Funny People:Hollywood set with Seth Rogen and great pesto sandwich recipe

“We need you, your face fits that profile we need?”
I uttered to myself, “really?”

This was the conversation I had with my casting agency a few days ago.

Movie: Funny People
Release Date:Anticipated July 31st, 2009
Actors: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann
Shoot Location + date: San Francisco International Airport Jan. 21, 2009
Role: Passenger walking around the airport rolling my luggage back and forth

Arriving in the parking level, three hundred extras were shuttled over to the terminal.

On set, many extras were also fans of Seth.
“He is so funny.”
“He looks great.”

Both are true. The remarkable note is that he as down to earth as he is on screen.
WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)
While on set, he bumped into me accidently. He said, “I’m sorry.”
No appearance of ego.

Since his blockbuster hit Knocked Up, he has lost a lot of weight.
He did not have a six pack, but he looked fit.

I think my sake belly outdid his.

Later, I walked up to him casually, “People in China love you, can I get a picture?”
Surely enough. I got one.

While most extras were just in awe of seeing a comedy star, my highlight was the food they served. In Hollywood lingo, when they serve dinner it’s called “lunch.” Don’t ask me why.

Cut delicately in triangular pieces, the pesto turkey focaccia sandwich hit the spot.

Pesto Turkey Sandwich Recipe

Here is the assemble method.
Cut focaccia bread into half,
Put a few slices of deli turkey, not the one with fillers but from the deli.
Open the slice of turkey, spread pesto on the turkey meat along with desired amount of cranberry.
The key is not to put any dressing on the bread, since this makes the bread soggy.
Slice a few slices of cucumber for crunch.
All the ingredient play center stage, fantastic.

Flavors: The earthy notes from the pesto balance with sweet + slight tangy cranberry sauce. The pillowy texture of focaccia bread just makes it rock.

Back to the set.
After working from 3:45 till 12am, I was exhausted.
While in the holding area (spot to chill when not on set), I met Proba.
As an Indian chef that once cooked at Greens in San Francisco, I asked her for top Indian restaurant picks.

Shalimar + Pakwan

Both places, I have not tried.

Overall, great experience. Being on set prepares me for my future food cooking shows.
Comments welcome.

Note: Click here for my 5 second role as “Iron Chef Chairman“, a spoof for biotech Applied Biosystem. Last year being on set about five times was so much fun.