How the Times Cooking 'Pizza Interview' Gets Celebrities to Open Up

On a recent afternoon at The New York Times studio kitchen, actors Finn Wolfhard and Natalia Dyer made pizzas as part of New York Times Cooking’s “Pizza Interview” series, sampling a spread that included potato wedges, Eggo waffles and purple octopus tentacles tied to their show. The series, launched in June, asks celebrities to build pizzas while answering questions.

Producer and talent booker Victoria Chen has brought in more than a dozen guests, including Ariana Grande, Chris Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen. Chen said the informal cooking setup — a large topping bar with themed items related to each guest’s project — helps put people at ease.

For “Stranger Things,” the bar included Eggo waffles and octopus as nods to the show. Culinary producer Young Gun Lee spends days sourcing and prepping the ingredients. Making pizza creates a relaxed atmosphere, Chen said, because guests are distracted by the task. The show also features a sourdough starter that guests feed and cheer on while their pies bake; Chen recounted an unscripted moment when Chris Evans dropped the starter, which they’ve jokingly called the “world’s most famous sourdough starter.” The interviews encourage playful experimentation: Sarah Bahr’s “monster pizza” featured octopus tentacles, shrimp, prosciutto, ham, anchovies and red bell peppers.

Chen said some guests go wild with toppings, while others choose basics like pepperoni.

Key Topics

Culture, United States, Pizza, Celebrity Interviews, Cooking, New York Times, Video