Paulina Chavez from Landman Reveals the Secrets Behind the Dinner Scene
Taylor Sheridan‘s popular series Landman has garnered attention for its memorable dinner scenes, and Paulina Chávez is sharing some entertaining behind-the-scenes insights about those moments around the table.
“It is really cool. I’m so thankful that the food is genuinely tasty,” said Chávez, 23, who portrays Ariana, exclusively to Us Weekly while celebrating The National Pork Board’s new Explora Todo El Gusto Del Pork campaign. “It was real food, and it was delicious. Plus, it was quite spicy!”
Chávez humorously noted a significant drawback, stating, “There comes a point when you realize, ‘Wow, maybe I shouldn’t have eaten so much during the first takes. Now I have to keep eating for hours!’ You definitely skip lunch on those days.”
Landman, which debuted in 2024, revolves around the West Texas oil scene, featuring crisis executive Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton) as he navigates the corporate world for an oil mogul. His personal life includes wife Angela (Ali Larter), daughter Ainsley (Michelle Randolph), son Cooper (Jacob Lofland), father T.L. (Sam Elliott), and his coworkers-turned-roommates Dale (James Jordan) and Nathan (Colm Feore).
As Cooper found love, the Norris family dinners evolved, allowing Tommy to share meals with his son and Ariana.
“I was unaware of the specific soup she was preparing [in the scene], but I know it’s quite popular in Central Mexico,” Chávez reminisced to Us. “However, since Billy Bob is vegan, everything was vegetarian — and it was genuinely spicy.”
The actress cherished how the scene where Tommy and Ariana share a meal “really highlights the significance of food.”
“In the Hispanic community, we always ensure our guests are looked after and well-fed,” Chávez explained. “That’s our way of saying, ‘I love you.’ It’s like, ‘Would you like to eat? You have to try something. I will make you a plate.’”
Looking ahead to season 3, Chávez is uncertain about more Norris family gatherings. But with Ariana’s engagement to Cooper, it makes sense for her to experience the legendary family dinners — at least once.
“I can’t wait to join one of those family dinners. I hope Ariana gets to cohost [with Angela] and makes it super spicy,” she joked. “It would send Dale rushing to the bathroom immediately. That would be hilarious.”
As for the dish Chávez would like Angela to prepare for her future daughter-in-law? She suggested either Mediterranean or “perhaps even Italian,” recalling Angela’s introduction of Us to Norris family dinners in season 1 with a three-meat bolognese — including wild boar.
Chávez’s appreciation for food and her Hispanic heritage goes beyond Landman. Off-screen, she will represent Explora Todo El Gusto Del Pork, a new lifestyle food brand from the National Pork Board.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our culture and how we express love through food. Pork is a vital ingredient in many traditional dishes, and I believe this will honor all the Latinas who paved the way for us and our grandmothers,” she shared with Us. “I’m excited to share some of my grandma’s recipes and teach the younger generation how to maintain these traditions.”
She added: “I feel like we didn’t always have much. Thankfully, my sister collaborated with my grandma to write a cookbook featuring some of our favorite recipes. My absolute favorite is pozole. It’s a tasty stew and is such comfort food. Every year, we also make tamales rojos, along with chilucas.”
For Chávez, her mother’s cooking is unparalleled, stating, “I absolutely love being home. I don’t mind cooking when I have to, but otherwise, I just enjoy my mom’s meals.”
Landman is currently available for streaming on Paramount+.
