What happens when the producers of “The Today Show” call and ask you to do a segment? If you’re Pig Beach BBQ’s executive chef Matt Abdoo you say “yes,” get on the next flight and go. That’s exactly what the co-owner of the wildly popular West Palm Beach restaurant did last week.
Appearing on “TODAY with Jenna & Friends” on Thursday, Jan. 23, Abdoo said he got the call from one of the producers asking him to be on the show saying, “Hey, Matt we have Scarlett Johansson on next week and she’s a huge fan of lemon pepper wings.”
To be fair, this isn’t exactly an out-of-the-blue thing for Abdoo, who has made regular appearances on “The Today Show” since 2014. That said, despite being a show veteran he did admit that with the Scarlett Johansson-level of celebrity “for the first time in a long time I was rattled.”
Marvel’s Black Widow’s secret sauce?
If you saw the show or have since watched the segment online, you would never know it. Abdoo said Johansson was “super kind and so sweet.” In addition, he said that the “chemistry that Scarlett and Jenna had was fantastic.” “They were having so much fun they were missing their cues,” he joked. At one point, Abdoo said that one of the producers had him help wrap the segment.
How did Johansson’s affinity for lemon pepper wings come to light? Abdoo said she was on a late night show when they asked her “what does Black Widow (her character in the Marvel Universe franchise) like to eat.” The answer was lemon pepper wings and just like that, the secret to Black Widow’s ability to battle evil was out.
Pig Beach BBQ chef and co-owner Matt Abdoo stands back as Scarlett Johansson and Jenna Hager dig into the lemon pepper wings he crafted.
Though a trained chef and an award-winning pitmaster, Abdoo admitted this was actually his first time making lemon pepper wings and he had to do some research to ensure he got the recipe correct.
According to his research, he said, lemon pepper wings became popular in Atlanta and there are two main varieties. Both feature a lemon pepper seasoning (Abdoo’s was made with lemon zest, salt, pepper, granulated garlic and onion, sugar and celery salt), but in one the wings are tossed in melted butter before being hit with the seasoning and the other they are tossed in Buffalo sauce first.
In addition to sharing the recipe, Abdoo also showed them how, if you don’t have a commercial fryer, to achieve an excellent level of crispiness in the oven. (Hint, it involves baking powder.)
Both appeared to be big hits as both Johansson and Hager dug in and raved about them.
Pig Beach BBQ chef Matt Abdoo said he had to do a little research on lemon pepper wings before his recent appearance on “TODAY with Jenna & Friends.” Lemon pepper wings are co-host Scarlett Johansson’s favorite food.
How Pig Beach’s chef became Today Show regular
Having made dozens of appearances on the “The Today Show” over the past 10 years, Abdoo said “this one was kind of special.”
Taking nothing for granted, Abdoo said “I’ve been fortunate enough to become a regular on “The Today Show.”” What does he owe it to? A childhood friend, years spent honing his craft and meatballs.
Abdoo said that a friend he grew up with was working as a producer for Savannah Guthrie when she made the move to “The Today Show” and New York City. She soon got engaged and was organizing her bachelorette party and wanted to do an Italian food theme. At the time, Abdoo was chef de cuisine at the well-known Italian hot spot Del Posto.
The head chef at the time was known for his “100-layer lasagna,” but it was Abdoo who made the meatballs, he said. As skill and good fortune would have it, Abdoo said that Guthrie told him, “These are the best meatballs I’ve ever had. Would you come on “The Today Show?”
Thrilled at the idea, Abdoo said he didn’t take it too seriously until a few weeks later when they reached out to him to do his first segment.
These days, Abdoo says he usually flies himself up for the segments, but the show pays for his hotel and transportation within the city. Typically, he’ll fly up the night before, they pick him at the hotel the next morning, he’ll do the segment and then fly back that night.
New steak burger at Pig Beach
The new steak burger at Pig Beach BBQ in West Palm Beach features 10 ounces of American wagyu, griddle onions and white American cheese on a homemade sesame seed bun.
While he was tapped to serve the Today Show folks chicken wings, back here at Pig Beach, burgers are the talk of the day.
Though they still have their delicious smashburger, they recently replaced their six-ounce Pig Beach burger with the steakhouse burger. Thick and juicy, this burger features 10 ounces of American wagyu beef, their butcher seasoning, griddled onions and white American cheese on a homemade sesame bun.
Sylvester Stallone becoming a regular?
When Abdoo isn’t flying north to meet celebrities, sometimes you can spot one dining at Pig Beach in West Palm Beach. But one has become a regular.
If you’re guessing Sylvester Stallone, you guessed correctly. Abdoo said that when the now-Palm Beach resident isn’t on location filming his series “Tulsa,” he stops by the restaurant regularly. Abdoo said that despite Stallone’s incredible fame and star power “He’s always so nice. Excited for the food.”
More: Sylvester Stallone stops by popular West Palm Beach barbecue spot
Abdoo to appear on “Beat Bobby Flay”
Abdoo’s next TV appearance is likely to be on another show he shot a few months back. He’s in an episode of Food Network’s “Beat Bobby Flay” that is currently scheduled to air in either late March or early April. Abdoo has been a judge several times, but this is his first time competing on the popular show.
When Abdoo is certain of the air date, they will have a watch party at the restaurant.
Pig Beach BBQ in West Palm Beach
What: Pig Beach BBQ
Where: 2400 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday: 4 to 8 p.m. Monday
Information: pigbeachnyc.com/location/pig-beach-palm-beach-fl
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: West Palm Beach chef cooks wings on “TODAY with Jenna & Friends”
