Q&A With Mary Risley of Tante Marie's, Part 2: About That YouTube Video

Mary Risley moved to San Francisco with the hippies, and founded Tante Marie's Cooking School in 1979, still educating amateurs and soon-to-be professionals, and still located in the same space she's been renting for 32 years. These days, Risley might be better known these days as the loveably affable cook from the hilarious "Just Put the F*cking Turkey in the Oven" video. In part one of this interview, which ran yesterday, Risley talked to SFoodie about the start of her cooking career and how culinary fashions still depend on the basics Tante Marie still teaches. In part three, which will run tomorrow, Risley will share a favorite recipe.

SFoodie: What inspired your YouTube video?

Risley: You've seen the turkey on the cover of Bon Appetit every November for 40 years. There's a turkey hotline, and people are in a panic, and ... I just thought it'd be fun. I called my friend the week before and we put it together in a few days.

Did you have any inkling that it would go as viral as it did?

No way! It was hilarious, just watching the numbers go up around Thanksgiving. I'm still getting subscribers -- it's up to 300,000 views! It's really true that turkey doesn't need a lot of care: You just stick it in the oven and go for a walk. But the number of people who stopped me in the street and said, "Well my turkey is good, I do it this way..." Man, it was just a joke! I would love to do it again, but I can't think of another thing that is as universal as turkey dinner on Thanksgiving. I don't know what to make fun of next!