DeepSummary
In this episode, Dan Pashman interviews music producer and artist Benny Blanco, who has credits on 29 number one songs. Benny talks about his obsession with food and his new cookbook 'Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends,' which is not just a collection of recipes but also a manual for throwing great parties.
Benny discusses his early love for food, including his fondness for the George Foreman grill as a teenager and his affinity for apple fritters from Safeway. He also shares stories about using food to connect with artists in the studio, such as SZA's love for his banana pudding and spicy rigatoni.
Benny emphasizes the importance of creating an experience through food and parties, and he describes his approach to hosting dinner parties, where he meticulously plans every detail while aiming for a laid-back atmosphere. He also shares his philosophy on food, preferring visceral deliciousness over intellectual cuisine.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Benny Blanco has a deep passion for food and sees it as a way to connect with people and create memorable experiences.
- His new cookbook 'Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends' combines recipes with party planning advice, reflecting his love for hosting unforgettable dinner parties.
- Benny values creating a lively and diverse atmosphere at his parties, bringing together people from different walks of life for a shared experience.
- He believes in cooking with love and prioritizes visceral deliciousness over intellectually conceived cuisine from highly trained chefs.
- Benny's approach to food and parties involves meticulous planning and attention to detail while aiming for a laid-back and chaotic atmosphere.
- He enjoys incorporating unexpected elements and activities into his dinner parties, creating a dynamic and engaging experience for guests.
- Food holds a nostalgic value for Benny, with specific foods like apple fritters from his childhood evoking fond memories.
- Benny uses food as a way to connect with artists in the studio, tailoring dishes to their preferences and creating a comfortable environment for collaboration.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Food is like the natural lubricant to anything. It's like, you want to have sex, have a good meal. You want to, like, close a deal, have a good meal. You want to, like, get someone to open up their deepest darkest secrets. Do you have a meal?“ by Benny Blanco
- “You walk in, things are happening. We're like, people are crowded around. I have this big island. Everyone's crowded around. People are sitting on top. You know, you gotta be able to cook with people in the way. I got people sitting on the ground. There's people sitting on top. People are smoking, we're drinking, we're passing, you know, champagne back and forth.“ by Benny Blanco
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Episode Information
The Sporkful
Dan Pashman and Stitcher
4/29/24
Music producer and artist benny blanco has credits on 29 number one songs, working with stars such as Katy Perry, SZA, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Halsey, and more. But he’s long been as obsessed with food as he is with music. Now, benny’s releasing Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends. It’s not just a collection of recipes, it’s also a manual for throwing a great party -- a topic that benny takes very seriously. He dishes with Dan on his affection for the George Foreman grill, the dessert that endeared him to SZA, and why he’s like a duck on a pond.
If you want to win a copy of Open Wide, sign up for our newsletter by May 24. If you’re already on our mailing list, you’re already entered to win. Open to US and Canada addresses only.
On Thursday, May 9, Dan will be teaming up with Café Mars in Brooklyn for a seated dinner featuring dishes inspired by Anything’s Pastable. See the full menu here. Anything’s Pastable will be for sale and Dan will be there to chat and sign copies. Reserve your spot here (scroll down to Experiences). One night only!
Can’t make it to Brooklyn? You can catch Dan the following week, Thursday, May 16. He will be hosting a virtual cooking class with Milk Street. As we get ready for summer, he will be featuring two super flavorful, super easy dishes from the chapter of Anything’s Pastable entitled, “Pasta Salads Redeemed: Fresh and Bright, Hold The Mayo.” Watch Dan cook or cook along! Get 50% off with code PASTABLE50 (only for the first 30 people). Then use code COOKWITHDAN for 15% off.
The Sporkful production team includes Dan Pashman, Emma Morgenstern, Andres O'Hara, Shantel Holder, Nora Ritchie, and Jared O'Connell.
Transcript available at www.sporkful.com.