Half Baked

Entertaining, Amy Sedaris style

by Natalie Hope McDonald

Funny girl Amy Sedaris may be best-known for her outrageous character Jerri Blank on Strangers with Candy. But in addition to her TV and film roles, David Sedaris' kid sister is gung ho about food and entertainment. Her latest book, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence (Grand Central, $15), is a perfectly quirky go-to guide for baking cupcakes, whipping up dinner and dealing with really bad houseguests (she recommends filling your medicine cabinet with marbles to expose pesky snoopers). Philly will be treated to Sedaris' charms when she visits Foster's Homeware for a book signing and cooking demo with Michael O'Halloran of Bistro 7. Ever the gracious hostess, Sedaris took time out from caring for her pet rabbit to talk shop (and fake meat) with us.

City Paper: You offer some hilarious entertaining tips in your book. But it's also loaded with recipes. What's your favorite?

AS:Chicken of the Taverns, the brownie recipe and the Greek beans. I make all three a lot. CP:

What can we expect from your cooking demo at Foster's?

CP: Any other plans when you're in Philly? The Mütter Museum might be right up your alley.

AS: I love the Mütter. I love the locked jars of the criminal minds.

CP: What was it like baking cakes with Martha Stewart?

AS: Martha knows it all. We are very different from each other. The cake we made on her show was a first — the one in my book was made out of plaster because I have a fear of egg whites.

CP: What was the inspiration for your lovable junkie/whore Jerri Blank?

AS: You name it and I used it.

CP: Did you know there's a Jerri Blank profile on Facebook now? The status updates are hilarious.

AS: Facebook? I know nothing about this.

CP: Will Jerri ever come back to TV or the movies?

AS: Jerri is like a very bad rash. You never know when she'll reappear.

CP: I hear you collect fake meat.

AS: Yes. I have a really nice collection and I'm extremely picky about it.

CP: Any other collectibles?

AS: Wigs. Squirrels. Fake wooden tools.

CP: Are you still running your crafting club, the Crafty Beavers?

AS: My clubs change all the time. Right now I have a club called the Frayed Knots.

CP: May I join?

AS: No new members!

Amy Sedaris | Wed., Oct. 29, 5 p.m., sold out (limited standing room available on a first-come, first-served basis), Foster's Homeware, 399 Market St., 215-925-0950, shopfosters.com