. And he pairs sweets with healthier fare like fresh fruits and veggies too. Still, this bonafide action hero makes room for dessert every now and then!
Cocktails & Fine Wine Make the Menu Too
In addition to food, Willis makes room for quality beverages with refined taste as well. At upscale restaurants, he’s been known to order fine wines that complement his meals. Reds, whites and sparkling are all on the table depending on the cuisine. And he even visited the Napa Valley vineyards at one point to sample wines straight from the source.
Cocktails are also a part of his repertoire, both at home and when dining out. He’s a fan of old fashioneds, margaritas, martinis and summery drinks like mojitos. And given his Die Hard role as John McClane, it’s only fitting he’d enjoy Whiskey too!
No matter the drink, Bruce clearly understands the art of pairings. He chooses beverages that enhance flavors rather than overpower. This balance demonstrates his strength as more than just an A-list actor – but also as a distinguished food and drink connoisseur too.
East Coast Roots Still Influence His Tastes Today
While LA living affords diverse dining options, Bruce still taps into foodie tastes established early on during his childhood in New Jersey. He grew up the son of a welder man in the working class town of Penns Grove. And despite humble beginnings, he learned key tenets of good cooking from his mother Marlene at home.
Sunday family dinners often included Italian cuisine staples like spaghetti with meatballs, lasagna loaded with cheese, or rich ragu paired with pasta. And Polish family recipes handed down from his mother’s side featured dishes like pierogies stuffed with potato and cheese or hearty stuffed cabbage rolls. Through home cooking in a blended family, Willis developed an appreciation for flavor at a young age.
Today when Bruce returns to his east coast roots, he makes sure to indulge some childhood favorites as well. Visits to New Jersey or New York City bring stops for good pizza and Italian food. For baked goods, he’ll sample cronuts, black and whites cookies, and rainbow bagels topped with birthday cake cream cheese. And beloved regional snacks like Taylor ham egg and cheese sandwiches also make the list.
No matter how far fame has taken him, Bruce Willis still taps into those simple localized specialties that shaped his early foodie development. The tastes of home still comfort him even amidst Hollywood glamour.
Family Meals Connect His Blended Brood
As a father of five daughters with various mothers, family means everything to Willis. And food has a special way of bringing people together in his world. Even with a bustling blended family across multiple states, he uses home cooked meals to connect.
Big family dinners will feature treasured recipes passed down from previous generations. Dishes his mother and grandmother used to make allow him to share food stories from his childhood. And new favorites get added to the rotation as daughters grow up and develop their own tastes too.
By involving kids in planning the menu, shopping for ingredients, prepping, and plating, Willis makes cooking collaborative. Meal time gives his extended family cherished bonding time amidst busy schedules and bicoastal lifestyles.
While Willis can afford top restaurants and personal chefs, he still values the art of cooking for his kids. The smiles from bite after delicious bite keep his culinary skills sharp as years pass. And new family members via marriages or grandchildren only multiply the joy found around these bonding meals.
Even a dynamic action star like Bruce Willis finds warmth and comfort in good food plus family. The memories made around the table remind him what matters most at life’s end of the day.
So while the world knows Willis as a dynamic onscreen presence, he’s just as compelling off screen too. His varied palate, appreciation of flavors, interest in quality cuisine and desire to bond over meals make him more than just an actor. At heart, Bruce is quite the foodie – both a man of distinguished tastes and focus on what food means alongside family.
