Forget words of affirmation. Hollywood’s most sought-after heartthrob is all about acts of service. Specifically, food service.
I’m talking about Glen Powell, who has steadily climbed the ranks to become a bona fide movie star. If his effortless charm (and shirtless moments) in Anyone But You didn’t win you over, maybe his rugged, country boy swagger as the tornado wrangler in Twisters did. Or perhaps it was the way he embraced those viral capybara memes in stride, proving that he’s not just a pretty face—he’s got a great, easygoing sense of humor, too.
Whatever the reason, there’s no denying that Powell’s got that refreshingly down-to-earth “it factor” that’s made him a fan favorite. So when I got an invite to grab lunch with him to discuss the very sexy topic of…condiments, I was confused—though all the more excited to attend. You see, Powell is launching his own line, Smash Kitchen.
On a sunny Tuesday afternoon in New York City, I joined the actor for a casual lunch featuring his favorite American classics—sliders with ketchup; hot pretzels with Dijon mustard; mini BLTs paired with spicy mayo; and of course, brisket drizzled in barbecue sauce. (That last dish is the namesake of his Instagram-famous dog, Brisket, who couldn’t join us, though Powell happily showed us photos on his phone.) Of course, every sauce on the table was Powell’s own creation. Alongside traditional ketchup and mustard, Smash Kitchen will debut with more creative condiments, too, like hot honey ketchup, organic spicy mayo, and hot honey BBQ sauce.
As he eats alongside us—a mixed bag of media folk invited to, well, taste Glen’s sauce—Powell talks about each snack with enthusiasm and excitement, pairing every bite with a fun personal anecdote. Take ketchup, for example. “I used to eat so much ketchup,” Powell tells me. All that changed when, “I was at my buddy’s house sophomore year of high school, and he had a little sister. They had sleepovers at the same time we did, so we slept outside on the trampoline while the girls got to stay in the house. And while we were sleeping, they poured ketchup all over us. We didn’t feel it, we woke up in the Texas sun, and it had baked on us.” At this point, everyone around him is laughing. He’s charmed us all. “After that, I couldn’t eat ketchup for years and years and years,” he adds. That is, until he created his own.
While Powell might not be (yet) known for his culinary skills, he’s quick to point out that, as a proud Texan, he knows a thing or two about quality flavor—what tastes good, what’s too vinegary, what’s made with the best ingredients (and leaves out, as he describes, the unnecessary ones—like dyes and high fructose corn syrup), and what’s overpriced. “In Austin, no one’s gonna pay $15 for a bottle of ketchup,” he bluntly points out. And despite his love for authentic Texan cuisine, the actor admits he’s never found a BBQ sauce that truly hits the mark—a major reason he wanted to make his version (which, I can confirm, is smoky, bold, and more importantly, delicious).
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