PartyLines- photographs by Patrick McMullan

Have your culinary skills improved by working on the film? “I don’t know if my cooking skills improved, but I gained new respect for waiting tables. You found the one actress who’s never been a waitress!” —Lily Rabe

—Bob Balaban

What's the sexiest food? “Chocolate. Really dark chocolate turns you on when you think about it and when you eat it.” —Katie Lee Joel

—Rene Fris

Did you have any culinary expertise before the movie? “Let’s see. I walked into a food shop and asked what a ‘koe-lander’ was. I know what a colander is now.” —Aaron Eckhart

—Arija Bareikis

Ever had a pleasant experience with a rat? “There was a scene in Ratatouille when they open the door and there are all these rats in the kitchen. I think I stopped breathing for a second.” —Lee Anne Wong

—Celia Weston

What’s the biggest mistake actors make when portraying chefs? “Not spending the time in the kitchen. The little nuances we do while we’re in the kitchen, like throwing your towel over your apron string.” —Michael White

—Crystal Hunt

What was the worst experience you’ve ever had in a restaurant? “I was the guest of a Nobel Prize–winning author who complained about a dish. We were thrown out.” —Scott Hicks

—Jaslene Gonzalez

—Kerry Heysen

What's your favorite restaurant in New York? “I have so many, I’m not even going to mention any of them.” —Catherine Zeta-Jones