Megan Potthoff, Culinary Producer and Food Stylist, discusses bringing true pastry intricacies to the film Sitting in Bars with Cake.

I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Megan Potthoff, who worked as the culinary producer and food stylist for the film Sitting in Bars with Cake. This story is inspired by a true incident involving a young woman who is shy and often experiences bad luck. In the story, she decides to bake a cake for her best friend’s birthday and brings it to a bar. Little does she know, her presence at the bar attracts the attention of many men. Although she believes it’s just a coincidence, her friend encourages her to bake and bring cakes to bars for a year in hopes of finding love. The shy young woman’s life unfolds in ways she never imagined possible. The film features an ensemble cast including Yara Shahidi, Odessa A’zion, Martha Kelly, Ron Livingston, and Bette Midler. Yara Shahidi also held the role of executive producer.

Potthoff emphasized the significance of ensuring authenticity in both the feel and appearance of the character Jane. She and her team were incredibly meticulous and attentive to even the smallest details, such as her grip on the piping bag, her use of the spatula, and the way she frosted the cake, all while embodying the role of a homemaker.

Potthoff mentioned that one of our offices had a cake wall. She and her team were responsible for ensuring that the cakes were designed to match the flow and theme of each bar, as well as passing the tasting test. Megan described the process as involving a lot of trial and error, with each cake being numbered as they progressed. During this process, they carefully evaluated the design and taste of each cake, aiming to select the one that best matched the cake’s intended name and flavor profile. The actors were given a pre-written script, so they had to adhere to its boundaries in order to bring these exquisite masterpieces to life. The end result was just as delightful as anticipated.

It was our responsibility to bring the design to life. With my background in pastry, I couldn’t resist ensuring that they tasted exactly as they were described. Potthoff mentioned that he enjoys both the spice rum cake and the pina colada cocktail cake. Both on and off camera, she ensured that the realism of the cakes was not just for show; they would taste as delicious as described.

According to Megan, the most enjoyable part of the movie occurs at the end when Jane, portrayed by Yara Shahidi, brings in the cake bar. She intentionally made sure that the different cakes showcased Jane’s growth as a baker, adding her own personal touch. Potthoff expressed, “I tapped into my own creative abilities in pastry-making.”

When asked about her feelings at the end of this amazing opportunity, Potthoff replied, ‘I was truly proud to be a part of this project, where I had the chance to showcase the cakes and tell a story through them.’