That is Amused Bouche, SAVEUR’s meals questionnaire that explores the culinary curiosities of a few of our favourite folks. This interview sequence dives deep into their meals routines, together with ceremonial dinner methods, cherished cookbooks, and the memorable bites they’d hop on a flight for.
Jeff Hiller’s largest celebrations have all the time revolved round meals. The actor, comic, and writer of Actress of a Sure Age rings in each birthday by attempting a brand new tasting menu with associates and indulging in huge slices of pink-frosted, confetti-sprinkled yellow layer cake (made by his husband, Neil, utilizing a recipe from The Sweeter Facet of Amy’s Bread). When he received an Emmy for Excellent Supporting Actor in a Comedy Sequence for his position as Joel on the heartwarmingly hilarious HBO dramedy Someone Someplace in 2025, he upped the ante and even celebrated up within the air.
“The Emmys must fly everybody firstclass as a result of it’s a union factor, so my husband and I skipped breakfast on the resort and went straight to the Delta One lounge at LAX. They gave us just a little juice and scorching towel once we arrived after which despatched us to personal safety the place I needed to put the Emmy via the X-ray machine. You may see the proper define of it within the little body,” Hiller recollects. “It was so luxurious with waiter service within the lounge, and we ate lovely vegan sushi, pizza, and a bunch of sweets. We had been sitting close to Colman Domingo and Meghann Fahy, and it was thrilling to talk with them; that’s the half I bear in mind most. Then we bought on the airplane, and the ravioli they served was so good, they usually had all this fancy wine so I used to be like, ‘I simply received an Emmy, I’m going to have Champagne.’ And so they had Taittinger Champagne! I by no means imagined that I’d win a gold statue for something, so I needed to have a good time the traditional means.”
From profession milestones to little treats, Hiller’s real appreciation for each the massive and small issues in life couldn’t be clearer. Learn on for his Amused Bouche questionnaire, full with a cooking catastrophe story that may positively follow you.
In case you might solely eat one factor 24/7/365, what would it not be?
I’m vegetarian now, however a banh mi that has actually good bread—crunchy-soft however not so crumbly that it will get in every single place—and an enormous schmear of pâté. My husband makes a banh mi with pea protein impressed by one at Zabar’s that’s actually good, however this sandwich could be the true pork model. I like mush. I’d additionally eat mashed potatoes day-after-day for the remainder of my life. I like a mono style for my potatoes, so no gravy, simply cream, butter, and salt. Pure!
What’s the very first thing you discovered find out how to prepare dinner?
My mother taught me find out how to make French toast after I was younger. We all the time made an enormous stack with leftover bread that was going to go stale, with eggs, milk, just a little cinnamon, and strawberries and blueberries or different fruit on prime. Making French toast now makes me consider her since she handed away, and my husband actually loves it, too. He all the time says, “A sandwich made by any individual else is so a lot better than a sandwich that you simply make your self,” and that goes for my French toast and makes me really feel proud.
How about your newest kitchen journey?
As a part of a silent public sale for the Roundabout Theater Firm in N.Y.C., the solid of Someone Someplace did a cooking class with chef Amanda Freitag. The winners, John and Colleen, had been actually candy they usually introduced their youngsters and their youngsters’ associates to make ricotta gnocchi. I’m so not a prepare dinner, however chef Amanda made it really easy and thrilling. She confirmed us all find out how to roll and reduce after which made a butter and sage sauce. I additionally spontaneously made a pecan pie a couple of days in the past after my sister reorganized my kitchen cupboards, and I spotted I had a full bottle of Karo corn syrup. It was very willy-nilly, however it turned out so good with the proper jelly-like consistency.
What’s your treat-yourself splurge?
Two of my finest associates, Liz and Jeff, and I all have birthdays in the identical week of December, so we go to a extremely fancy place, typically with a tasting menu. We have now finished A Voce in Columbus Circle, Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, Del Posto in Chelsea, and Don Angie within the West Village for his or her pinwheel lasagna. Shaggy dog story: Jesse Tyler Ferguson advised me that attempting to make that recipe almost killed him. My buddy Amy additionally made it however simply did it as a traditional lasagna as an alternative of the sophisticated pinwheels, and it got here out wonderful. I wouldn’t ever make it—I all the time simply need to exit to have a superb time, benefit from the meals, and never have to wash up afterward. And if I need to eat extra tomorrow, I’ll take a couple of bites house to go.
What’s your most cherished cookbook?
My husband is the cookbook particular person in our family, and he has used the Moosewood Cookbook since faculty. I like this white bean bake he makes from it, the miso soup that he places his personal little twists on, and a French onion soup that’s extra hearty and virtually like a stew. It’s all in regards to the mush for me.
Is there a cooking catastrophe that made you swear off a dish endlessly?
When my buddy Liz and I hosted my thirtieth birthday celebration, we created a signature cocktail that had easy syrup in it. It was a home social gathering with 100 folks, and the easy syrup coated the kitchen ground. I mopped it day-after-day for a month and it was all the time just a bit sticky, and my hand would randomly stick with the counter. Till the day we moved out, we’d be like, “Whoops, there’s my shoe!” By no means go to a home social gathering with a easy syrup drink.
A few occasions I’ve actually biffed it with simply burning issues as a result of I’m simply distracted. There are occasions the place the smoke alarm goes off when I’ve vegan sausages on the range, and it’s a lot smoke swiftly and I’m like, “AHHH!”
Which nostalgic meals from childhood convey you probably the most consolation?
My meemaw would make a sandwich with the dirtiest, whitest bread with mayonnaise and two slices of probably the most processed of processed cheeses. Once you would squeeze the sandwich, the mayonnaise would type of squirt out, and I beloved it. If I had not had that as a toddler and encountered it now, it could be disgusting. However it holds a number of sentimental worth for me.
Once you’re taking part in ceremonial dinner DJ, what’s spinning?
I’ll decide a music that I would like the temper of after which select that radio station. Normally one thing mellow like Joni Mitchell or Maggie Rogers that I just like the vibe of however received’t be distracted by. My playlists are usually like [sings a song from the musical Carousel] “June is bustin’ out throughout!” so I gotta preserve it tame.
What’s your largest entertaining flex to impress company?
Simply good dialog. I’m actually good at placing the best folks collectively and maintaining the dialog flowing all evening.
Inform me a couple of meal so good you’ll hop on a flight to relive it.
There was a seafood stew in Dublin that I didn’t even actually know what it was, after which I ate it and I used to be like, “DAMMMMMN!” I additionally had butternut squash ravioli in Chicago when filming Someone Someplace at some random, not fancy place, however it was so scrumptious.
This interview has been edited and condensed for readability.
