Adam Sandler and Food

[Puck Confit]

In Adam Sandler's new movie Spanglish, he plays a professional chef. He was on Leno tonight promoting the film and he mentioned that he trained with Thomas Keller at Per Se in New York. He also made mention of the fact that he ate at both the French Laundry and Per Se and went on to praise Thomas Keller and the incredible food he puts out.

Now, those of you that know Adam Sandler know how rare it is to see him speak seriously about ANYTHING, let alone food. But he was genuinely grateful and appreciative of Chef Keller and everything he taught him. Keller is God.

[zilla369]

Dang, Puck - you beat me to it.

I was watching the interview (i love Sandler) - and Leno asked him "so, you trained with a professional chef?" and Sandler goes: "Yeah, and everybody who knows anything about food that i say this to says this guy is the best at what he does; his name's Thomas Keller....." and i about fell out of my chair.

Would have liked to have been a fly on the wall during all that (not that there would have been any flies on Keller's kitchen walls...)

(edited to change the spelling of "flys" to "flies")...

Edited December 2, 2004 by zilla369 (log)

[whimsity]

Apparently the kitchen constructed for the movies is completely taken off from French Laundry - Keller said when he walked onto the set, it was like walking back into his kitchen. Which makes me rather annoyed, since I swore a number of years ago never to watch another Sandler movie? Gah. Dilemma Dilemma.

[Al_Dente]

Come on, you gotta love the Turkey Song

[bilrus]

Come on, you gotta love the Turkey Song

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We were singing it all last week at home.

[Jinmyo]

Sandler's hard enough to watch but on Leno? Feh.

But it's to his credit that he recognizes Keller's stature.

6 foot 1 or 2?

[jhlurie]

Food folks, please. As much as that's possible with Mr. Sandler, could we try and stick with it?

I thought about it a bit though, and recalled that Sandler had at least one food song (besides his various holiday songs, I mean): Food Inuendo Guy.

[Behemoth]

I tried to hate sandler but the lunch lady song always made me giggle...

[srhcb]

But, has anybody ever heard Thomas Keller admit he knows Sandler?

[jhlurie]

I tried to hate sandler but the lunch lady song always made me giggle...

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Ah, the infamous Lunch Lady Land.

Sandler really DOES seem obsessed with simple childhood food experiences.

Oh, here's a different one. The I Ran Over The Taco Bell Dog song.

By the way, this Sandler bio says that his older sister, Valerie Sandler, "works in food industry". Does anyone know what she does?

[Al_Dente]

By the way, this Sandler bio says that his older sister, Valerie Sandler, "works in food industry".  Does anyone know what she does?

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Perhaps she's the lunch lady?

[cakewalk]

My niece used to go to sleepaway camp with Adam Sandler's niece. She said he always sent tons of candy for the whole bunk. "Good candy, too," according to her. So of course he's interested in food!

[bpearis]

More unbelievable than Sandler playing a chef of Keller's status is that his character doesn't know a lick of Spanish. None at all (although this drives some of the funniest moments in the film). I like James L. Brooks a lot, but it's obvious he's never spent time in a restaurant kitchen.

[jhlurie]

More unbelievable than Sandler playing a chef of Keller's status is that his character doesn't know a lick of Spanish. None at all (although this drives some of the funniest moments in the film). I like James L. Brooks a lot, but it's obvious he's never spent time in a restaurant kitchen.

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Our friend, Mr. Bourdain, is probably shaking his fist at this film already because of this.

[CFO999]

Chef Keller's presence is now at the top of the food chain

The French Laundry was chosen the number one restaurant in the world's top 50

by Epicurus.com new digital magazine.

Have any you guys seen this list...wow

[Bux]

Chef Keller's presence is now at the top of the food chain

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Define "now," and maybe "top." Certainly Ferran Adrià is at the international peak, although it's fair enough to allow a top that includes more than one person. A ranking with the French Laundry at the top of a list of American restaurants would hardly be news. It's little more than an affirmation of what many people have been saying for years, while at the same time, it's hardly definitive. I've yet to see a top restaurant list in a magazine that had much validity beyond marketing.

At the same time, any thread with "Adam Sandler" in the title is probably a poor choice in which to start any more than half serious discussion about Keller, the French Laundry or restaurants in general.

[fiftydollars]

I heard that Thomas Keller taught Adam Sandler how to make the perfect BLT. I am curious about that recipe...

[astrayacorazon]

I've got to agree with bpearis on that one. I just saw Spanglish and was also amazed by the fact his character spoke no Spanish. According to Bourdain, it's SOP for a chef to have a little spanish in his repertoire.

Without giving anything away, I thought it was terrific and the food parts very believable and enticing- aside from Sandler's lack of Spanish. Very charming movie.

[joiei]

I saw the movie last night and enjoyed it. It will not change the world, but when he cut into that sandwich, it definitely made me immediately hungry.

[citychef]

More unbelievable than Sandler playing a chef of Keller's status is that his character doesn't know a lick of Spanish. None at all (although this drives some of the funniest moments in the film). I like James L. Brooks a lot, but it's obvious he's never spent time in a restaurant kitchen.

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Sadly I know many chefs who do not know or even attempt to speak Spanish, too bad for them...communicating with the cooks in their language is one of the joys of the job not to mention professionally advantageous.

[Poffertjes]

Watched Spanglish again last night. Saw Keller was named "Culinary Consultant" in the credits. But a friend of mine from Northern California who watched it with me said that Spanglish was a semi-factual story based on an actual chef, possibly Keller.

Was she pulling my leg?

She does work in the media.

Its hard to believe, but then again its hard to believe that Keller was involved with a Adam Sandler movie.

[dan.]

The DVD features bonus footage of Keller teaching Sandler how to make "the perfect sandwich."