5 Surprising Facts About Tieghan Gerard And Benny Blanco's Unexpected Friendship And Collaboration

The swirling rumors about a potential romance between food mogul Tieghan Gerard of Half Baked Harvest and music super-producer Benny Blanco have dominated social media chatter for months. As of today, December 15, 2025, the truth is far more intriguing than a simple celebrity dating story: their connection is a powerful, high-profile professional and personal friendship that has recently culminated in a major culinary industry crossover. This unexpected duo—the cozy Colorado chef and the irreverent pop hitmaker—have teamed up, not for a song, but to launch one of the most talked-about cookbooks of the year, proving that the worlds of chart-topping music and comfort cooking are closer than you think.

The intense public curiosity stems from their frequent joint appearances, shared cooking content, and the sheer novelty of their pairing. While many speculated about a secret relationship, the reality is a story of "besties" supporting each other's ventures, with Tieghan lending her culinary credibility to Benny Blanco’s debut cookbook, *Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends*.

The Culinary & Music Moguls: A Dual Biography

To understand the magnitude of their collaboration, one must first appreciate the individual empires built by these two industry titans.

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Tieghan Gerard (Half Baked Harvest) Profile

• Full Name: Tieghan Elizabeth Gerard
• Born: September 15, 1993 (Age 32 as of 2025)
• Hometown: Silverthorne, Colorado (Lives in the Colorado mountains)
• Career: Food Blogger, Social Media Influencer, Cookbook Author, Food Stylist.
• Key Venture: Founder of the immensely popular food blog and brand, Half Baked Harvest, launched in 2012.
• Signature Style: Comforting, rustic, and creative recipes, often featuring rich ingredients and cozy aesthetics.
• Bestselling Books: Multiple *New York Times* bestselling cookbooks.

Benny Blanco (Benjamin Joseph Levin) Profile

• Full Name: Benjamin Joseph Levin (Professionally known as benny blanco)
• Born: March 8, 1988 (Age 37 as of 2025)
• Hometown: Reston, Virginia
• Career: American Record Producer, Songwriter, Multi-instrumentalist, Artist, Actor (on FXX's *Dave*), and now, Cookbook Author.
• Key Achievements: One of the most successful pop music producers of the past two decades, working with stars like Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Kanye West, and Ed Sheeran.
• Current Relationship Status: Publicly dating singer and actress Selena Gomez.
• Culinary Debut: Author of the debut cookbook, *Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends*.

The Shocking Truth Behind Tieghan Gerard and Benny Blanco's Relationship

The relationship between Tieghan Gerard and Benny Blanco is a testament to the power of unexpected connections forged over a shared passion for food. Despite the public's eagerness for a celebrity romance, the reality is a deep, supportive friendship that began with a direct message.

Their connection started when Benny Blanco, a self-proclaimed "food freak" and passionate home cook, "slid into" Tieghan's DMs. This digital introduction quickly blossomed into a genuine friendship, with Tieghan confirming that they are "besties" and have been "cooking with" him for some time.

The 'Open Wide' Cookbook Collaboration

The most significant public-facing aspect of their relationship is their collaboration on Benny Blanco’s debut cookbook, *Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends*. This book marks Benny’s official entry into the food world, moving from music production to recipe creation. Tieghan, with her extensive experience as a *New York Times* bestselling author and food stylist, provided a crucial layer of credibility and support for the project.

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The collaboration highlights a fascinating pivot for Blanco and a major endorsement for Gerard. Tieghan has joined Benny for several high-profile promotional events and book signings, including appearances alongside other collaborators like celebrity chef Laurent Dagenais. These joint tours and events fueled the initial speculation, as the duo’s chemistry and shared enthusiasm for food were undeniable.

A Friendship Built on Mutual Support

Beyond the professional collaboration, their friendship is genuinely supportive. Tieghan has publicly mentioned that Benny is one of the "really, really good friends" who offers her advice and encouragement, particularly in dealing with the inevitable criticism that comes with massive online fame. He reportedly encourages her with the sentiment that "if you don't have a haters, you're not doing anything right." This shows a deeper, personal connection beyond just promoting a book.

The contrast between their public personas—Tieghan's wholesome, rustic Half Baked Harvest brand and Benny's more irreverent, often humorous public image—is what makes their friendship so compelling and a huge draw for the media.

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From Half Baked Harvest to 'Open Wide': Unpacking the Food-World Crossover

The Tieghan Gerard and Benny Blanco partnership is more than just a collaboration; it’s a perfect example of the blurring lines between celebrity, music, and the food industry. Benny Blanco’s transition from a top-tier music producer to a cookbook author is a significant trend in celebrity branding, and having a powerhouse like Tieghan Gerard on board ensures maximum visibility and trust among food enthusiasts.

The Power of the Endorsement

Tieghan Gerard's endorsement of the *Open Wide* cookbook is invaluable. Her Half Baked Harvest platform reaches millions of dedicated home cooks who trust her judgment on recipes and culinary trends. By cooking with Benny, appearing at his book events, and promoting the project, Tieghan effectively validated Benny's new role as a culinary personality, helping the book become a major success in the competitive cookbook market.

The book itself is described as a "Cookbook for Friends," emphasizing casual, fun, and accessible cooking, which aligns well with the comforting and approachable style that has made Tieghan Gerard a household name.

Other Key Collaborators and Entities

The collaboration also involved other high-profile food entities, expanding the network of this culinary crossover:

• Laurent Dagenais: The celebrity chef and New York Times bestselling author joined Tieghan and Benny for joint promotional events, solidifying the book's high-caliber backing.
• Williams Sonoma: The gourmet retailer hosted joint events and book signings for the duo, further elevating the commercial profile of their partnership.
• Selena Gomez: Benny Blanco’s well-documented relationship with the global superstar ensures that the *Open Wide* cookbook and, by extension, his collaboration with Tieghan, remains in the public eye, constantly generating buzz and LSI keyword traffic.

In a world where celebrity influence is everything, the Gerard-Blanco alliance is a genius marketing move. It successfully leveraged the massive, yet distinct, fanbases of a music industry heavyweight and a dominant food influencer to create a fresh, dynamic narrative that captivated the public’s curiosity.

Conclusion: A Recipe for Successful Friendship

The rumors of a romantic entanglement between Tieghan Gerard and Benny Blanco were a predictable outcome of two highly visible, successful individuals spending time together. However, the reality is a far more compelling story of modern celebrity friendship and professional synergy. Their collaboration on *Open Wide: A Cookbook for Friends* has not only introduced Benny Blanco to the culinary world but has also created a powerful, cross-industry brand that continues to generate buzz. They are not a couple, but they are a powerful team, proving that the perfect recipe for success sometimes involves mixing music beats with Half Baked Harvest treats. Their ongoing friendship and potential future projects will undoubtedly keep the food and entertainment worlds watching.