Welcome to Dream Dinner Party , where we ask notable figures to describe just that: the dinner party of their dreams.
Billie Jean King is familiar with the concept of a small dinner party. In fact, in her new autobiography, All In , she describes hitting with Rod Laver and Margaret Smith as the “real-time version of that party question, ‘If you could have dinner with any three people in tennis history, who would you choose?’” And yet, when I asked her nearly that exact question, she didn’t want to pick just three people. Or rather, she couldn’t. She’s too interested in what makes other people tick to leave anyone out. So welcome, instead, to Billie Jean King’s Dream Open House.
I have to ask: When it comes to food, which is best—Wimbledon, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, or Roland-Garros?
Wimbledon has strawberries and cream and the strawberries are at their best [that time of year]. I always liked [Roland-Garros]. With French food, can you go wrong? Oh, my God, that bread. At the U.S. Open, I’m thinking of the hot dogs.
Say you’re hosting your dream party. Who would cook?
I don’t cook. And my partner doesn’t cook. But we are champions of takeout. We live in New York City and are very big on supporting small family restaurants. I usually order from Swagat , this local Indian place. I eat there sometimes five days a week. I love the salmon [which is marinated in ginger, yogurt, and garlic] and the cauliflower.
Would you do takeout for the dinner party?
We’ll choose a private room in a restaurant if it’s business-related. I’ve got the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative , which is nonprofit, and also Billie Jean King Enterprises , which is for-profit. I want to make lots of money so I can invest it back into communities that need it. But if it’s just for fun, yes, takeout from Swagat at our apartment.
What’s the vibe?
At home it’s laid-back. We have to work a lot and that’s when you get dressed, wear makeup, the whole nine yards. So this is casual. I love Italian Deruta dishes. I’ve had them forever, in different patterns.
If you could only invite three people, who gets invited? Other tennis players?
No, I don’t think about players. I think about science. I’d invite Sally Ride. She’s passed now, but she was the first American woman astronaut back in ’83 and a good friend. I love Walter Isaacson’s book on Leonardo da Vinci. Every time I go up on an airplane, I say, “This one’s for you, Leonardo!” Amanda Gorman would be fantastic. Greta Thunberg too. Also Ellen Ochoa. She’s an engineer and the first Hispanic woman to go out in space. Nelson Mandela. And then I tell you, who I absolutely love and I don’t have the courage to call ’cause I’m such a wimp is Nikole Hannah-Jones with her “1619 Project.” That was amazing. The Obamas, Jackie Robinson and his wife, Rachel. My dad played against Robinson in California! And—
I have to interrupt you here or else we won’t have room for the other questions.
—Bayard Rustin, James Baldwin. And Susan Williams. In fifth grade, she’s sitting next to me and says, “You want to play tennis?” Back then I asked, “What’s that?” Every morning I do a gratitude list, and I always thank Susan.
You’ve been a leader in pay equity in sports and a mentor to generations of female athletes. At the dinner, someone asks about leadership style and what traits characterize successful people. What do you say?
Relationships are everything to them, they keep learning how to learn, and they are problem solvers and innovators.
Traits you have yourself, Billie.
Source : food
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