Anson Mount's version of Captain Pike was so popular in Star Trek: Discovery season 2 that fans clamored for Pike to receive a spinoff as Captain of the USS Enterprise, which became a real thing in 2022 when Star Trek: Strange New Worlds premiered. As Pike, Mount leads a talented ensemble cast of Star Trek: The Original Series legacy characters like Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) and beloved new faces like Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong). Meanwhile, Mount added to Pike's legend by giving him a talent: Chris is a top-notch chef.
Anson Mount Wants Captain Pike To Have A Cookbook & It Needs To Happen
Star Trek Fans Can Make Pike's Cookbook A Reality
As reported by PopVerse, Anson Mount attended Emerald City Comic-Con and told fans that he has wanted Captain Pike to get a cookbook "for years." It's a tremendous merch idea that would allow Star Trek: Strange New Worlds fans to replicate Captain Pike's delicious meals at home. Mount urges Star Trek fans to help make this dream a reality. Read his quote below:
“I have been saying to the people in the decision-making department, I’ve been saying for years, ‘We should do a cookbook.’ And they say, ‘Yeah, we should talk about that,’ and then I never hear anything. Would you do me a favor? Post about it. Say you want a Captain Pike cookbook and they’ll do it. They’re listening. They’ll do it if you say you want it.”
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds also has a track record of taking big swings that pay off, like Star Trek's first-ever musical and a comedic crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks. A Captain Pike cookbook is a natural extension of Strange New Worlds into a useful, real-life product.
Captain Pike Cooking In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Explained
Anson Mount Got Pike A Kitchen On The Starship Enterprise
Anson Mount doesn't claim to be the same caliber of chef as Captain Pike, although he says when he does cook, Anson makes "a pretty mean almond-crusted chicken breast over candied pear slices covered with a brick of cheese." After meeting with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' co-showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers, it was Mount's idea that Captain Pike have his own kitchen on the USS Enterprise. Mount told the SAG-AFTRA Foundation:
I said, “Oh wait a minute.” Because he’s a horse guy, and he can’t take his horse on the Enterprise. What if each Captain gets one ask for their quarters. One special ask. And what if Pike’s other thing is cooking, and so he asked for a kitchen. And Akiva said, “That’s it. I’m calling [production designer] Jonathan Lee right now. We’re getting you a kitchen.”... And it’s been great. It’s turned out to be a very useful space.
Mount's idea that Christopher Pike made "one special ask" when he became Captain of the Enterprise resulted in Pike getting a stunning and functional kitchen in his generously appointed Captain's quarters. Pike being a starship captain who also cooks for his crew turned out to be an integral part of Chris' character, and it has also won over Star Trek: Strange New Worlds fans who fantasize about sharing a meal prepared by Pike aboard the Enterprise.
Why Pike Being A Chef Is An Important Part Of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Captain
Captain Pike Uses Cooking To Bring His Enterprise Crew Closer
Captain Christopher Pike ably melds his authority as Captain of the Enterprise with a compassion for his crew. Although he is the final decision-maker as Captain, Pike is smart enough to lean on the expertise of his senior staff, and he uses meals in his quarters to get to know his crew better, and vice versa. Dinner scenes in Pike's quarters are some of the best moments in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and Chris shines by preparing dishes like his pasta mama.
Captain Pike follows in the footsteps of Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, who also cooked for his crew on occasion. However, Pike's bona fides as a chef are part of what makes him stand out as Captain of the Enterprise, as it gives him a personal touch, whether he's preparing meals for his bridge crew or a romantic dinner with Captain Marie Batel (Melanie Scrofano). A Captain Pike cookbook would let Star Trek: Strange New Worlds fans test their own culinary skills, and we must help make Anson Mount's plan a reality.
