Wicked Stars Ariana Grande & Jonathan Bailey Make Pizza for NYT Cooking

The Pizza Interview Challenge

• 💡 Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey, stars of the film “Wicked: For Good,” participated in The New York Times Cooking's Pizza Interview series.
• 🍕 The challenge involves guests making pizza while answering questions, testing their ability to work together in the kitchen.
• 👏 Both expressed initial excitement, with Ariana noting her Italian family background and experience making pizza with a pizza oven.

Culinary Backgrounds & Preferences

• 🌍 Jonathan shared his fond memory of Pappa Ciccia in London, specifically "The Completer" pizza, which got him through "quite exciting years."
• 🌿 Ariana's favorite places include her family's Italian restaurant, La Masseria in New York, and Crossroads in LA for its plant-based vegan pizzas.
• 🏡 Both shared fondest food memories, with Ariana recalling her Nonna's cooking and Jonathan his nanny's Sunday roasts, highlighting the importance of family meals.

Pizza Making Techniques & Ingredients

• 🖐️ Jonathan demonstrated a unique dough tossing technique, while Ariana focused on maintaining thinness in the middle of her pizza base.
• 🍍 A humorous debate arose regarding pineapple on pizza, with Jonathan declaring it a "heinous crime" and Ariana admitting she'd "never even let my mind go there."
• 🎨 They experimented with various toppings, including stuffed crust, colorful tomatoes, oyster mushrooms, and broccolini, with Jonathan aiming for an "homage to The Completer."

Behind the Scenes of "Wicked"

• 🎶 Ariana revealed she cooked for Jonathan, making trumpet mushrooms, vegan pesto, and chips, while he played music, including her song "We Can't Be Friends."
• 😂 They recounted a memorable, uncontrollable giggling fit during the filming of a "Wicked" wedding scene, involving Michelle Yeoh and Ariana's elaborate dress train.
• 👰 The scene became chaotic due to the 25-foot wedding train getting caught on twigs and Jonathan's emotional reaction, leading to them shaking with laughter at the altar.

Final Creations & Reflections

• 🌟 Jonathan's pizza was described as "stunning" and "brilliant," featuring a mushroom in the middle and a rosemary crust, which he proudly called his "garden."
• 🎭 Ariana's pizza, which she jokingly called "Flubber" and compared to a "Picasso" or something from "Mars Attacks!", was a more abstract and experimental creation.
• 🍽️ Upon tasting, Jonathan's pizza with Marmite and cheese was surprisingly declared a "winner," while Ariana's was praised for its unique, absurdist quality.
• 🎬 The interview concluded with a lighthearted promotion for their film, "Wicked: For Good," encouraging viewers to see it.