The Sporkful How Did Tony Shalhoub Learn To Play A Chef On Screen?
Nov 3, 2025
Tony Shalhoub, the award-winning actor known for his quirky roles in *Monk* and *The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel*, dives into his food-centric performances. He shares how he prepped for his chef role in *Big Night*, learning the art of cooking from Stanley Tucci's mom. Shalhoub also discusses his CNN show *Breaking Bread*, revealing his favorite childhood dish, 'dirty bread,' and the communal aspect of food. The conversation touches on the contrast between artistic integrity and commercial success, showcasing his fascinating journey through food and acting.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Dirty Bread From Childhood
- Tony recalls 'dirty bread' from his Lebanese-American childhood: flatbread with za'atar.
- He describes how it became an acquired taste that suddenly clicked and became irresistible.
Learning Real Chef Skills For Film
- Tony Shalhoub trained with a chef to learn authentic pan-tossing and chopping for Big Night.
- He practiced over a sink with a skillet of ice until his forearm burned and then moved to the stove.
Making The Timpano With Stanley's Mother
- Tony and Stanley Tucci learned to make a timpano with Stanley's mother and observed the labor-intensive process.
- Watching her assemble it gave them a sensory memory used when presenting the dish in the film.
