:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/ar-valerie-bertinelli-4x3-c8180cbb9ec2403aaf62ce1aac0c61c1.jpg)
For decades, Valerie Bertinelli has been known as the ultimate “girl next door” actress from shows like “One Day at a Time” to “Hot in Cleveland.” But she’s also known for her longtime Food Network show, “Valerie’s Home Cooking,” and authoring several cookbooks.
Now, she’s also joining the ranks of celebrities who have shared their favorite fast food orders, like Kelly Ripa’s In-N-Out order or Dolly Parton’s go-to at Taco Bell. We were curious—would it be a “secret menu” burger, customized and personalized as one would expect a Food Network star to do? Or perhaps it’d be something more relatable, like Reba’s favorite fast food tater tots. Does Bertinelli love a mix-and-match of fried favorites like fellow Food Network host, Selena Gomez? No. Her order came as a surprise to all of us because it’s so simple.
Valerie Bertinelli’s Go-To McDonald’s Order
When the actress craves fast food, McDonald’s is her restaurant of choice. And her go-to order? A Filet-O-Fish sandwichaccording to a 2024 interview. This simple order was a tradition she shared with her son, Wolfgang Van Halen, when he was growing up.
McDonald’s/Allrecipes
After Wolfgang’s soccer and baseball games, the pair would head to McDonald’s—but only at a particular time. According to Bertinelli, it’s important to hit the drive-thru between 11 and 11:30 a.m. for your fish sandwich. That’s right after the time that McDonald’s switches from breakfast to lunch (which one former corporate chef contends is the worst time to visit McDonald’s), so it would make sense that the sandwiches are fresher.
“If it’s been sitting under the heater for too long, it’s not good anymore,” says Bertinelli. However, she adds, “When you get it right, it’s flippin’ heaven.” So, it’s all about the timing when it comes to this fast food favorite.
The fish sandwich may not be the most popular order at McDonald’s, but it does have a unique history. An Ohio franchise created the sandwich to lure Catholics into its restaurant on Fridays during Lent. To this day, about 25% of McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich sales still happen during Lent. However, at least one Food Network star enjoys them year-round.
And Valerie is right about the sandwich being “flippin’ heaven” when it’s fresh, though we would put McDonald’s version up against our copycat recipe any day.