Victoria Beckham is known for many things: starting her career as the impeccably dressed Posh Spice of the Spice Girls, a successful eponymous fashion brand, and an equally successful beauty brand that makes one of the best eyeliners out there. But there’s also something else she’s known for—a carefully curated lunch order.
When I sat down for lunch at the members-only San Vicente West Village with Beckham, she set both the agenda (forthcoming launches for Victoria Beckham Beauty, all under strict embargo until the summer and beyond, plus an ode to the fantastic Portifino ’97) and the menu. Our three-course meal included a gem salad with butter lettuce, asparagus, avocado, and tahini dressing; a main of roasted salmon with broccolini, carrots, and bright lemon vinaigrette; and bowls of colorful berries and salted chocolate chip cookies for dessert.
It’s a classic Victoria meal, according to husband David Beckham, who discussed it on a podcast in 2022. “I’m married to someone who has eaten the same thing for the last 25 years,” he said at the time. “Since I’ve met Victoria, she only eats grilled fish, steamed vegetables. She’ll very rarely deviate.” It was absolutely delicious.
It’s also a nutrient-dense and well-rounded meal, says nutritionist Keri Gans, RDN. “It provides protein and omega-3 fats from the salmon, fiber and antioxidants from the vegetables and berries, and healthy fats from the avocado and tahini,” Gans reflects. Though she adds it’s worth considering adding a concentrated source of carbohydrates to the meal, too, for an extra surge of energy.
Recently, starting each meal with a salad percolated in the wellness conversation as fiber and blood sugar regulation have become commonplace topics of conversation. “It’s an easy way to get more vegetables and fiber, which may help you feel fuller, slow the pace of the meal, and support steadier blood sugar afterward,” says Gans. It’s been reported by the National Institute of Health that around 95% of American adults do not reach their daily fiber intake. “You don’t need to start every meal with a salad; the bigger goal is to get enough fiber and vegetables throughout the day.”
While the San Vicente chocolate chip cookies—spiked with flat shavings of dark chocolate and Maldon sea salt—were off the table for me (I’ve been gluten-free since a Celiac diagnosis in 2020), I found the berries surprisingly satisfying to my sweet tooth. “Berries are a great dessert option because they’re naturally sweet and provide fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants,” Gans says. Though cookies can be great, too. “Including foods you crave in mindful portions can be part of a realistic, healthy way of eating.”
I’ll be ordering the salmon again soon. Especially if it gets me closer to looking like Beckham.
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