Selena Gomez uses Gravity Bong to make yogurt on HBO Max cookery show
Selena + Chef is on HBO Max in Season 4, where the pop star and makeup expert learns from professional chefs how to cook a variety of dishes.
In Episode 2, hosted by Top Chef-winning chef Kristen Kish, viewers were surprised when Kish whipped out a gravity bong and smoking attachment to whip up some Greek yogurt for a Mexican corn dish.
Take a break from your work, grab a friend and check out Selena + Chef so they can see how Hourglass Smoked Greek Yogurt is made. pic.twitter.com/sw1AllOBpy
— Hourglass (@HourglassInc) August 25, 2022
As a cannabis editor, I knew immediately what type of smoking device was on display: the hourglass is an iconic water bong that uses gravity to create voluminous clouds of smoke.
Having said that, I had never seen it used for anything other than smoking cannabis. Was I really going to watch Selena Gomez grab some buds and infuse her Greek yogurt with weed?
Unfortunately, not.
Instead, the aspiring chef used the device to burn wood shavings with a tray cloche attachment to add smokiness and depth to the Greek yogurt. Then, Kish Gomez had the yogurt spread in a thin layer on a flat plate for maximum exposure of the ingredient to the smoke.
The final result? A golden brown and almost meringue texture.
Call me hopeful, but there were some knowing looks and giggles as Chef Kish introduced the hourglass setup. While they never said a word about Mary Jane, Gomez’s eyes lit up with delight as she rotated the device, allowing gravity and the water to seep and emit smoke.
“It’s a $600 water bong, that’s it,” Chef Kish jokes in response to Gomez’s amusement, reading between the lines. (Technically, it’s a $600 bong and a $200 dome attachment.)
This isn’t the first time Gomez has smiled at cannabis references, she told Jimmy Kimmel Live about her first time learning how to use a bong. In 2012, during her press tour for Spring Breakers, Gomez laughed that the cast and crew had to teach her how to use a bong for her role in the film.
Hourglass’ star-studded collaborations aren’t the brand’s only claim to fame
A viral clip by Seth Rogan from 2018 is still the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Hourglass. Since then, the brand has launched several celebrity collaborations, including Taylor Gang, designed with Wiz Khalifa, Dr. Greenthumb featuring B-Real by Cypress Hill, and a Cookies edition made with rapper and entrepreneur Berner.
As well as partnering with famous artists and brands, Stündenglass has made a name for itself in the culinary community: the multi-faceted device is used by professionals and everyday people alike to “create next-level recipes by adding their signature rich smoky flavor to favorite dishes and drinks, says Chris Folkerts, CEO of Grenco Science, in an email interview with Leafly.
“We are thrilled that Kristen Kish and Selena Gomez are using hourglasses in Season 4 of Selena + Chef. To have world famous chefs and mixologists use it on TV is humbling and shows that a little innovation can go a long way towards destigmatizing.”
Chris Folkerts, CEO of Grenco Science
“The versatility of Stuendenglass allows us to introduce it to a wide audience. We are fortunate to have a product that not only appeals to cannabis users, but also to those who love cocktails and cuisine,” explains Folkerts.
Smoke infusions are not the same as edibles
Typically, a cannabis “infusion” refers to the addition of cannabinoids like CBD and THC to a dish to create edibles. The infamous Pot Brownie is a prime example of using cannabutter or some other agent to achieve a specific effect.
“Stündenglass doesn’t make edibles, it elevates food and drink from the ordinary to the extraordinary.”
Chris Folkerts, CEO of Grenco Science.
However, using smoke to enrich food is a sensory adventure – not just a way to get high. No question: the hour glass offers a gastronomic spectacle. While the price is high, so is the quality of the experience.
In addition to the visual entertainment provided by the bong itself, gravity infusers are also exploration tools for connoisseurs who appreciate quality aromas, flavors, and creative experiences of all kinds.
“It stimulates all the senses,” says Folkerts. “Seeing the smoke rise, hearing it bubble, the smell of the wood chips, and the taste of a smoke-infused food or drink. It’s an experience that people love to share both in real life and on social media. The incredible feedback from consumers, chefs and mixologists motivates us to continue to innovate for the market.”
We asked a weed-inspired chef how to make infusions with real cannabis smoke
As a self-proclaimed professional stoner, I wasn’t particularly keen on using wood chips to smoke Greek yogurt or any other edible when I could use cannabis.
Since the folks at Stündenglass understandably couldn’t tell me how to make this real weed dish, I brought in culinary cannabis expert Chef Jordan Wagman to understand the nuances of smoke infusions.
Which variety is best for infusing yogurt? Why would anyone use smoke instead of oils or butter? Are there certain foods that invite smoking? Is it a waste of perfect weed smoke to marinate food?
“In my experience, smoking adds flavor and aroma complexity, [the dish] wouldn’t necessarily be ‘infused’ per se,” chef Jordan Wagman, director of KIND media and events, told Leafly.
“In one of my dinners, which can consist of 10-15 courses, aroma and taste are often enough. Not every course in an infused experience needs to be intoxicating or contain cannabis at all.”
Release your inner cannabis chef
Chef Wagman explains that whether you use aromatic herbs, cannabis or other ingredients, when using smokers it all boils down to the sensory experience. Strains don’t matter much, as the smoke infuses aromas and flavors, not cannabinoids.
“I wouldn’t recommend any strain, but I want to bring out the acidity of yogurt and pair it with something very citrusy (lime),” he says.
What are the best ingredients for a smoker?
Chef Wagman suggests, “The best smoking objects are those that are porous. For example, an apple with its skin on would not be a good candidate, but the moment you peel the apple and reveal the flesh, it becomes the perfect fruit to smoke. Carrots should be blanched in boiling water before smoking to create a icing. Cheese and meat are also high on my list of foods I like to smoke.”
Ashley Keenan
Ashley Keenan is the Canadian Editor at Leafly and a freelance journalist, consultant and patient advocate in the cannabis industry.
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