But now that they know they’re stars, can they hold on to that allure of authenticity? After all, this sort of started as an accident. A fandom has risen up and embraced its stars with memes, fan art, TikToks, and hashtags that have people declaring they would die for Saffitz.Īnd no one is more surprised than the chefs themselves. The test kitchen videos now pull in millions of views, with more than 5 million subscribers to the channel. It’s a tiny interaction, unprompted, unscripted, but it’s exactly the sort of charming little moment that’s catapulted Bon Appétit’s video content from run-of-the-mill cooking instructionals to viral sensations driven by a cast of genuinely beloved hosts. The two exchange smiles and laughs, all captured on camera. The test kitchen’s manager, Gaby Melian, pops over and demands Saffitz save a bite for her - she’s been patiently waiting for days. She removes the cling wrap from each metal tray, evaluating her work before the bites go into the oven for their final toast. Not the packaged kind, but homemade ones she’s spent four days perfecting. In Bon Appétit’s test kitchen, chef Claire Saffitz is opposite a five-person production crew, displaying five trays of frozen Bagel Bites.
