FEEDING MAD MEN

Food service on big Hollywood TV and film productions is divided into two departments: Catering and Craft Service. Catering is responsible for feeding the cast and crew breakfast and lunch, while Craft Service, affectionately called “Crafty,” is responsible to supply them every possible thing to be consumed in between and after those meals.

Food Woody on Mad Men set

During summer 2010 I was fortunate to work as a stand-in on the Emmy-winning show "Mad Men.” I’ve worked on several top-rated shows and films with big budgets for feeding their crew, but my “Mad Men” experience is at the culinary top of the TV world.

“Mad Men” is based downtown at the Los Angeles Center Studios and employs one of the best caterers in the biz - Limelight Catering of Sylmar, CA. Breakfast is simple with custom-made offerings of eggs, omelets, bacon and the works including fresh fruit, potatoes, oatmeal and burritos. But lunch, usually served six hours later, is a delectable food orgy. 

You would be thrilled to offer this assortment and quality of food at your wedding; there is something amazingly delicious for carnivores, pescatarians, vegetarians and vegans. Everyday is a different theme, like Fried Chicken Fridays.


One of my favorites is Italian day, which might include Veal Piccatta, Chicken Marsala, Grilled Striped Trout, Seasoned Vegetable Medley, Grilled Eggplant, Lasagna, Manicotti, Penne al Pesto, Ravioli, Roasted Garlic, Risotto, plus a few mixed salads, salad bar, and dessert buffet of cakes, cookies and ice cream.  

This Italian day also included Pizza, Meatball and Polenta

Mexican day is totally groovy too featuring Carne Asada, Shredded Pork, Chicken Mole, Ceviche, Tamales, Enchiladas, Frijoles, Grilled Corn, Fresh Fried Chile Rellenos and Flan. After every meal, Chef Mike comes around with his special brew of Turkish coffee to thrust the group into the second half of the day. 

Cast and crew eat together and then it’s back to work where set medic Alise passes out flossing sticks to everyone to remove lingering morsels from between their teeth.  At first I was shocked to be around a whole group of people picking at their teeth in public, but then I came to realize it must be the plaque-free environment that makes the show so popular.

On many sets, an 8-hour workday is an anomaly. And so it goes on “Mad Men,” where 12-14 hour days were the norm, and some lasting past 1 AM.  So by hour 10, the crew begins to get hungry, and Crafty's sliced fruit, crudité and nut mixes are no longer satisfying.  This is when Crafty steps up their game and takes over for the second meal.

Like a Jewish mother, a good crafty doesn’t prepare anything, but knows who to call to get the best. We’ve had food woody from a variety of restaurants like Cuban take out from Versailles and French dip sandwiches from historic Phillipe’s.

But the current trend in gourmet food trucks is not lost on Hollywood, and often a truck would pull up outside the soundstage and serve us their grub.  

So which truck foods have passed the lips of Jon Hamm, Christina Hendricks and John Slattery? To eat like the stars, check out Komodo, The Slice Truck, India Jones and Lake Street Creamery. 

Komodo is Asian-Mexican fusion and the hot item is the Blazin’ Shrimp taco that’s muy picante. 

 Slice Truck pizza is a thin crisp crust version and the pepperoni and sausage is amazing.  

India Jones is Bombay street food and the Lamb Frankie is a Taj Mahal in your mouth with a side of chicken curry and rice. 

 Lake Street serves fresh-made ice creams, and even created the Don Draper flavor with bourbon, caramel and smoke served in a sweet waffle dish.

There's never a crew work break for the second meal, so it becomes a free for all to get what you can quickly in between takes and setups when not needed on stage.

It was an amazing summer and opportunity to meet wonderful people over great meals.  One remarkable discovery was finding out  director of photography, Chris Manly, and I went to the same high school in Allentown, Pennsylvania. And show creator, Matt Weiner, is just as warm and personable in person as he is while accepting awards.   The last day I told him how much I enjoyed working on the show, that the crew was so nice and supportive, and that I believed it came from the top. He smiled at me, obviously touched, offering his hand to shake while asking, "What's your name?"