Chinamaxxing, Brooklyn Beckham & The Return of Huang's World

Summary

Canal Street Dreams – “Chinamaxxing, Brooklyn Beckham & The Return of Huang’s World”

Hosts: Eddie Huang & Natashia Perrotti
Date: January 27, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this candid, humor-laced episode, Eddie Huang and Natashia Perrotti dive into the everyday tensions and joys of creative work, parenting, and partnership while reflecting on pop culture stories, cross-cultural culinary trends, and personal growth. Discussions include thoughtful takes on solo parenting, Brooklyn Beckham’s public break with his parents, and the evolution of “Huang’s World.” They also serve up sharp opinions on current food scenes, the subtleties of gift-giving, and rapid-fire personal preferences—all with their characteristic mix of warmth, irreverence, and honesty.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Realities of Parenting & Relationship Dynamics

(00:00–14:34)

• Gift-Giving and Thoughtfulness:

  • Eddie describes receiving a humble but meaningful Knicks canteen gift (“I was on the verge of tears because I was like, this is so thoughtful.” – Eddie, 02:18), underscoring how intention trumps extravagance.
  • Both recount a Christmas where less expensive gifts felt particularly heartfelt, especially as parents now focused more on their child’s happiness than their own.

• Valentine’s Day Gender Dynamics:

  • Natashia insists Valentine’s Day is for women (“If you buy your man a gift on Valentine’s Day, like, you’re a cuck…” – Natashia, 04:50), humorously ranking sexual reciprocation by caliber of gift (05:03).

• Division of Labor & Resentment in Parenthood:

  • Natashia vents about being the “default main lead parent,” and how even her rare breaks are for work or errands.
  • Eddie affirms the validity of each partner’s feelings (“We have different truths, we have different frustrations.” – Eddie, 10:18).
  • Both discuss learning not to compare their unique family dynamic to others, focusing on mutual respect and honest communication.

2. Breaking Up with Parents: The Brooklyn Beckham Parallel

(14:40–22:47)

• Brooklyn Beckham’s Instagram Family Drama:

  • The hosts discuss Beckham “breaking up” with his famous parents via social media, likening it to public family sagas like Eddie’s own “Cheesecake Factory incident.”
  • Eddie empathizes deeply, sharing his own difficult estrangement experiences:
    “Your mind is a prison… if he needs to break up with his parents… good for you, bro.” (Eddie, 17:12)
  • Natashia adds: “It’s not a rash decision… it’s embarrassing to be a kid and be like, well, my parents didn’t show up for me…” (Natashia, 18:02)
  • Both acknowledge the Internet’s “peanut gallery” tendency to judge without understanding the emotional complexities behind such moves.

• Public Perception & Partner Blame:

  • Discussion expands to how wives (like Brooklyn’s) are often scapegoated for familial rifts, and why outside perspectives rarely capture the nuances.

3. Generational Ties, Parent-Child Attachment & “Boy Moms”

(22:47–33:26)

• Attachment and Over-Involvement Across Cultures:

  • The hosts joke about “crazy boy moms” and struggles with letting go (“There’s one day I’m going to have to just hold you back from fighting a 15-year-old girl.” – Eddie, 24:40).
  • Eddie shares stories of his own mother’s fierce protectiveness, including colorful insults for girlfriends (“Fish market…sour grapes…sour mouth…” – Eddie, 26:44).

• Comparisons with Natashia’s Upbringing:

  • She reflects on her mother’s openness and being the “cool mom” growing up—a contrast to Eddie's experience.

• Perspective on Parenting:

  • Both express hope they’ll maintain insight and open communication as their son ages, maintaining boundaries without falling into generational pitfalls.

4. The Return & Reflection on Huang’s World

(33:26–36:20)

• Rewatching and Rebroadcasting the Show:
  • Eddie talks about revisiting early episodes (“I was just like, whoa. I was like a baby.” – Eddie, 35:25), acknowledging personal and cultural growth.
  • They reflect on how much has changed since 2012, especially in the representation and popularity of Asian cuisines in America.

5. “Chinamaxxing” – The Rise & Respect of Asian Cuisine

(36:20–44:05)

• Asian Food’s Global Dominance:

  • Natashia and Eddie discuss the surge in popularity and sophistication of East and Southeast Asian cuisines in America (“Cream has risen to the top…” – Eddie, 37:33).
  • They analyze how not only diners but also chefs from other backgrounds have embraced Asian cooking techniques and flavors.

• Riff on Eel Bar:

  • Eel Bar is praised as New York’s most exciting restaurant, unfairly under-hyped by “snobby food writers.”
    “Definitively, to me, undoubtedly the best restaurant in downtown New York.” (Eddie, 41:21)
  • Eddie stresses the “seasoning in layers” technique as the mark of true chef-driven cooking.
  • Service, atmosphere, and details at Eel Bar inspire Eddie’s renewed passion for cooking.

6. Lighthearted Rapid Fire Q&A

(45:55–48:05)

• Fashion, food preferences, and sports allegiances are decided at speed. Eddie reveals his favorite bite and shares that no amount of gambling losses would outweigh the joy of seeing his teams win.

7. Humorous Domestic Truths

(48:09–51:37)

• The show closes on a playful but honest exchange about morning routines—Natashia lamenting Eddie’s habit of “cranking hog” (masturbating) after sleeping in, while she’s up early handling all parental duties.
  • “It baffles me that you say you’re tired.” (Natashia, 49:48)
  • Eddie concedes: “Fair request.” (50:40)
• Their banter ends with affection, humor, and the perennial promise that, yes, “Hermès makes it better.” (51:39)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Gift-Giving:
  “It is the gift I remember more than any other gift because we’ve been down so bad, and I hate drinking the water out of the dishwashing sink.”
  – Eddie, 02:43

• On Resentment in Parenting:
  “We have different truths, we have different frustrations. We have different lives. And I was like, that is cool. I accept it.”
  – Eddie, 10:18

• On Family Breakups:
  “Your mind is a prison, you know… if he needs to break up with his parents… good for you, bro.”
  – Eddie, 17:12

• On Asian Cuisine’s Rise:
  “The cream has risen to the top… It has just won out over time. The techniques, the flavors, the ingredients, the palette…”
  – Eddie, 37:33

• On Underappreciated Restaurants:
  “Definitively, to me, undoubtedly the best restaurant in downtown New York.”
  – Eddie, 41:21

• On Parenting Fears:
  “I’m going to have to just hold you back from fighting a 15-year-old girl.”
  – Eddie, 24:40

• On Generational Patterns:
  “That’s my wife. You need a chill and you need to chill. Everyone needs to respect my role in this relationship.”
  – Eddie, 25:13

• On Domestic Humor:
  “I’m just happy the commanders aren’t in the Super Bowl.”
  – Natashia, 48:17
  (After grilling Eddie for morning laziness and “cranking hog”)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–04:22: Gift-giving, Christmas, parenting priorities
• 04:48–07:50: Valentine’s Day, division of labor in parenthood
• 07:52–14:34: Resentment, support networks, comparing family structures
• 14:40–22:47: Brooklyn Beckham and breaking with family
• 22:47–33:26: Parent-child attachment, “boy moms,” differing upbringings
• 33:26–36:20: Revisiting “Huang’s World,” cultural changes
• 36:20–44:05: Chinamaxxing, Eel Bar as NYC’s best kept secret
• 45:55–48:05: Rapid-fire questions
• 48:09–51:39: Domestic disputes and playful banter over routines

---

Tone & Language

The episode keeps a raw, candid, and witty tone throughout, with irreverence and warmth. Both hosts aren’t shy about exploring uncomfortable truths—whether about their own relationship, the pitfalls of parenthood, or public family drama. Their cultural commentary is both personal and wide-ranging, and humor—sometimes bawdy—serves to keep things grounded in everyday reality.

---

For Listeners

This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating creative careers and family, interested in food culture, or who appreciates unfiltered conversations about relationships and personal growth. Eddie and Natashia deliver insight wrapped in sharp banter, making even the heaviest subjects approachable and entertaining.

Transcript

[A]

We'll just jump right into it. So I was venting to my friend. Our. Our homie, now my friend of many years, but you've met and you just like love him as well. He's the best.

[B]

He's now our shared best friend.

[A]

He's our shared bestie. But we were just chatting about like he is a three year old daughter. So you're chatting about all the things parenthood. And I was just like venting a little bit and then you know when you're just kind of like. It wasn't. I wasn't even upset about anything. After I had said it out loud, I felt fine. So at the end of the conversation, I was like, I'm not even mad anymore. I'm just gonna go spend some money. I'm just going to go spend some of his money. And like, I was like, I'm fine. As like a joke. And we were both laughing and I was like, it's not easy. Like, I was like, it's fine.

[B]

Yeah. Would you cop.

[A]

Nothing. No, nothing. I'm going to get my eyebrows done today.

[B]

Nice.

[A]

What I'm copying.

[B]

Nice. Well, I got you. I got. You got me for a hat from Alto Bello.

[A]

Yes. You did get me, you know, a gorgeous fur hat that I have had my eye on for, like, I wanted that hat when we lived in LA, but spending like more than 200 on a hat when you live in LA, especially like a fur hat feels crazy.

[B]

But I owed it to you because you got a T shirt for Christmas.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You got a T shirt for Christmas? I got a canteen.

[A]

Yes. You got a canteen. I got a T shirt. The T shirt was incredible though.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

I. I love Vanna and I love her T shirts and I love everything that she makes. So. You did good.

[B]

I gotta say, this was the Christmas where we got the cheapest gifts I think we've probably ever received in our lives for Christmas. I literally, I got a Nick's Canteen for Christmas. But I have to say, because of our situation. But how thoughtful it was because you got me the canteen. Because someone had taken my undefeated canteen. I had lost it.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And they don't let us drink the bottled water here, which is fine. This fair company policy. The Aqua Pana is for customers, not for employees. Fine. And I was carrying liqu. Death to work. But then when it got cold, it got too heavy to carry, like cases of liquid death to work 40 blocks. So then I was just drinking tap out of the dishwashing sink and it was kind of gnarly. You know, it just. It didn't feel good. Even though I love New York tap water and you got me the Nick's canteen for Christmas so I could bring water from the house. And I, like, was on the verge of tears because I was like, this is so thoughtful.

[A]

It's just one of those things that, like, I knew you weren't gonna buy for yourself. So, like, while it wasn't really a big gift, I just. I knew you weren't gonna do it for yourself. So I. I was like. I saw it and I just thought, oh, cool. And it's nice. It's, like, very understated. It's not an annoying sports canteen.

[B]

Like, it's all black. It's a blacked out Nick's canteen. But I will say, like, it. It is the gift. I remember more than any other gift because we've been down so bad, and I hate drinking the water out of the dishwashing sink.

[A]

Yeah, I don't want you to do that.

[B]

It just. And this is today I forgot the canteen. So I am drinking water out of the dishwashing sink, and I put a lot of Natalie's lime juice in it.

[A]

Okay. I was gonna say that's not the color.

[B]

No, no, no. This is. This is. I added some of the ginger honey from the bar and the Natalie's lime juice.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

To, like, kind of, like, cut across the terroir of the dishwashing sink. New York tap water is fantastic.

[A]

Yeah, I have.

[B]

I love the flavor of New York tap water. It's just. I don'. Get out of the dishwashing sink because underneath, like, one foot underneath the faucet is like the. The swamp of dirty dishes, you know?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's not fun, but.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

No, that, like, it was the most thoughtful gift. Like, all. I think, like, gift giving. It's. You just want to know the person has been paying attention to you.

[A]

Totally. For sure.

[B]

Yeah. It was actually the best Christmas.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Not to keep going back to Christmas.

[A]

Know. And I think it's just as you. When you have kids, it's not so much about, like, not to say that I don't care about us and like, us having a good Christmas, but it's such an afterthought to me. I'm like, as long as he gets what he needs and, like, he's happy and like, watching him open that dinosaur when he, like, had like, like Senna opened the science for. And truly, I've never seen a kid open a gift and he just went, ah. Like, he was screaming at the Top of his lungs. And I was like, oh, like, somebody could. I literally don't ever need a gift in my life. Like, that was the gift.

[B]

Yeah. I got to be Santa Claus. And, you know, I. I will say it's. I care about you for Christmas and Senna for Christmas, but I don't care about myself for Christmas. Yeah, I'm cool.

[A]

I'm. I feel that way. I really am just more of a. Like, I think, for me, Valentine's Day, my birthday is nice because it's, like, just my day and, like, Mother's Day and, like, Father's Day. I always try to do something really nice.

[B]

Valentine's Day was my day, too.

[A]

No, men don't. If you buy your man a gift on Valentine's Day, like, you're a cuck. You're. You're a woman. Like, no, it's like, it's for the girls. It's for the girls. Like, you can suck your man's dick and, like, call it a day.

[B]

You should. I'm not sure.

[A]

Yeah, should I think, like, the level of dick sucking that happens on Valentine's Day should be equal to the gift you receive. So if you were to receive, like, say on Valentine's Day, you gave me a T shirt, I'll maybe, like, flick your dick. I'll be like, oh, cool. There you go. You got it. But if the gift is of the level, like, I'll choke on that. Like, I'll be. I'll choke on it all night. Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

[B]

I'm not gonna lie. You be choking. You be you. You. You know, you do your thing.

[A]

No, I'm just saying Valentine's Day is for the girls. Like, I hate. Like, I'll see girls on the Internet be like, here's a list of what you can get your husband for Valentine's Day. And I'm like, you're a loser.

[B]

Like, yeah. So on a spectrum, let's go. On a spectrum, let's go. Chocolates, right? Rapid fire. How much dick is getting touched? Russell still versus chocolate. Duane Reade.

[A]

It's not even getting looked at.

[B]

Okay. Godiva.

[A]

No.

[B]

Masked Brothers.

[A]

No, I'm not. If you give me chocolate, I'm like, okay, you want me to get fat? Fuck you. Like, it's not. Chocolate is nothing. My mom will get me chocolate. My mom will get me flowers. My mom will do all this. So what are you doing? So what is a man doing in my life? Chocolates, flowers. Chocolates. Flowers is bare minimum.

[B]

I should withhold the hat. Until Valentine's Day.

[A]

No, it's getting shipped out today. I already know what's gonna.

[B]

I should withhold the hat.

[A]

No, here's the thing. It's like, see that?

[B]

See, I don't plan ahead. I should have thought this out. I should have withheld the hat because the hat would have been a great Valentine's Day.

[A]

Yeah. But then I wouldn't need it because it would be mid February and the weather would be warming up.

[B]

Your warmth ahead of my dick health.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I'm now paying for it. But it's fine. I care that you're warm. Just FYI. I care that you're warm.

[A]

I appreciate that.

[B]

Not that cheap. Not that I'm not strategic. That's the thing.

[A]

I'm just saying. No, I think.

[B]

Let's get back to this. What did you vent to Nate about? Let's hear it.

[A]

I vented to Nate about how it can become very hard to not form resentment when you are solo parenting for months on end. Because I would say more like. I mean, I'm majority solo parenting because you work so much. And I think that on the week.

[B]

Like, when I'm not working, I parent, but, like, I'd be working, but I.

[A]

Think it's, like, even sometimes on the weekend, like, you'll still go watch a football game with somebody and you'll still do these things. So it's like, majority does fall on me on the weekend, too. And it's fine. That's. That's what it is. But it's like, even on the weekend, it's not like a 50, 50 split or, like, I get to just go fuck off and do whatever I want. Like, I'm default main lead parent.

[B]

Fair.

[A]

So even if we're at the museum, I still pack the bag. I got the snacks. He's sitting on my lap. Like, it's not like I'm getting a break.

[B]

Yeah. So these are all facts.

[A]

Yeah. And, like, the one day that he's at school, I'm doing this, so this would be. This would be my break. But I'm here doing this, so I don't get a break.

[B]

Now. This is a hr.

[A]

I'm up all night. You know what I mean? But I'm just saying. So. But you're also working 24 7, which is. That's your own thing. So, like, while for you, it may be hard to not resent me for, like, spending money while I'm not working. That's what I'm saying. I'm saying, like, my vent to him was rationally. I understand the situation and I understand that it's. It would. It doesn't even make sense for me to, like, have those feelings. But when they bubble up, I just try to check myself and like, get a little quieter and remove myself so I don't say anything that I know I don't mean that I know is kind of irrational because I think a lot of times in life you can really let your thoughts get the best of you or spiral out and it's not actually how you feel. You just kind of like get on that loop. It's like a toddler having a tantrum. You just get on a loop in your own head and then you start getting pissed off. And then. So when that happens to me, I kind of am just like, okay, these feelings are bubbling. Maybe I just need to, like, say something out loud just to be like, fuck, you know what I mean? Or just like, ugh. And then I do, and then I'm fine. But that was what our event session was about. It was just like acknowledging that a situation isn't unfair. It's just hard sometimes.

[B]

Yeah, well, you got event and not feel bad about it. Like, I'm glad you got your homegirls that also are in families with men that work like 70 to 80 hours a week.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

Because they. You guys are able to talk shit together and be like, oh, yeah, our roommate's back.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, like that guy that lives with us is back.

[A]

Yeah, our kid's friend is here for a play date.

[B]

Yeah, Y. Like, yeah, yeah, yeah. That shit cracks me up. Because it's valid from your point of view. Like, that's the thing that I think has really helped our relationship the last year, I would say is just like the acknowledgement that everyone's frustration is valid.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, there was a day that you just said to me because I was like, yo, I don't think it's fair that you think this or you feel this way. You're like, eddie, you cannot control how I feel about something. Even though to you my frustration doesn't make sense because, like, you're working or whatnot. I feel this way. And when and. And then I asked you the follow up question. I was like, but do I have to agree with you? And you're like, no, you don't have to agree. I feel this. I was like, oh, word.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

We have different truths, we have different frustrations. We have different lives. And I was like, that is cool. I accept it. I accept that you have to vent about me. And like, you accept that, like, on the weekend, like, I do need to go to the baths for, like, an hour.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, like, I gotta do it to, like, reset my brain and write and do whatever the fuck I'm doing, you know?

[A]

Totally.

[B]

But I think it's an important event, and I think it's important to just be like, we don't. Not. Not don't agree, but we both have frustration. There's no perfect setup, for sure, because I think a lot of the issues in couples, in families is I'm doing more or you're doing less or what? And it's like, yo, if everybody's doing the thing, like, you're still gonna be frustrated. It's kind of inevitable.

[A]

Yeah. And I think I've said this to you before. It's a situation where I've really had to learn through trial and error and through talking to other people that I just can't. There's certain people that I just, like, can't have a conversation with about their marital or their familial situation because whatever it is, like, there's some people, like, people that I know that it is super 50, 50, but, like, their lifestyle is different.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Their work is different. They're. The things that they want or, like, have a standard for in their life are different. So I can't compare, like, the situation of, like, a dad coming home and, like, coming home at 5 and then doing, like, 5 to 9 with the kid. That's not our situation. Our life is very different. So, like, I can't sit there and hear that and then be mad at you. I'm just like, that's just not our situation. Like, I could never compare what we have to someone else. So for me, it's just been very helpful to just understand that, like, everything in life is very unique. And it's literally like to beat a dead horse. It's just like, comparison is the thief of joy. And I've just really leaned into, like, I'm like, okay, this is our situation. I don't really care about what anyone else has going on or, like, what other dads are doing or what other whatever. Like, I have found a way to, like, make it work for me. As long as I feel like Senna's needs are met, my needs are met, your needs are met. Like, okay, cool.

[B]

And I feel like what broke it open is, I think both of us acknowledge we're both doing as much as we can. Everyone's doing their best, and as much as they can, there's not really, like, another minute or Hour in the day to do, like, more than that shit.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, like, the funniest thing for me is when we go out with couples that have a different setup and there's a couple, and the dude was like, oh, yeah, I do, like, 70% childcare. I'm like, good for you, brother. And he just, like, kept going on and on. And like, yeah, I think it's important for the kid and the wife, so I do. I was like, all right, man. Like, you got to watch from Golden Compass on. Like, this is crazy. You know, not talking about the value, but just the way he looked. I was like, you look like a character in the Hunger Games. You know who I'm talking about. But, like, they were very woo woo about it. And. And he's just like, Yeah, I do 70. And the woman's like, he really does. And, like, everyone was looking at me. I was like, all right, I'm getting this check. I'm getting this check. Watch this look. I'm gonna get this check.

[A]

Well, I think also the thing with you is that, like, I think it would be up in this situation to not, like, to just, like, put it all on one person. But I will say, like, you'll just hire somebody to do what you don't.

[B]

Do, which is higher. I hire.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, like, I hire.

[A]

And I think, like, as a partner, like, that's just if you can't. If you physically. If you can't do it yourself, like, don't let the other person just, like, have to do it all. Just hire some help.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Figure something out.

[B]

You know, NFL playoffs. We're gonna hire people to help out.

[A]

Yeah. Okay. And then, like, that's why I just, Like, I have no problem. But that's why everybody. It's just, like, such a unique situation. And I really. I think when I. When we first had Senate, I wanted. It's all I wanted to talk about was, like, kids stuff. What are you doing? What is this? What are they doing? And now I'm just like, I don't give a. I don't care what your kid's. I don't want to talk about what my kids doing. I don't want to talk about what the fuck you have going on in your house. And I want to talk what the fuck I have going on in my house. What else? Yes, like, I. Anything else.

[B]

Let's talk about what's going on in someone else's house, you know?

[A]

Yes, yes.

[B]

You. You really.

[A]

This is a very interesting, like, pop culture topic because I feel that it's just been. I've been really made aware of, like, how important the Beckhams are just in all of our lives. Like, I was looking at old pictures of David Beckham and Victoria Beckham, and I was like, oh, no. They've, like, been the hottest couple of all time for, like, over 20 years.

[B]

No one bends it like Beckham.

[A]

Yeah, exactly.

[B]

There would be no liangelo ball without Beckham.

[A]

Do you think so?

[B]

No, I'm just kidding. Okay.

[A]

I was like, I don't know.

[B]

I don't think he knows.

[A]

But yeah. So Brooklyn Beckham broke up with his parents publicly via an Instagram story. It was very reminiscent and, like, reminded me in a lot of ways of the Cheesecake Factory incident, because there was Instagram stories involved in that incident. There's the breakup of. In going. No contact with the parents. It's a very layered situation. And especially because he's, like, married into this other family and, like, clearly very close to his wife's family now and kind of, like, retreating to them and being like, my parents are fucked up and they're assholes, and my mom did an inappropriate dance with me at my wedding and like, left my wife hanging with the dress in the 11th hour. Just. I wanted to talk to you about it as somebody who's kind of, like, gone through something similar and, like, had a breakup with your parents and essentially family.

[B]

Yeah. I, like. I think a lot of people are picking into the details of it, like, naturally on the Internet, like, wait, she had two dresses. She still had the Valentino dress that, like, took a year to make. Right. There's no way that was 11th hour. And there's little things like, that people are bringing up Brooklyn Beckham's photo book.

[A]

Incredible. The elephants in Kenya.

[B]

Yeah, they're bringing that up. I think there is a lot to, like, make fun of homie and poke at him about. But as my brother in Christ who is breaking up with his parents, I tend to. If I have to take a side, I'm like, yo, I'm just gonna believe that you really need a break from your parents. Because I really needed a break from my parents, and it's been very therapeutic. And I wouldn't. It's not something I would encourage anybody to do. Right. Like, I've done things in my life that ended up being therapeutic that on its face were not good. Right. Like smoking black tar opium. Not good. But I could probably name a couple things that happened. I was like, maybe wouldn't have happened if I wasn't high as fuck, right? But breaking with your parents, it's bad. It's bad. It's like, on the level of smoking black tar opium for me. But I will say it's something I never thought I would do. I didn't want to do it. In many ways, I felt like they'd just been breaking up with me over and over, but then being like, we want you to get back with us. And I feel for Homie. He's rich, he's from a great family. He has all these things, but, like, like, your mind is a prison, you know? Like, your mind is actually a prison. And if he needs to break up with his parents to, like, find himself and, like, have some sovereignty over his mind and spirit and whatnot, like, I'm kind of like, yo, good for you, bro.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, I did same. I went, like, no contact with my dad at a very young age. I think I was, like, 15. And I just. I think what a lot of people from the outside maybe aren't understanding is that it's. It's not just, like, a. A regular decision to make. Like, there has to be something that has happened to push a child to that point to break up with your parents, because it's not something that you, like, want to do or think lightly of or just, like, it's not a rash decision to just be like, well, I'm never gonna talk to you again, and I'm gonna publicly, like, spill all this dirt. That's embarrassing for all of us. Like, it's embarrassing to be a kid and be like, well, my parents didn't show up for me and didn't do this for me and didn't, like, love and support me in a way. And, like, clearly he's expressing all of that. So I don't think that it's something that, like, although there is, like, parts of me that are laughing at it a little bit, because it's just, like, it is, like, at. At the end of the day, just an insane thing to do. Like, on an Instagram story. Like, the nature of that is funny to me. Just, like, it is so serious. Like, I think maybe you guys should just, like.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Hit an email or something. But. Yeah, I know. I feel for him.

[B]

No, I, I, I really feel for Homie. Like, I will laugh at his photo book. I think you should laugh at that photo book.

[A]

It's a little funny.

[B]

Terrible photos. We'll put them up. But I feel like if you're breaking up with your parents, there's gotta be a reason.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That you're feeling not great. And even if the reasons don't make sense to him, in six months, a year, or five years, that's his life. I feel bad that in this day and age, people feel the need to go on the Internet and explain why they're breaking up with their parents. Like, I wrote about the shit at the Cheesecake Factory just because I was like, yo, one, I write about everything going on in my life, and I didn't feel the need to explain or people to agree with me. Like, my youngest brother definitely doesn't agree and tried to, like, slander us. And I was like, that's your right to feel that way. Go off, homie. Like, whatever. You know, Like, I think your whole life is goofy. But, you know, I don't need anyone to agree. I just wrote about it as the situation, stating the facts and needed to, like, you vent and express that. I hope that Brooklyn Beckham doesn't feel like he needs to win the public adjudication of it. Because I think the public adjudication of it is, like, who are we?

[A]

I agree. I think it's just a lot of. I mean, it's. It's just noise. Like, I think people on the Internet or whatever, just the peanut gallery will be like, well, look at your life. Like, look at what your parents provided. You wouldn't be anything without blah, blah, blah, like, all the things. And he's probably just like, well, look, like, I cool. Like, they are. I did have a privileged life, and they are these people, and like, ever they're beloved in the public, but, like, this is still my feeling. So I get where he's coming from on that. Where it's like, how could you be so ungrateful? And it's like, okay, well, that's not. Like, wealth doesn't equate happy life, happy childhood, happy familial situation.

[B]

It actually proves to be the opposite.

[A]

Yeah, but I do. And, like, I. I ride for his wife because I feel like people are coming for her and saying that she's, like, done this before and she, like, likes to get in her boyfriends and their families and whatever. But I. I really don't think, like, even as an influence, like, there's nothing you could do as a person to, like, I don't know. I just think, like, it's not. You can't put that on someone else. You can't be like, oh, it's like, her fault. She's getting in between them. And it's like, well, I mean, there's definitely layers to this. And while she May not be an upstanding citizen and, like, model of a nice girl. You know, people are like, she, like, pushed her nanny down the stairs when she was 14.

[B]

Really?

[A]

I read that. I've read a lot of things about her. I don't know. This girl literally walking down the street would not even be able to, like, pick her out. Beautiful girl. But the. The consensus on the Internet is that she's, like, a monster. She's like this, like, comes from a wealthy family, is just like a. Like, had. Just not a nice girl.

[B]

But wealthy or not wealthy, like, we know so many friends who, like, when the son dates, like, a girl, the whole family's. She's taken him away from us.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

She's turned him from us. Especially if, like, that son is the star of the family.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

Like, the entertaining one, the fun one, the one everyone wants to hang out with.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Everyone's kind of like, wait, no. Like, because I don't get him for that thing anymore.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That thing that I needed him for, she now gets.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's like, a whole family thing about it.

[A]

Oh, my God. I feel like this is why I need to have, like, more than one son. Because, like, I'm gonna just, like, I'm gonna be a crazy boy mom with Senna.

[B]

Yeah. You say you're not, but I absolutely feel like we are gonna be in a situation in 15 years where Senna's gonna meet a girl. He's gonna be obsessed with it. He's already obsessed with girls in class.

[A]

Which I like, by the way. It's not, like, effective right now.

[B]

You love it because he's 2.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's like, okay.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But when he's 17, 19, 21, you were gonna be. I don't like her. I don't like her like you. Just because you are always gonna be like, it's not good enough for him.

[A]

It's not what I want for myself and him.

[B]

But it is who you are.

[A]

Right? And it's like, I'm really trying because I see these situations, Right. And everyone's like, crazy boy mom. And I'm like, ah, I don't want to be that. I don't want to be that. That's not my vibe. I wanted a girl. I thought I was going to be like my mom. Just like one little girly pop. We were going to be best friends. We were going to talk about boys together. We'll be like, oh, he's cute. I like him. He's cute. And I'm like, am I going to be A crazy boy.

[B]

You're gonna be crazy.

[A]

What are the steps that I can take to ensure that I'm not. Ensure that I'm not breaking up a marriage? Ensure that I'm not dancing inappropriately with Mark Anthony as the announcer at Senna's wedding.

[B]

And this is, this is when you vent to Nate next time or you vent to anybody next time about like your husband. Just know you chose a man who is going to prevent you from ruining your son's life. Yeah, I'm mentally preparing for this.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

All the time.

[A]

I am too. I think about it all the time. Sometimes I'm like. But I catch myself. Like, sometimes I'll be like doing something for. He'll be like, mommy, do, like, do this. Open the thing for me. And I'm like, no, you do it.

[B]

You guys are hysterical. You guys are like meant to be. And like, you guys kiss each other on the mouth. I'm like, that's nasty.

[A]

And like, no, it's not nasty.

[B]

It's hilarious. And I'm just watching and I'm just, just like, yo, there's one day I'm going to have to just hold you back from fighting like a 15 year old girl.

[A]

I'm. I mean, listen, I'm not going to kiss him on the mouth until he's 20.

[B]

No, you're good, babe.

[A]

You're good.

[B]

I'm not judging. I'm telling a joke.

[A]

I'm very. I'm just. I'm old world. I'm like Greek as like the funniest thing, though.

[B]

You're cool. He's now going tongue.

[A]

He's like, he does try to make out with me. Yeah.

[B]

I'm like, yo, son, that's my wife.

[A]

I don't allow it though. I dock. I'm like, I don't want that. I don't want that.

[B]

Yeah, but that's what's good is I'm always in the middle. Like, I'm.

[A]

That's.

[B]

That. That's my wife. You need a chill and you need to chill. Everyone needs to respect my role in this relationship.

[A]

Like, if you're hugging me, he's like, don't touch my mom.

[B]

Yeah, I remember I laid down in your lap last weekend and he's like, get off my mom. Get off. I was like, yo, I was here first before you came out of here. I had to set this thing off.

[A]

Yeah, he definitely wants to fight you. He's like in competition with you right.

[B]

Now all the time. All the time for you. Like, like that's why he's always like, get away, dad. I'm like, whatever, man. I'm going to the baths.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then you're like, you don't participate. Like, he just told me to go away.

[A]

That's where you have to say, like, no, Mommy needs to go.

[B]

I do. I do now. I do.

[A]

I'm here. Mommy needs to go.

[B]

I mean, I say, mommy need to go to the gym.

[A]

I'm mommy's man, not you.

[B]

I tell him all the time. You know that. But I got you in 15 years when he's, like, with a baddie and you don't like her. I got you.

[A]

It's.

[B]

We're not going to end up in a family breakup situation.

[A]

Definitely not gonna tell you.

[B]

That is one of the biggest things. My dad got a weak arm with my mom. I hate to air out my dad like that because he got a strong arm with everything else, but he has never been able to, like, talk sense into my mom. He's never been able to be like, relax. Like, you cannot have sex with your kids. You have three of them. All right? You get to keep one. Evans. Evans, you're one. All right. Eddie and Emery need to, like, do their thing. And my mom actively has tried to break up every relationship any of us have been in.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Anytime one of us dated someone, my mom's calling the other two. She's whack. She's a fish market. Like, saying crazy stuff.

[A]

What does that mean?

[B]

You figure you'll figure it out. Like, that insult has come up many times. That's crazy sour. She's sour grapes. She's sour mouth. She's a fish market. I'm like, joe, yo, this is od.

[A]

I like those crazy, very, like, culturally niche insults.

[B]

Yeah. I mean, these are ESL insults.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, like your girlfriend, fish market. Like, I like. I get it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I get. I see what you're saying.

[A]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

Talking. That hunts point. That's cool.

[A]

Oh, man.

[B]

Yeah. My mom crazy. She's just like, these are my boys. They came out of me, and nobody's coming close. Like, she threw girls out of the house in high school. I was like, yo, you know how hard it was to get them in?

[A]

That's true.

[B]

You're disrespecting my work.

[A]

Yeah, I definitely don't think I would throw the girlies out. I rather them. I'm like, the. The weird mom where I'm like, if you're gonna do it, do it at the house if you're gonna drink.

[B]

Ninth grade, the girls knew how crazy my mom Was. And I had a birthday party, and everybody came over, and the girls purposely left underwear and bras in a garbage bag in the house. And my mom found it. It was like, who is this?

[A]

Who is this?

[B]

And, like, I'm so. I'm such a dick. I'm like. It would be plural because there's, like, obviously, like, many different. So shut the up. You shut the up. I was like, it would be, whose? These are like.

[A]

You're like, who are these?

[B]

Let's improve on the these. You get some subject, verb, agreement. You shut the up. You kneel on this rice.

[A]

That's crazy. You get to kneel on rice for that?

[B]

Rice is the easy one for subject, verb, agreement.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You don't have to be like, rice's rice. Yeah. So it's always easy to say, kneel on the rice.

[A]

Cool. And like, Moose.

[B]

My mom was always throwing people out of the crib.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

The funniest time was she threw this girl out. And on the way out, the girl's like, oh, my God, I love your bag. And it was when Louis had the, like, multicolored LV on the white bag.

[A]

Yeah, the. The. Yeah, yeah.

[B]

She, like. She liked that.

[A]

That's a good bag.

[B]

Yeah. That was really funny. I was like, damn. Even on the way out, she admired this leather good. I was like, between women, the respect of leather good is so strong.

[A]

Women are simple.

[B]

Yeah. Well, men are really simple. But you guys, leather goods is, like, the great equalizer.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, a woman could be saying something crazy, and you're like, oh, my God, I love the leather you have on you right now.

[A]

Totally. It, like, mutes it out.

[B]

It mutes it out.

[A]

And then also, like, I saw this funny tik tok, and it was like, do you see this piece of paper? And he, like, crumbles it, and he's. And he was like, say sorry to it. And he, like, uncrumbles it, and it's all, like, wrinkly. And then he crumbles it again. And he says, beg for forgiveness. And he uncrumbles it. And he's like, did you fix the paper? No. And he's like. And then all of a sudden, a Prada bag appears. And then the paper's brand new, and he's like, the Prada bag fixed the paper. And I'm like, it wouldn't work for me with Prada. But, like, the sentiment works.

[B]

Well, they don't do leather like that.

[A]

Yeah. Like, no. I'm like a Bottega.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

An exotic leather or a crocodile. An Ostrich? Yeah, something like that. I was like. I was like. And the paper was brand new. I was like, yeah, that does work. That's true for women.

[B]

Something has to die for you to forgive.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Very biblical.

[A]

Super biblical. Yeah. It's like scripture. Like, I. Like, when I'm like, some people read the Bible at night and, like, get on their knees and pray. I just read, like, the Hermes website.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I'm like, God, please if you're real.

[B]

No, that. That girl, like, got thrown out and really was just like, look, your mom's yelling crazy things at me, but she's a baddie.

[A]

Yeah. You know, it's so funny. Like, the life of a boy growing up and the life of a girl. Especially, like, being an only child. I'm like, my mom would never, like. I don't even think she was. She wouldn't kick anyone out of my house. She would just, like, come hang with us. It was like, the opposite. Like, I'd be, like, outside, like, on the deck, like, hitting the bong, watching R. Kelly trapped in the closet.

[B]

Out here.

[A]

And I was like, yeah, of course.

[B]

I was specific to your mom.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

There's always one mom in every high school that's like, yeah, I'm the fun mom. And then their kid usually, like, doesn't make it.

[A]

Yeah. You know, I mean, I've barely made it.

[B]

You. You. You put the team on your back.

[A]

I'm just fully, like. I'm telling you, it's just like, the witchcraft to get Hermes is, like, just lighting the path.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Just, like, lighting candles and doing seances. Like, leather goods. And, like, somehow other things are falling into place besides the leather goods, so. I'll take it. It's fine.

[B]

We. We had one kid in high school, like you. His name was Mike, and it was just like, his parents let us do whatever at their crib.

[A]

Unfortunately, where I came from, this was very. My mom was not even, like, the most lenient. Like, she was just. My mom was just, like. She was very much like, the mean girl's mom. Like, if you're gonna do it, do it in the house.

[B]

Oh, okay.

[A]

And, like, she just understood, I think, because my mom was the youngest. She was the youngest kid in her family, like, moved from Greece to America when she was fairly young. So she's, like, kind of, like, raised by these, like, immigrants who didn't speak English, but, like, was like, I'm gonna be American as fuck. And then, like, she really was just, like, going against the cultural grain. Like, married outside of her culture was like, moved to New York and was, like, up at Studio 54, like, doing a lot of things. So I think she just understood, like, I'm not gonna set the expectations that were set on me on my kid, because it's just like, I'm gonna let you do you. And her policy was just like, tell me everything you're gonna do, and that's okay. I just want to know, and I want to know where you're at. And, like, she truly would. Like, she. You know how every parent says, like, if you're too drunk, just call me?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Like, other kids would call her. Like, other drunk kids would hit my mom and be like, can I get a ride? My mom would be like, yep, cool, I'll come get you.

[B]

No, that's very useful. Because I knew I could not call my parents because the punishment would be too serious.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I ended up in a lot of bad situations because I was like, my parents are not going to understand or have my back on this, so I gotta thug it out and sleep in a cemetery. You know what I mean?

[A]

That's crazy.

[B]

I would do crazy stuff.

[A]

Yeah, crazy stuff. But also, my mom was just a single parent, so I think it's different, too, when you have, like, two parents in the house.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I always think about that. I'm like, I feel like if there was another adult here, maybe things would have been different. But it worked for us and, like, our temperament.

[B]

I'm just like, I'm very curious to, like, continue to grow up as parents, because I see my parents. Your relationship with your mom is good. You know, the Brooklyn Beckham stuff. I'm just like, I really want to maintain the perspective we have now in 15 years.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

And I'm sure it's, like, very, very difficult, because going into being parents, when people tell you what's going to be hard, you're like, that doesn't seem like, I'm not going to be like that. But we definitely became like that. Like, the way we got stressed out with each other and everything. I'm like, oh, so this is just, like, way of life for our species. No one avoids these pitfalls.

[A]

Totally. You just have to, like, adjust your reaction.

[B]

Thank God we got a podcast to go back and look at in 15 years.

[A]

I know.

[B]

Hey, remember this episode?

[A]

Remember when we were talking all that.

[B]

About gonna be cool?

[A]

I know, it's crazy. Yeah. I always used to say, when I have a kid, I'm gonna be so strict. Just like, the antithesis of how my mom was with me.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But it goes so funny.

[B]

It goes back to, like, how we're reposting the Wongs World episodes, too.

[A]

Yeah, right. We talk about that. How do you feel?

[B]

It's been really crazy to go back and look because I have not watched these episodes in a long time.

[A]

When did the first. When did you film the first episode? Or I guess, like, when did that air?

[B]

2012.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

2012 was the first time we filmed it. And then with Vice, episodes were up like two weeks later. We were so fast. But yeah, looking back at 2012, I have not watched these episodes since. Probably I'd say 2015 was the last time. The online and then the broadcast stuff I prob. I looked at for clips while cutting Vices broke, but I had, like, a photographic memory of where everything was at. So I didn't watch. I didn't sit and watch any episode. I think I've only rewatched DC just.

[A]

We watch Trump. Cape Cod.

[B]

I think I put it on for you. I didn't watch it, but I put on Cape Cod for you.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Because I was still in that zone where I didn't want to watch. But this week, going back to watch the Bay Area episode, I was just like, whoa. I was like a baby.

[A]

How old were you in 2012?

[B]

I was 30.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

But as a man, 30, you're like an idiot.

[A]

It. That's so crazy.

[B]

And I was like, I was. I thought I knew all these things and, like, a lot of it is still valid, but I watch myself. I'm like, oh, I'm just like a young dude with, like, a lot of ideas. And, like, they're pretty good and the instincts are pretty good, but none of those ideas had been tested. And I was, like, so excited to be like, I know this and I know that. I'm like, what it like, not an idiot, but, like, cute.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I look at the old me and I'm like, oh, you're cute. You think you know. You actually. You don't know anything.

[A]

That's really kind of special.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I feel like not many people get to do that. Well, not many people do.

[B]

Yeah. I'm like, lucky to get to look at it. And I'm, like, really enjoying writing the accompanying, like, short essay that accompanies the, like, rebroadcasting of it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Because not only looking back at myself, but culture and where we were at and this specific episode in the Bay Area where we're, like, meeting young Vietnamese women doing a pop up. I was like, whoa. I remember that time when people didn't know What Vietnamese food was. We were introducing Taiwanese food. It was, like, the beginning of, like, young Americans being interested in our stuff. And then fast forward 14 years, I'm.

[A]

Like, we're China maxing.

[B]

People are China maxing.

[A]

Like, I'm Chinese.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's crazy. In 2012, if you told me I would be Chinese, I wouldn't believe you. But I'm fully Chinese.

[B]

And you talk to, like, just any white line cook that comes in for a trail now, and they're like, oh, yeah, I know what culantro is. I've worked with that before.

[A]

But also just like, I. Maybe this is just me being in my bubble. And, like, I do feel that I have pretty good, like, a lot of Asian friends. But to me, like, Asian food is superior just across the board. Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese. Like, most of the time, when we. That's the food I want to eat. It's just.

[B]

It's true. Cream has risen to the top. Yeah, it is. We have a much older, longer cooking culture, and I do think that it has just won out over time. Like the techniques, the flavors, the ingredients, like, the palette. I think everyone is very well versed in it now, and it's, like, superior.

[A]

Yeah. I mean, it's just, like, kind of crazy to me if somebody's like, oh, yeah, I'd rather go get a burger and fries than, like, hot pot. You know what I mean? I'm like, oh, what? That's just not correct.

[B]

And even some of the best French food and, like, new American food, it's absolutely accented with Asian technique, and it is, for sure.

[A]

But French food is just tummy ache. Tummy ache.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Asian food, like, sometimes. Okay, fine, like, if you're eating, like, Asian American or if you're eating, like, Chinese American. Chinese food. But, like, rarely ever do you feel like eating Asian food. Like, I. Even if I eat, like a. A pad Thai out of, like, a quart, I'm fine.

[B]

Yeah, I feel good. But then I think what's very interesting about a lot of Asian chefs is we're playing because I think French food has good structure, especially in the organization of a kitchen and in the, like, organization of a menu. I think we're playing with French structures. I'm particularly interested in Spanish food.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, Spanish tapas and the structure of Spanish tapas in a restaurant. But then, like, applying my Chinese cooking technique. And then I'm also really into, like, old British cooking right now.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So it's like, we're kind of. It's always a reverse, you know, I Think Americans are into Asian, and a lot of Asian cooks are into French, Spanish, British right now. And I don't think we all decided it together. We're just like, yo, cool.

[A]

Speaking of Spanish food, I just want to talk about. We ate at Eel Bar.

[B]

Eel Bar, to me, is absolutely the best and most interesting and enjoyable place to dine in New York City.

[A]

I agree.

[B]

I talk to other cooks, I talk to friends. Everybody loves it. But then when you look at, like, the food literati, like, the people that write for, like, the infatuation and eater, like, they have mentions of it, but it's never on the best list.

[A]

No, it's never on, like, a top 10 or, like, a place you have to go to dinner.

[B]

Yeah, I think the burger is on a couple burger lists. Like, people that know it's on a couple burger lists. But I feel that restaurant deserved its moment. Like, most great restaurants have this three to six month run where it's like, that's the restaurant of the city, and this is the best. And Eel Bar hasn't gotten that. And it absolutely has been the best restaurant in the Lower east side for at least a year.

[A]

Yeah, I've never had a bad meal there. The wine is fantastic. Yeah. Everything is just. I mean, just the details, even the interior.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, it's just I was looking around and I was like, everything down, the music they were playing, everything made sense. Everything was perfect.

[B]

It's an interesting thing because I'm not gonna put anyone on blast, but I've talked to restaurateurs, chefs, cooks, and just, like, people who are into culture, love Eel Bar. Go all the time. And it's also packed. But then you talk to food writers, like, snobby food writers, and a few of them have been like, early on, I felt like they didn't know what they were, but I've heard they've started to figure out. I'm like, what? What are you talking about? And, like, they're like, I need to revisit. And I'm like, do you have. Is there like a. Like a Eel Bar conspiracy in food writing? Because it is definitively, to me, undoubtedly the best restaurant in downtown New York.

[A]

I would agree. We've been a lot of places. We've eaten a lot of food. Eel Bar remains. Every time we go there, I'm like, why did we ever. Why did we go anywhere else? Like, it just doesn't make sense. I constantly have the best meal there.

[B]

And I think it's because. But this is going to be my take on it. I Feel like Chef Aaron and Chef Nick and the sous chefs at Eel Bar. They're so confident in what they're doing. They're just being them, them. It's not catering to the trends in food. They're not, like, touching every table. The chefs and cooks are in the kitchen.

[A]

Totally. We had something last time, like some sausage or some pork dish.

[B]

Pork on carrots.

[A]

Pork on carrots.

[B]

Fantastic.

[A]

He came out and was just chatting with us, like, oh, you know, whatever. I think he sent it to us cuz we didn't order it. And he was like, yeah. I was playing around with it last week. I was like, this. And that was genuinely a mindblowing dish. Like, the burger was great, but I could have reordered that four times.

[B]

And it was the type of dish that I really respect because you look at it online, you're like, all right, Chef has roasted some pork, sliced it thin, and placed it over some braised carrots. What? I got no idea what this is going to taste like. And, like, I don't know if it's going to be awesome, but he cooked the shit out of it. It's layered with flavor, and that's something we've been teaching our prep team here at Flour Shop. Because when Chef Nick or me make a dish, we season it in layers. We season the onions, we season the oil, then we season the carb. Then you have to season in layers as you cook the dish. Some people, when they read a recipe, they're like, oh, I'll just put all the salt in at the end. And it's like, no. Because then the salt is not going to disperse through all the ingredients.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

In a big batch. Right. To season in layers. That pork and carrot dish was seasoned in layers. It. You could feel it. Like the person cooking it knew how to cook.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But I think the thing with the old bar is they're not out there every day telling them, boy, I dry aged this fish and I did this thing, and this is fat washed. And they're just doing it. They're just doing it. They're not doing the corny food that makes it easy for food writers to write about it. Because food writers are always trying to write about things in a way of like, this is abcd, why you should come visit this restaurant. Abcd. This is why it's good. Those food writers don't know about seasoning in layers. They don't cook. Eel Bar is for people who cook and people who are into culture.

[A]

Really. Those who can't do, teach, or write. Yeah.

[B]

Me included, you know? But like. Like, that. That is the best restaurant in New York. I've never caught even a bad dish there.

[A]

Yeah. Straight up, no bad dishes.

[B]

It upsets me that people are not like, that's the best restaurant.

[A]

That's how I feel. Because I'm just like, I. I don't get it. Like, I'm like, this is. To me, like, this is something that people should be screaming about. It deserves people to be just annoying about it.

[B]

Yeah. And. And the service is fantastic.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

That restaurant is the reason why I wanted to cook again.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Because I went there with Otessa for dinner. When Otessa came in town for the auction, she'd been. I had not been. And I. We were there, and I saw over her shoulder, the expediter raising his hand every time a dish came out. He insisted that someone came and ran the food immediately. He would not serve cold food. Just raise his hand. And at one point, he had to wait maybe 15 seconds. It was too long. Walked into the dining room with his arm up until a server came and got the food. And the server ran over.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And there was no, like, eye rolling of like, oh, you're embarrassing me. It was like, no, we're all in this together. We've all bought in. We were serving hot food, and I saw it, and I was just like, oh, crazy kitchen dudes are back. Like, we are so back. And that was the environment, and that was the era that I enjoyed cooking in, because you could go to work every day and be like, I want to be the best.

[A]

I like that.

[B]

That made me. I was like, oh, crazy people are back.

[A]

I love crazy people.

[B]

Yeah. It was just, like, very inspiring.

[A]

Totally.

[B]

Fantastic. One on one episode.

[A]

Loved it.

[B]

I loved it.

[A]

Anything else? You want me to rapid fire you some questions?

[B]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

You got Nori or Margaret Howell?

[B]

O. I really. I really prefer the Evan Kanori pants. But you know what? Rapid fire. I'm just going to go, Margaret, how. I think it's just, like, structurally better.

[A]

Having to watch frozen for 17 times in a row. Or ratatouille.

[B]

Ratatouille.

[A]

Cool. I like that.

[B]

Every time.

[A]

Ratatouille. Every single time. Okay. Cooking the burger or the Caesar salad sandwich?

[B]

I prefer cooking the burger. I prefer eating the Caesar salad sandwich.

[A]

Oh, interesting. Interesting. Okay. Do you.

[B]

Funny enough. The cooks prefer the Caesar salad sandwich, too. They love eating this.

[A]

They love eating this.

[B]

We love the Caesar because there's more cheffery.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

The burger is. Is just. It's so reliant on like, that dry aged beef is so good.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And the sauce is nice. The Caesar salad, chicken sandwich, we're, like, hydrating dried scallops. We're, like, you know, processing dried shrimp. We're whipping it into a Caesar dressing. It's like.

[A]

I think I prefer it as well.

[B]

There's, like, a lot of Chef free in that.

[A]

I actually don't know what I prefer. I prefer cutting both in half and having one on one.

[B]

That's the way to go.

[A]

That's what I prefer.

[B]

That's the way to go.

[A]

Nixer commander.

[B]

I gotta say, the Knicks, it's so crazy. It's always been commanders, but since I moved in New York, I have to.

[A]

Say it's the Knicks, okay? Hitting your eight leg parlay, and your team loses. Like, say you hit an eight leg parlay, but you're. But the Commanders lose or. Or the Knicks or the Commanders. And the Knicks win, but you, like, completely just, like, fumble your fucking bets. Like, you just, like. It was. Was. It was the worst day of betting. You. You're, like, down $10,000. But the Knicks are about to be in, like, the finals, and the Commanders are playing in the super bowl because of that.

[B]

Oh, I would take my teams.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I would take my teams. Absolutely. Absolutely. I will never put myself in a position where I put so much money on the line that it usurps my love for the team. I don't think it's even possible. I care about my teams.

[A]

Wow. I love that. I think that's all I got for you. I love it. That's all I got.

[B]

Those were good. Those were hard. I had to close my eyes at one second.

[A]

Oh, I got that.

[B]

I had to close my eyes.

[A]

Yeah. Well, I'm just happy the commanders aren't in the Super Bowl.

[B]

Yeah, the Commanders were out, like, seven weeks ago. It's over. You got two weeks left before football season is over. Congratulations, baby.

[A]

Thank you. I'm so excited you've survived. I look forward to the super bowl now. I really do. I'm like, oh, my goodness. It's so close. It's coming. Like, I'm like, let's party. Like, for me, it's just like, this is over.

[B]

It's like Groundhog Day for you. It's like, spring is here.

[A]

Can't wait. But then it's just like, March Madness.

[B]

Oh, no, I'm not gonna watch March Madness. I don't watch March Madness.

[A]

That is such a.

[B]

But I watch the news.

[A]

You're gonna go, like, watch in the bathroom and be like, I'm pooping. You're just like watching the game. You're gonna like closet watch it. You do like, you like sports to you, it's like how like closet eaters or like hoarders. I'm not hoarding things.

[B]

I've been trying to tell you this off the show, but sometimes it's better on the pod because there's like a referee here and it's like safer. You have caught me a couple times jerking off in the morning. I just gotta tell you, it's not about watching porn or being horny. It wakes me up. Like it's how I've woken up for school since I was. Oh my God.

[A]

I don't care about the jerking off. Just find a different time. Because I'm like, I Woke up at 6 in the morning, I got breakfast ready, I got our kid ready. I did all these things.

[B]

I'm going to stop doing it. But I just want you to know it's not personal.

[A]

Jerk off at work. Go to the bathroom at work.

[B]

This is how you woken up for many years.

[A]

Then figure it out and wake up earlier and get up and make your kid breakfast on the day we do the pod. Because it is literally crazy that I have to wake up at 5:30 in the morning and you're. You sleep in every day. It baffles me that you say you're tired.

[B]

Nine at 10 o' clock.

[A]

You get into bed before me at night and you. Yes, you do.

[B]

No, you know, you get.

[A]

What time did you go to bed two nights ago when I was up two nights ago?

[B]

Last night you were in bed before.

[A]

Me and then the night before that you were in bed at 7.30pm and I was up from 1 in the morning till 9am and then had to do a full day of child care by myself. So please, you wake up after me. Jerk off at a different time and wake up.

[B]

Fine. Or I'll stop.

[A]

I will literally. You could literally like put it.

[B]

I'll stop. Cranky hog.

[A]

Put money on it. All the homies can put money on it. Is she gonna hit him or not? I'm gonna hit him. That's what's gonna happen. Straight up.

[B]

That will wake me up and then.

[A]

I'll hit you in the morning. You don't have to jerk off. I'll hit you.

[B]

Yeah, just come.

[A]

It's just the timing of it. It.

[B]

If you just like pick a different time, better.

[A]

It's just like have a shot of espresso, make breakfast and then go join.

[B]

Fine, fair enough.

[A]

That's it.

[B]

Fair enough.

[A]

That's all I ask.

[B]

You know what? Fair request.

[A]

Fair, right? I don't ask. It's not that crazy fair.

[B]

For the record, it only takes me like, three and a half minutes to just, like, get it done. So it doesn't take that long. She just happens to always walk in, in the middle of that.

[A]

Three and a half crazy. Like, imagine you're, like, awake. You're cooking breakfast. You're getting yourself ready. You're getting your kid ready. You're like, I'm packing the backpack. I'm making bacon. Kid, put your pants on. And then I have to walk into this, man. Like, it's like, oh, it's 9:30am I'm just.

[B]

No, it's 7:30. 7:30.

[A]

Today because we had somewhere to be. Today because we had somewhere to be. And then I just see. Oh, just open my. Oh, are you guys awake? Oh, I'm just jerking it. It's like the only person that wakes.

[B]

Up by cranking hog.

[A]

No, I think you're the only person who wakes up two hours after their family and cranks hog before they get out of bed. Two hours after your family. Like, it's wild. It's beta behavior, and you're too alpha to be doing that.

[B]

I love you.

[A]

Love you.

[B]

I hope you enjoy the hat.

[A]

Hermes makes it better.