Now that Adam Scott’s had some time to reflect on the final season of Parks and Recreation, the California native is clearly ready to move onto more important matters. Like the prosthetic penis he swings alongside Jason Schwartzman in the The Overnight. Most interviews about the indie movie—a co-production with Mark Duplass (Togetherness, Safety Not Guaranteed, The One I Love) and Scott’s wife, writer Naomi Scott—have revolved around that very subject, so we gave the 42-year-old actor a chance to tackle other topics before a New York screening last Friday. Food mainly, from his mother’s Sicilian specialties to the kind of catering his dearly missed Party Down character would have never cooked.
When you have a long day like today, what do you usually have for breakfast—a good meal so you can get through the day, or not much since you’re probably stressed out?
If I had my druthers this morning, I would have woken up and had something delicious. But I had to rush, so all I had was coffee and a protein bar, which isn’t really enough to carry me for long. Usually I like having a bowl of granola with berries in the morning.
It depends. If I have to wake up super early, my appetite isn’t that strong. Like you know how you can hang the breakfast thing on a hotel door and have it delivered first thing in the morning? If it’s super early, eggs, bacon and toast kinda grosses me out. I need a cup of coffee and some time before my appetite starts going.
You have a couple kids. Do you usually help out around the house and cook when you have a break from film shoots?
Yeah. We’ve gotta get them fed as early as possible. They won’t really eat on their own. All they want to do is watch TV or play, so you’ve got to get food in them or they’re going to get grouchy really fast.
What do they gravitate towards? Sugary cereal like what we all grew up with, or do you try and get them on board with healthier stuff?
My wife’s really smart. She got them eating eggs really early, so they’re used to it and like it. Oatmeal, cereal—a bowl of Cheerios is fine. As long as it’s something. And they get protein from the milk. You just gotta get them going.
So they don’t really care what they eat?
They don’t care. One time I was so desperate I shoved food into my son’s mouth while he was playing a video game. He didn’t even know he was eating.
What was your relationship with food like when you were a kid?
My mom was a foodie but I never cared. I remember loving McDonald’s but it was a treat. We didn’t get to eat it that much. I didn’t become discerning about food until my thirties but even then, I don’t know if I’d call myself a foodie because I don’t have a deep knowledge of it. I just love going out for a long, delicious meal. But I don’t know what I’m talking about really.
You said your mom was a foodie. Is there anything you remember her trying to get you to eat? And once you tried it, it was awesome?
Well she’d make these great lasagnas. She comes from a Sicilian family so she was a good cook. We were also in Santa Cruz, California, so everything was like healthy Italian food. That’s what I grew up with, and I still find it comforting.
Is there one Sicilian dish that you’re good at cooking yourself?
No, I’m terrible. I keep meaning to take a cooking class. I think that’d be really fun. I just haven’t had the time. I’d love to learn some basics though. That’d be really handy. I mean, I can fry an egg and make a good steak, but nothing beyond what a 19-year-old needs to survive.
Bringing things back to breakfast and your time on Parks and Rec, what was your JJ’s Diner growing up—a place you and your friends went to all the time?
We didn’t really have one, but when I was in elementary school, a ’50s diner opened up—a nostalgic place called the Pontiac Grill. That was a big deal in Santa Cruz. Especially since it was the mid ’80s, when ’50s nostalgia was high and Back to the Future was out. We’d go there sometimes but my friends and I never had any money of our own to spend at a diner.
Let’s shift to some quick fire questions. What’s the weirdest thing in your fridge right now?
Maraschino cherries? That’s not weird… Oh, there’s a week-old chocolate shake from In-N-Out in there.
One of your breakthrough roles was on Party Down. Have you ever had catered food that’s actually good?
Man that’s tough, because it’s never great, is it? There’s been a couple good ones. Not like the mass-catered meals at an awards show where 500 people are being served, but there’s some smaller catered dinner parties out there that are good. But yeah, there’s nothing worse than one of those chicken plates at a giant catered thing. It’s such a bummer.
If you and your wife could celebrate your movie opening anywhere in the world tomorrow where would it be?
The French Laundry. For sure. We haven’t experienced that yet.
Any food you looked forward to eating on the set of your last movie?
Yeah, our cook Justin was really good. He made short rib pasta that was delicious.
What’s one food you’re powerless around?
My wife makes these peanut butter Rice Krispies treats. It’s a recipe from Weelicious. I swear I’ll stand there and eat the entire pan and have no regard for anyone else’s feelings. That’s my Kryptonite.
Any thoughts on health food fads since you’re originally from California?
I think they’re a little ridiculous—trends and b.s. But I genuinely like quinoa and farro salad. And I liked when cauliflower was all the rage because it’s delicious. But as far as health food crazes go, I think it’s all kinda silly.
Let’s finish things off with a softball question: your death row meal.
Man, you know, I think it’d be a cheeseburger from the Hungry Cat in LA, some French fries, and my wife’s peanut butter Rice Krispies treats.
What makes that cheeseburger so special?
The meat is perfect. And it’s on an English muffin. And the bacon they use. And the cheese; I think it’s gruyere. It’s so good. That’s my favorite hamburger. It’s terrific.
