Cookie Monster to Chicago Sun-Times: Me Love Deep Dish Pizza

Before there were foodies with their gourmet cupcakes and artisanal doughnuts there was Cookie Monster, Sesame Street’s resident googly-eyed gourmand with a single-minded passion for a toddler’s favorite sweet treat.

WTTW Channel 11 is holding its 10th annual Kids Fun and Run event on August 25. Sonia Manzano, who has played Sesame Street’s Maria since 1971, will join Cookie Monster for two performances at the event, which starts at 9 a.m. in Lincoln Park. Elmo, Grover, Cat in the Hat, Arthur, D.W. and Martha (from Martha Speaks) are also expected to mingle with the young crowd.

Cookie Monster, fresh from creating a spoof of Icona Pop’s “I Love It,” took a few minutes during the breakfast hour on Tuesday to talk with the Chicago Sun-Times.

CST: Where do you like to eat when you’re in Chicago?

CM: The food in Chicago is delicious. Me love deep dish pizza. Me not have favorite place but so many good ones.

CST: Are brownies cookies?

CM: Brownie brownie, cookie cookie. Brownie not as crumbly and crunchy as cookie. Not as much fun to eat

Crumbly, crunchy brownie equal stale brownie.CST: How long do you need to run to work off a cookie?

CM: Me going to try to create a metabolic chart here. Hold on. Me got to figure this out.

<pauses>

Me have no idea. Me just like a nice 12 minute brisk walk around park. Me not nutrition expert me just humble cookie enthusiast!

CST: What is your favorite exercise?

CM: Crunches. Not only great exercise but also delicious sound cookie make when you eat it.

CST: So we’ll see you on Sunday?

CM: Me just excited to be there. Me no can wait. Make sure (kids) bring cookie or two maybe like chocolate chippie.

Season 44 of Sesame Street premiers on September 16.