Internationally-renowned actor Bill Pullman is known for his many films and roles. No doubt he is forever locked into your memory as the President in 1996’s Independence Day (Luckily, he reprises his role in Independence Day: Resurgence, out next year).

Currently filming comedy Brother Nature and drama LBJ (playing Ralph Yarborough, the only Senator from the Deep South to vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1964), Pullman touched down in Wolfville, Nova Scotia a few weeks ago to kick off Devour! The Food Film Fest, the largest food film festival in the world.

Taking part in the epic Opening Gala Evening, he curated his favourite food film of all-time, Babette’s Feast.  His film The Fruit Hunters - a captivating documentary about people's obsession (including his own) with growing and finding the very best fruit, which opened the festival two years back to roaring applause.

An avid food lover - and fruit grower! he took time out of his busy schedule to share his favourite foods, drinks and cookbooks. His answers are thoughtful, smart and completely original, just like the man himself.

Occupation

Actor

Place of Residence

Los Angeles

Last thing you ate

A homemade slushy with frozen grapefruit and frozen blueberries.

Left to your own devices to make something at home, what would it likely be? 

I am about to make applesauce with fruit from my trees - Mutsu, Beverly Hills apples, two varieties of Asian Pear.

What will you ask a server to remove from your dish, or make sure it doesn’t have? 

Hair.

When staying at a hotel, what are you raiding from the mini fridge? 

Routine drill: Have it emptied upon arrival. Johnny Walker minis beckon too much.

Guilty pleasure

Norwegian Lefse with butter and brown sugar.

Drink of choice

Gin and tonic. If time, homemade frozen lime slush with tequila.

Favourite meal of the day and why

Breakfast. Bacon with eggs is fave.

Favourite cookbooks to use

An encyclopedic cookbook of America’s new produce - Uncommon Fruits and Vegetables: A Common Sense Guide by Elizabeth Schneider

Favourite cookbooks just to look at

Butte’s Heritage Cookbook edited by Jean McGrath (from Butte, Montana), Au Pied De Cochon by Martin Picard, and Ripe: A Cook in the Orchard by Nigel Slater

Three items always in your fridge:

Eggs, butter, fruit juice of many varieties.

Top 3 Toronto restaurants

I have memories of drop-dead-good Chinese dumplings, Italian in a long-establish setting, and Japanese in a second-floor venue. 

Go-to dish at a restaurant

French Onion Soup.

Would you rather: Go to farmers’ market/nearest pub/food truck? 

Farmers’ Market – for the connection to the growers.

Describe your kitchen

1954 O'Keefe and Meritt Stove, painted green cabinets, yellow walls, sconces, counters of old Douglas Fir.

Describe your cooking style

Multiple fronts, fast and happiest when there are more than five to feed.

Ideal food day: From the time you wake up until bed, what are you having? 

No matter what the food, it always tastes better with good company.

Check out more celebrity interviews in At The Table.

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