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- [00:00]
A
Welcome back, Canal Street Dreams. Another one on one pod plus Chris cam.
- [00:06]
B
Chris cam. What's up? How you doing?
- [00:08]
A
We're putting Chris on the cam because honestly, Chris, Chris, you always have good things to say on the one on one pods.
- [00:13]
B
I try, I try.
- [00:14]
A
Yeah, you push us deeper.
- [00:15]
C
This is like our. You're a therapist here.
- [00:18]
B
Hell yeah.
- [00:18]
C
I like it.
- [00:19]
B
Therapist cam, Absolutely.
- [00:21]
A
Like, I have not paid to talk to a therapist in 18 months and a large part of it is Chris
- [00:29]
C
somehow saving money.
- [00:30]
A
Yeah.
- [00:31]
C
You know what I mean?
- [00:31]
A
Like somehow the two biggest contributing factors to not needing therapy the last 18 months is 1. Chris 2. Not talking to my mom.
- [00:41]
C
Okay.
- [00:41]
A
Yeah, yeah. Not getting into that. I'm just saying as a fact. Yeah, as a fact.
- [00:46]
C
Yeah.
- [00:46]
A
That really cuts down on the need for therapy.
- [00:48]
C
I also think, like, spring is like, things are blooming in New York now. So the need, like the dark, deep, deep, dark depression of winter has lifted off of me. Every day I just wake up a little bit lighter, a little bit happier, you know, I'm just like ready for the day.
- [01:05]
A
I'm still waiting for spring to really hit the. It's been teasing us.
- [01:08]
C
Yeah, it's.
- [01:10]
A
It's been kind of like the way we dated. You know what I mean?
- [01:12]
C
It's like delayed pleasure.
- [01:13]
A
There's a lot of delayed pleasure right now with the weather.
- [01:16]
C
But I do like that in some way I was like running around being like, oh, it's the worst. You get that 70 degree day and then it feels like 30 degrees the next day when it's 50. But in some ways it really makes you appreciate those like beautiful days in New York. Yeah, that's what I love about living in New York. Like during the summer I never have the urge to rot because I'm like, this is so, so short lived, baby. Like, I'm outside, we're going outside. I don't care what the circumstances are. Like, we're going for a walk, we're going to get an ice cream. I'm finding a Mr. Softie.
- [01:47]
A
Yeah. Tuesday, when it was nice, it felt like everyone was like, I must be outside right now and get activated. The most hilarious part about New York when the weather gets good is New Yorkers have like outfits on deck, like ready to go. But I wouldn't say like their bodies are ready, like in terms of like tan and things like that. I saw a lot of just like whole milk, pale legs, men and women
- [02:14]
B
in like all the Pacey Boys.
- [02:16]
A
Pasty boys.
- [02:17]
B
Honorary pasty boy right here. Dude, I haven't seen the sun in like three years.
- [02:20]
A
There was a lot of men and women around Tompkins park and like Jordan shorts or like those, those biker, those bike. Bike shorts that are stretchy that men now wear. Also.
- [02:31]
C
JFK effect. Yeah, no, I'm, I'm guilty. I had a skirt on yesterday. And the thing about being good though, the thing about being an olive skin baddie is like from May to October, serving, serving. And then the winter. I'm giving like green stomach flu. No matter. It doesn't literally does not matter what I do. I'm giving stomach flu. I could get a spray tan. I could. We all the bronzer in the world in the winter months. If you're olive skin, you're giving blue green stuff.
- [03:02]
A
You're giving May to October, you're olive oil. And then October to May, it's like green olive.
- [03:08]
C
There's nothing you could do. You're just ugly as. No, you're not ugly as, but like for whatever your own like capacity of like your own scale of whatever ugly is for you. But like. Yeah, that was the thing about la, that was nice. Cuz even like January, I'd be hiking Runyon and I was like, oh, like I, I look well, I look good. I look well rested and the whole thing is just like I was in the sun. That was it.
- [03:29]
A
Yeah.
- [03:29]
C
Yeah.
- [03:29]
A
I mean you look, you look good at work there.
- [03:32]
C
Yeah.
- [03:32]
A
I mean I was about to violate my morals clause.
- [03:35]
C
I'm calling hr.
- [03:37]
B
Who is hr?
- [03:38]
C
Alex, I think. Yeah, Alex maybe the most complex, but he is hr. He might not know that, but I'm like, oh, take it up with Alex.
- [03:48]
A
Yeah. What. What else is going on? What are we going to talk about on this one on one today we
- [03:52]
C
have some questions to answer. For sure, we could get into that, but I feel we could talk a little bit about this Russian Turkish bath dinner coming up, which I feel is exciting. So tell us a little bit about like how this came to be. Yes. Like your relationship with the guys over there and just like the baths in general.
- [04:11]
A
Well, we have two dinners to talk about, so we'll go. So the first one coming up is April 12th. We have the Greek Easter dinner.
- [04:18]
C
Yep.
- [04:18]
A
So this one is big because we've never, we. We've celebrated Greek Easter in la where we just like barbecue in the backyard. And that was really fun.
- [04:25]
C
Yeah.
- [04:26]
A
But now we're bringing it to the block in our backyard on a big scale here. And we're doing smoked lamb, grilled lamb chops, whole grilled fish. We're doing mustard green Spanakopita. We're doing Natasha pasta. No one has ever had Natasha pasta outside the house.
- [04:44]
C
This is so og. Eddie used to make this for me when we first started dating and it like blew my mind. And it's delicious. Everyone's in for a treat.
- [04:54]
A
Yes, it's. It's an amazing fusili pasta dish with a lot of deli peppers mixed in feta cheese.
- [05:03]
C
Yeah.
- [05:03]
A
What else? Oh, we have Yaya's burnt garlic chicken wings. Cuz her mom won't eat any meat unless it's burnt to a crisp on a grill like Greek style. But wings are delicious burnt.
- [05:14]
C
She won't eat any meat, but she will eat a birdhouse bow.
- [05:17]
A
Oh, she's into it now.
- [05:18]
C
I told you. She came, she had the birdhouse bow and she was like, I don't eat dark meat ever in my life. This is the best chicken I've ever had.
- [05:25]
A
Shout out Paula.
- [05:26]
C
She's bringing the red eggs, which are classic Greek Easter. You need the red egg. So what, you take your eggs, you dye them all red, right? Because also Chinese red, Chinese culture red is very lucky.
- [05:37]
A
Yes.
- [05:38]
C
Greek culture red is also very lucky. And you take the eggs and everybody gets one. Starting of the day, right? You take your egg and then you have your egg in your hand. We'll do an example and. And you crack them. And whoever at the end of the day has an egg that didn't crack is just like blessed with luck for the rest of the year. The winner. I've won one year of my life. And you're supposed to keep that egg in like a very dark, dry cabinet for a year. Don't touch it. It doesn't rot. It's like a lucky blessed egg.
- [06:06]
A
Oh, wow. It doesn't rot.
- [06:08]
C
I mean, I guess it does, but like, you're just supposed to like, live your life. You're just supposed to live your life. But also Greek Easter is like, in Greek culture we celebrate name days. So everyone, every person, if you have like a Greek name of Greek descent. Mine is Anastasia. Easter is my name day because it's Anesthes, means Happy Easter, and I'm Anastasia, which means like ascending. So Jesus ascended back into heaven, which is my name day. So essentially it's my birthday party.
- [06:40]
A
Do I have to purchase gifts?
- [06:42]
C
No, no, I'll let you. I'll let you off easy on this one. Double it up on Mother's Day.
- [06:46]
A
Okay? Dou Mother's Day, we're going big. Yeah, Big on big.
- [06:50]
C
I like that. Mother's Day, you can skip this Birthday
- [06:52]
A
and then explain for everyone Greek Orthodox Easter. You guys have Easter on a different day than, like, not Orthodox Easter. Yeah.
- [07:02]
C
So we follow the Orthodox calendar, which is just a slightly different calendar year than like a Catholic calendar. I actually don't. Like me. I'm never going to do this justice. I don't. I wasn't raised, like, super religious, so don't. Don't come for me. But essentially what it is, our Easter always falls two or three weeks after. Two or three weeks before. Rarely on the same Sunday. Yeah. But yeah, it's essentially all the same, slightly different tradition.
- [07:33]
A
Before meeting you, all I knew about Greek Easter was just like, it was not the same day as other white people Easter.
- [07:39]
C
Yeah.
- [07:39]
A
And it would just be Greek people online with like whole lambs stretched out, being roasted. Students spoke. I'm like, this is better than regular Easter.
- [07:47]
C
A lamb on a spit in your backyard. It's very much like, that's how you know your friend is like, not all the way white. They're not like Anglo Saxon. They're like, okay, this is a different white person. This is not your run of the mill white. Yeah.
- [08:00]
A
Like when I told you there was some cumin in there. Yeah, I smelled cumin. I was like, you're not regular white.
- [08:05]
C
No, you're correct. There is cumin in there for sure. Yeah, there's.
- [08:08]
A
You go down on your girl and you smell cumin. It's not regular white.
- [08:11]
C
No. You're on the Silk Road.
- [08:12]
A
Ottoman.
- [08:13]
C
Yeah, the Silk Road. The Ottoman Empire. The Libra. Alexandria's between these thighs.
- [08:19]
A
Is that Egyptian musk?
- [08:22]
C
You know what it is. But yeah, Greek Easter will be a lot of fun. I think it's just cool to like, we were saying, like, celebrating different cultures in this restaurant is kind of just what we didn't intend to do, but naturally started happening. Like, Abraham is making jollof rice tonight for family meal. That's really ill. Like, I love jollof rice.
- [08:46]
A
And we have the Russian Turkish bat baths collab. Like, we're not collabing with chefs. We're down to collab with chefs. But we're really interested in the exchange of culture.
- [08:55]
C
Yes.
- [08:56]
A
It's not necessarily the exchange of, like, kitchen skills or, like, dish. It's exchanging culture is what we're interested in in our collabs and pop ups. So we're. We're collabing with Greek people for Greek Easter. Your mom.
- [09:11]
C
My mom.
- [09:12]
A
And then we're collabing with the Russian Turkish baths two blocks up on April 21st. We're doing the bathhouse dinner here. And we're basically taking the Russian Turkish baths menu, which I would say is heavily Ukrainian and Russian and just like Eastern European favorites, Jewish cuisine. And we are cooking it through a Taiwanese Chinese lens. So that is a really, really exciting dinner. We're all putting our feet into these dishes. The menu's online, but some of the highlights are, like, oxtail borscht noodle soup, which is, like Taiwanese beef noodle soup. But instead of our tomatoes, we're going to hit it with borscht. We're going to hit it with some onion. We may. We may do some sauerkraut. We're going to bust out, like, the Ukrainian meatballs. They do with, like, veal and pork.
- [10:09]
C
Love that.
- [10:09]
A
And then instead of the brown gravy they use, we're going to do our red cooking gravy. So it'll be Ukrainian pork veal meatball braised in. In a. In a Hunan red cook sauce. We have, like, a skate wing schnitzel.
- [10:27]
C
All right, I'm excited for that.
- [10:29]
A
We're picking that one up with, like, a Meyer lemon malt liquor my buddy makes in Taiwan. Oh, Oyster bao with chicken liver crazy, like Jewish Passover chicken liver with. With fried onions. Fried oyster bao. That's going to be incredible. We have a collab with Apollo bagels, so there's going to be an Apollo bagel dish on the menu as well. That's extremely exciting. We're doing smoked fish, fried rice. So, yeah, it's being a New Yorker, I just think Russian, Eastern European, Ukrainian, Jewish food, it just becomes part of you. And it's the thing that, like, people outside New York are like pizza, hot dogs, yada, yada. It's very Italian New York, which is great. We love it. That is. That is very New York. But I think once you live here, the Caribbean influences Jamaican, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and then Eastern European are, I think the ones that, like, are very slept on and not, like, broadcast around the world and distinctively identified as New York cuisine. But, like, I do think those two regions, Caribbean and, like, Eastern European, are, like, central to New York cuisine.
- [11:46]
C
I agree. And I. I think the thing that I really love about it is that the baths are a block over. Apollo Bagels is like an ave over. It's very much in the neighborhood. It's very much. It's not this, like, arbitrary. Oh, we thought this was cool. It's, like, very much our neighbors coming together and, like, they're places that people in this neighborhood frequent. And then to have something where, okay, These three places that you really love and respect and go to independently are now kind of doing this thing together. That's really cool. So you're gonna just, like, run into your friends naturally or make a new friend that has the same exact interest of you. Like, likes going to the bath into that food, into these bagels, into taiw Chinese food. Like, that's very special because I think that. I mean, we talk about this all the time. Like, the third space has kind of gone away.
- [12:34]
A
Yes.
- [12:34]
C
But I think with this restaurant, something we set out to do was create that, like, have a space where you can go and, you know, you're going to pull up and see the homie, Have a space where, like, you can go alone and feel comfortable just chilling with the staff, chilling with whoever's here. And I. This is just another example of that, which is exciting for me.
- [12:53]
A
Yeah. And that's why we intentionally don't take many reservations online each evening. Like, we have our set up with seven rooms. We take eight seats a night in the restaurant. But the rest of it, we intentionally leave open because we want people in the neighborhood to feel like they can just walk in and come eat here. And it's funny because we're actually having to teach everyone that it's okay to just pull up. Cause the rest of New York, it's just reservation hell. Like, you can't go anywhere without a reservation. There's always a line. And we've been encouraging people to be like, please pull up. Just come through. Because we intentionally don't take reservations so that you can just, like, come out of your apartment and come eat with us. So I think it's working. I think people appreciate it.
- [13:39]
C
Yeah, I think people appreciate it. And I think as time goes on, more and more people will start feeling more comfortable with that style of dining again. Yeah, that, like, really is how things. I mean, not so long ago, 10 years ago, you could just pull up outside of maybe, like, four places in the city where you needed a res. Like, you could just pull up.
- [13:59]
A
Yeah, everyone wants to. I feel like you can blame streetwear. I love streetwear. You know, I was part of it. But, like, it's. Everyone wants that exclusivity thing. And they thought when we were like, we don't take reservations, that we were being exclusive. I'm like, no, we're being the opposite.
- [14:13]
C
Yeah.
- [14:13]
A
We're not letting people take up the seats before they even show. Like, if you want to come eat tonight, just come through. I got a seat for you.
- [14:20]
C
Yeah, we'll figure it out. Like, you will be taken care of for sure. Yeah. And especially as the weather gets warmer, we have the backyard. Like, we expand out here. St. Mark's is going to close. There'll be tables on the street.
- [14:32]
A
Yeah.
- [14:32]
C
It'll just. It'll be easy.
- [14:34]
A
And the baths. Dinner is fun because if I'm not working or at home with you guys, I'm at the baths three to five times a week. And it's like, I only see those homies at the baths. So this is fun to expand our friendship. Like, I've seen you naked. I've seen you sweat. I've seen you in a cold plunge. Maybe we should, like, eat a meal together, you know? Like, that's what I think is at the core of this dinner is like, I think we should all eat food now.
- [15:00]
C
The natural next step.
- [15:01]
A
Yeah.
- [15:02]
C
You know, we should go on a date. Now that I've seen. I've seen all I need to see.
- [15:06]
A
Yeah, Fellas, I've seen your foot fungus. Let's SAP a bow.
- [15:10]
C
Yeah. I love it.
- [15:11]
A
Let's eat. But no, that's. I mean, it's. It's really been exciting being on the block here. Like, I feel like we belong in this neighborhood. It feels correct.
- [15:20]
C
Totally. It's been great. I. I've really enjoyed. Whoa.
- [15:25]
B
Birds caught on tape.
- [15:28]
C
No, I really enjoyed, like, starting to work the lunch shift. So I've been doing a couple days a week, like, serving the lunch, and that has been so much fun. Yeah.
- [15:37]
A
How is it now working with your husband on two things you work with on the pod and now we work restaurant. What. What are. What are some of the. The early reflections?
- [15:45]
C
I'll actually say. Like, I think it's making our relationship stronger and bringing us closer together. Not that we weren't close before.
- [15:54]
A
We're always been very close.
- [15:55]
C
We've always been very close. We've always been very entangled. Like, everything we do. Even when you were writing, like, it would be hilarious. You'd be like, you should right with me on this. And, like, it was just me sitting in your office being like, yeah, that character should have blonde hair. Yeah. I like Sydney Sweeney for that role. Like, just me being a dipshit, like, not knowing really anything. And then your agent's probably being like, get her out of your office. She has bad ideas. But, no, I think it's just really fun. And I. It's, like, been our dream. We've talked about this, our whole relationship, and it's cool that it's come now at in this time. In our lives, because I think we would look at it as, oh, my God, we're going to be in our 40s, 50s, 60s, and retiring. And, like, the idea would be having a little cafe or having a restaurant where we can just go hang out and creating a space with people that we love, but it's just happened a lot quicker. So I think, like, in a way, we're, like, living our dream. That sounds so corny, but it's like, I really do, like, have to pinch myself at times where I'm like, how, like, this is our life. You know, like, we created this, and it's just really cool. And I'm so proud of you.
- [16:59]
A
Thanks, babe.
- [17:00]
C
Corny.
- [17:01]
A
No, no, no. It's just. Honestly, I think when you met me, you're like, where do you see yourself when you're, like, older? And I was like, I want to have a family with you, and I want to have, like, one restaurant I look after, and I'm just like an old Chinese chef sitting on a stool, looking after everything.
- [17:18]
C
Yeah.
- [17:18]
A
And I'm 44, and it's what I'm doing. I sit on that stool. Well, I'll have to show you the stool today, but I sit on the stool, I talk to the guys, I hang with you. Senna comes, and I'm like, this is my ideal life. I would live this day every single day.
- [17:33]
C
Yeah.
- [17:33]
A
I'm extremely happy, and I don't think I've ever. I don't think I've ever been this happy and in touch with, like, who I am and, like, family, which. Which means a lot.
- [17:45]
C
Yeah.
- [17:45]
A
And people say, don't work with your friends. Don't work with your, like, partner. But I will say, if. If the love is there and both people want what's best for the work, it will work. It's actually not that hard because, like, the decisions you need to make that are best for the restaurant, they're quite clear. And it's just about not having an ego and trusting and being vulnerable and talking through stuff. But, like, I mean, everyone loves you here at lunch. You know, it's. It's been amazing. And for me, it's just fun to cook and come say hi to you and sit with you. Like, I don't feel detached. Yeah.
- [18:24]
C
I think that's the really special part. And especially when Senna gets to come here, and it's good for him to understand this, and he's really starting to understand that Mommy and Daddy go to work, and this is how we support our family, and he gets to Come and see that. And he's a part of something, and he's really opening up and warming up to everybody at the restaurant. And I think just his nature is to be a bit more closed off. He's very like, you will never have to teach this kid stranger danger. Like, he meets people and he's like, I'm good. And then he opens up later. But I think it's really allowing him to be more independent and like, outside of us, he just gets to come here and see new people doing different things that we're not doing. And that's cool to see his. The wheels turn in his head and then, like, we're just at work, we get to hang out, we get to spend time with each other. But it's also like this thing that we're building for our family. So that's really special.
- [19:20]
A
I cannot recommend the husband and wife business more. Like, after doing this. Now, I would say if your parents. I highly recommend the husband and wife business combo. Because when, especially if, like, the mom is with the kid all day and the dad is working, I would come home and like, 7 million things have happened in work. And I want to tell you about it. And you're like, I have no context. And also I have 7 million things that have happened with me and your son that I would like to talk to you about. And like, you have no context and you're living separate lives. Especially if both parents work, you have completely separate lives, and then you have separate lives with your kid. And it's just like, what is this? But when you work together, there is so much opportunity to have context and, like, live things together. And in a relationship, that's. That's what I have always wanted is like, to experience things together with you.
- [20:21]
C
Same. But I also think we're very specific. Like, I feel the exact same way as you, but I can also understand people that maybe like that version of life. Like, we're, we're just in tay. We've always been this way. Like, we met each other and it was like, we're going to spend every single waking minute together. And like, separating was hard.
- [20:42]
A
Yeah. I don't think everyone should do this, but I would just say if you are a cosmically entangled couple like us, I recommend it.
- [20:49]
C
You know who I see that is a really good, I think, example of another couple that is. Is very similar is Pia and Davide. Yeah, the Baron Cheney. They, I think, just kind of work together on everything. And it's very like family centric. Like, she's always at Gaia, and, like, he's always a part of what she's doing, and, like, they're very entangled. And I think that that's another good example of a couple that has same kind of, like, ethics when it comes to their family structure.
- [21:17]
A
Nick and Holly. Holly's very plugged in.
- [21:19]
C
Nick and Holly as well. Same. And it's just really special when you're able to do that and especially when you have kids, because there's so many things that, like you said, happen every single day, and these big milestones happen, and your kid, one day they're, like, not saying anything, and then they won't stop talking, and then so these subtle changes happen, and it's just cool to not have to miss that. Like, even when you travel for work, us being able to come so you don't have to dip out for seven weeks on a book tour, and then you come home and you're like, oh, my God, who are these people? Like, a lot changes in seven weeks when you have kids. So, yeah. This whole thing is just very special to me and, like, near and dear to my heart. And this just, like, is. It's just not just a restaurant.
- [22:04]
A
No.
- [22:05]
C
Like, I think I would really want people to understand that, like, this is not just a restaurant. In our eyes. This is, like, spiritual.
- [22:13]
A
Yeah.
- [22:14]
C
For us, in.
- [22:15]
A
In many ways, this is our living room and backyard.
- [22:18]
C
Yeah.
- [22:19]
A
Like, for sure. In New York, you just have an apartment with bedrooms and a kitchen. Cool. This is our living room, and backyard is a restaurant.
- [22:25]
C
And I really see everybody in there as family. Like, I know that you see, like, Jasper and Jaden as, like, surrogate kids for you. Like, not that you're my guys, you know, whatever. Like, everybody in there is your fam. Yeah, same. Like, I love these people.
- [22:39]
A
I talk to the guys 24 hours a day, you know? Like, I know what time they wake up. I know what time to go to sleep. I love them. I know if Jasper's talking to his ex, you know, I mean, like, I know what's going on, and I love. I love these guys. Like, this is. I don't like being disconnected from it.
- [22:55]
C
Yeah.
- [22:56]
A
Yeah. If you're a corny, cosmically entangled couple like us, like, don't let people talk you out of, like, leaning into that. I think that's all I'm saying.
- [23:04]
C
Totally. Should we go to some questions?
- [23:07]
A
Yes. I'm gonna pee.
- [23:08]
C
Okay.
- [23:09]
A
Get the questions clipped up. I'm sure Chris can take it. Or you guys. You guys talk. Talk amongst yourselves.
- [23:13]
C
We'll talk we'll chat.
- [23:14]
B
I mean, I've seen it in you guys for sure. I'm glad that you're working together more. Like, it seemed like the living the siloed lives thing was tough and it makes sense that it was tough and now that you guys have a shared goal. It's beautiful, man. It's good.
- [23:27]
C
Yeah, it's so nice. And I mean, sometimes it's necessary. Like, sometimes you have like one person has to be grinding it out and the other person has to be with the kid or whatever it is or two separate jobs. Like, we're, we're so privileged to have this and I recognize that. But man, like, I think what people might not realize is like the last year, how hard we work.
- [23:48]
B
Oh yeah, I can attest to it. I saw it all. Yeah.
- [23:51]
C
Like this, man, literally for the past year, Woke up at 8am, worked until 11pm Whether it was writing, whether it was cooking, whether it was the pop ups. Like, we had this really. We went to the flower shop last night. They had their God, I think it was 10 year anniversary party. And we like walked into the back kitchen and I, after being here, we did, I did lunch service here, went home, hung out with Senna. He did dinner and met him here. We went over and we walked back in the kitchen and flower shop and I was like, whoa, this is crazy.
- [24:20]
B
Yeah, what are you building a year, dude?
- [24:22]
C
The whole summer last year we just spent in that kitchen. Every day he was in that kitchen literally three weeks out of the month. We would take like four or five days off between pop ups and I was like, just to come back here fresh off Bauhaus dinner service, like was just such a moment to really appreciate like how much he built in a year, which is just crazy. Like I said, you can say whatever you want. No one is out working that man besides you. Like, literally, like it's you and him. I've never met harder workers. Like, it's, it's really crazy.
- [24:55]
B
I appreciate that. Yeah, no, I had the, I have the moment like every once in a while in between like 12 hour days or at the end of it, I just like look around. Like we expanded at the studio, we've added more, you know, rooms and new studios within the space and everything. And I'm just like, I look around and I'm like, damn. I really built this like, like on my own, out of my own pocket. Like, it's crazy. It's a year difference.
- [25:17]
C
It's something that I, I don't think that I experienced until my relationship With Eddie, where there's just some people, like, you're this type of person. He's this type of person. I now, just by proximity, have become this type of person where there's just some people that will have an idea, and they will be. They're just convict. Like, the conviction they have to materialize. That idea is so real and so unshakable. And then so quickly, you see the. The physical, you know, version of the idea in front of your face, and you're just like, holy fuck, that's crazy. I'm just talking about, like, you're the type of person. I've said this to you before where, like, we'll just say something. We'll be like, okay, cool. We want to, like, do this show. And then three weeks later, we're sitting down with people, like, meeting about it. We're writing it. It's happening. People were like, you know, booking cameramen. Like, the. There's the way that it happens. Like, you both are the type of people that have the conviction to make something happen. Like, if you talk about it, you're gonna do it. I tell everybody this. If I tell you I want something, like, I. I feel bad now saying stuff that I'm like, oh, I want to get that one day. Because you're like, oh, I'll get it for you right now. That's just the type of person you are. And it's not about money, and it's not about access or privilege. It's just like, oh, cool. You're like, I won't eat for a week, so you can have that.
- [26:37]
A
Yeah.
- [26:37]
C
Like, you're just that. And you're that type of person about your creative projects. You're like, we're gonna open a restaurant, and it's gonna. Literally three weeks before Bauhaus opened, he came home and told me, cool, we're opening a restaurant. And I was like, okay. Bet. Three weeks later, this shit was. I walked in, I was like, oh, you. You fucking did that? Like, you really did that.
- [26:54]
A
Yeah.
- [26:56]
C
Most people in this world do not do. They'll talk about an idea for years and make excuses. Like, there's no excuses with you. Like, there'll be all of the obstacles, and you will just hop over, hop over, hop over. Skirt side, skirt side. It's gonna happen.
- [27:11]
A
Yeah. I think it's one of the things that is one of my favorite things about me, and I feel like you like it.
- [27:17]
C
Yeah.
- [27:17]
A
But it actually is the thing I have to apologize in the, like, world the most for is I think a lot of people when they have an idea or thought, they expect to be entertained in conversation that, like, if they have an idea or something, that you will talk it out and you'll, like, find a middle ground, and you'll have an opinion, and they'll have an opinion, and you'll find it somewhere in between or together. I've just always been like, I mean, I'm gonna tell you what I think in my gut and what I see, and it doesn't matter to me what you think. Like, you should be able to have your thought. And I have my thought. And people are, I think, taken aback sometimes. Like, no, the camera should go there. And they're like, well, let's talk about, like. No, I. I'm telling you, like, if I'm directing this, I know the camera should go here and the person should sit there and like.
- [28:11]
C
But.
- [28:11]
A
But. And I'm like, no, like, I'm just telling you, if you want me to do this, it's gonna be there.
- [28:15]
B
You gotta find the people that want the same things. The same things that can. Rather than, like, compromising on your idea. Because then it's gonna be shit.
- [28:22]
A
Yeah.
- [28:23]
B
If you compromise on the idea, the idea is going to be shit. So you got to find the people that can bring it together and want to make the same thing.
- [28:28]
A
Yes. And, like, I get along really well with our CDC Ray here, because even when I ask him something, he's like, you know, I think the brisket should be thicker. And I'm like, no, I think the brisket should be thinner. And we'll both just be like, we disagree. And then we're like, all right, try them. And then we talk. And neither of us is trying to compromise. Both of us are trying to get our dish on.
- [28:49]
B
Yeah. Let the rubber hit the road, though. Like, test it out, see what's actually better. I love that. That's how everything should be.
- [28:54]
C
Ye.
- [28:54]
A
Yeah. And both of us are really good at being like, all right, your ideal one. Yeah. And like, I like that.
- [28:59]
B
Yeah.
- [28:59]
C
Yeah.
- [28:59]
A
That's how I like to do Shit.
- [29:01]
C
I think I'm going to let this truck pass. But, yeah, no, I think being around this energy has really. I think as women in this society, in this world, women are very conditioned to, like, beat this out of us. We're very conditioned to be like, oh, if you think the camera should go there, like, we'll give it a shot. And if it doesn't work, then we could maybe try it my way. And you kind of like, you know, you make yourself a little Bit smaller. You don't, like, fight for your ideas as much. But I think any woman like, hearing this if you're listening. And, like, this was not. This was very much something that, like, I've been inspired by and I've now started to implement in my life just in different ways, even in, like, friendships or even in my relationship with my mom. Like, sometimes now I'm just like, no, this is how I feel, and this is what I want to say, and this is what I want. And, like, it's just cool that you've created an environment for men and women. Doesn't matter where you foster that in people. And I think that that is so important, especially for women. We truly are conditioned to, like, not have opinions and not have big opinions and not take up too much space and, like, you know, like, whatever. Be agreeable, but it's like, be less agreeable and say what the you want and say it with your whole ass chest and, like, don't be scared to do it. Who cares if people are mad? Let them be mad. But say what the fuck you want and, like, fight for it.
- [30:18]
A
And, you know, the moment I learned that women have a completely different experience and expectation with things like that was I wrote a female character for an actor once, and I told her, yo, run downhill. She knows what she wants. Go for it. And she just kept delivering the line a little bit la de da, la de da. And, like, agreeable. And I was like, yo, why aren't you just running down the hill with this? Like, she knows this character knows who she is and what she wants. And after a few takes, she was like, eddie, I just, like, don't want the audience to hate me. I was like, what? And she's like, the audience doesn't like a woman like, that. They want a woman who's, like, more agreeable and, like, is open to other things. And I was like, I. I'm sorry. Like, I feel bad also run down the hill. And it was very difficult, but I felt for her. I empathize and I understood. And, like, from that moment on, I was like, oh. The world makes it significantly harder for women to be blunt and direct. And so I appreciate a blunt, direct woman. You have to go against so much to do it.
- [31:26]
C
Yeah. The cliche is like, a woman who knows what she wants and is direct is a bitch, and a man who does it is a boss.
- [31:33]
A
It's whack.
- [31:33]
C
Interesting, you know, interesting for that to be the take. But I do hope for the world that that's changing and we're moving in a direction where there's more people, men, women even, that are susceptible and open to that change and that shift in narrative. Because I think it's really important. Like, I mean, women just. I'm biased, man. But, like, we create life.
- [31:56]
A
Yeah. I mean, I found it very attractive because honestly, on our first date, we're walking out of fucking Zanku, and you just go, I'd like to delay pleasure. And like any other man, I could have taken it as like, oh, that's patronizing. That's condescending. You, like, literally went like this. Like, let's delay pleasure. And I was like, oh, that's cool. She knows what she wants. I don't have to guess. I don't gotta think. And also, it's not my place to convince her otherwise. Yeah, I was just like, she knows. What am I gonna do? Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Let me get like, a crumb of pussy, though.
- [32:27]
C
Yeah.
- [32:28]
A
Can I get, like, a side dish of pussy?
- [32:31]
C
But really, like, think films, like, he's just not that into you. Or all these. These things that have, like, been indoctrinated, like, women, these conversations that we have of, oh, my God, I don't think I should sleep with him on the first date because what if he thinks this? Or maybe I shouldn't make him wait too long. Because then if he. What if he loses, it's like, what he thinks.
- [32:48]
B
Like, just live, like, feel it out, whatever.
- [32:51]
C
Any other person, if they feel some type of way about the. That you're doing that is comfortable to you and that makes you feel good, that's not your person. Those aren't people you should be around. Those aren't your friends. Those aren't. That job doesn't align with you. Like, I'm not saying blow your whole shit up, but, like, you don't wager on the self respects.
- [33:09]
A
All the. Pick Misha should die and be resurrected on Easter crisis.
- [33:14]
C
And pick me. Pick Misha.
- [33:16]
A
And arise as people with a point of view who will not be shaken or compromised.
- [33:23]
C
Yeah, like, we shouldn't. We should not force half of society to have to think before they talk. Like, we women, we should just be able to talk and say what we feel and think. Let's get into questions. I could just talk about this all day. Like, I really. I could. Go on. Okay. Damn, this is the craziest one. Can you read the email he sent you saying he was in love? Like, fuck it, why not? We're not going to read that email. But I will reiterate that it was in my spam folder for multiple days.
- [33:54]
A
Also get the novel.
- [33:56]
C
Yeah. Actually read Come Undone. Come Undone is essentially about this time in our lives. So, June 16, how did you both. Both find out you had a foot fetish?
- [34:10]
A
You know, I think for. I don't know if it's a fetish. It's more just like a delightful treat. Yeah, I'm into it. Yeah. But I'm not like.
- [34:19]
C
Yeah, you're never like, oh, can. Well, I think you have a boot fetish.
- [34:23]
A
I have a boot fetish. You're like, footwear.
- [34:25]
C
Yes. You're into boots, for sure. Yeah. I'm not so much.
- [34:28]
A
A strappy heel. Yeah, Like a strappy heel.
- [34:31]
C
Yeah. You know, I'm into, like. I just think it's hot if somebody, like, puts your foot in their mouth. Like, I just. I don't know that that's a foot fetish, but I just think it's, like, hot if somebody's licking your foot. Like, it's just, like. It's erotic.
- [34:45]
A
Yeah.
- [34:45]
C
You know what I mean? Like, it's. It's erotic, it's sensual. Like, that's real intimacy. Like, you could suck anybody's dick. You can make out with anybody. But, like, when somebody's putting your foot in their mouth, like, that's real intimacy shit for me.
- [34:58]
A
Yeah. Honestly. On. When either party puts the foot in the mouth, it's just like, you're pushing the boundaries of naughty. And I like it.
- [35:06]
C
Yeah.
- [35:07]
A
I like it a lot.
- [35:08]
C
What is one of the most romantic things you guys have done for each other? I know my answer for what you've done for me.
- [35:17]
A
Oh, I know mine.
- [35:18]
C
Okay, you can go first.
- [35:20]
A
I definitely think because we were down so bad last year, there's two things, and they're like, the simplest things. Yeah, I definitely. Because I'm like, one of those funny act of service, love, language people. But last year, when we were down super, super bad, we really couldn't spend much money. And for Christmas, you knew that, like, when the flower shop instituted the policy of, like, no drinking bottled water there, I just started drinking the tap water. That was nasty. Sometimes it came out funky. It's great. It's been fixed. But either way, when you got me the Knicks canteen so that we could bring water to work, I just thought that was extremely thoughtful and showed you cared and pay attention. And for me, it's not about money or anything, but, like, you know, I love the Knicks. And I was, like, thirsty, drinking bad water all the time. So that was big. The other one was the Moment that you had any bandwidth or time when my health was really bad, you just started making me soup. And when I came home from work and I was tired, I, like, really loved drinking those soups. And that just made me feel, like, cared for.
- [36:27]
C
Yeah.
- [36:27]
A
Like somebody cared. Someone was taking care of me. That meant a lot. That. That really meant a lot.
- [36:33]
C
That's sweet. I think for me, two things. Our entire relationship. Every single morning, you make me coffee. I could make my own coffee, you know, like. But I think it's just really sweet that it's the thing that you do for me.
- [36:49]
A
Yeah. Every day.
- [36:50]
C
And, like, you wake up and, like, first things first. Like, even Senna will be like, daddy, I want to play. And you're like, I have to make mom coffee. And it's cool for him to see, too. Like, I think that it's, like, romantic on so many levels for me, but it's also teaching Senna to be. To love, like his mom. Love women do some. Like, you need to do something for women. Like, be sweet, be nice, be thoughtful. And then, I mean, the second thing would be come undone. I think that while maybe you didn't write that book for me or entirely about me, but I think it.
- [37:22]
A
Oh, no, it's about you.
- [37:24]
C
I think it's just, like, such a.
- [37:25]
A
For the record, I mean, as like,
- [37:27]
C
a woman, I don't think that there's. I. For me personally, like, I couldn't, like, dream up a better. A more romantic gesture. It's like, you wrote a novel that I forever could read and, like, revisit and relive the early days of our relationship, and it's just cool. Like, I always. Whenever I go back and read it and I haven't read it in a while, and I think I'll read the print version of it with everybody else, because I want to read it with the collective while when it comes out. But, like, I always just, like. It's. It's like we. I, like, fall back in love with you when I read it. Do you know what I mean? It's, like, very sweet.
- [38:06]
A
Yeah. We had a writer in here who I really respect last night. I won't. I won't say who. They have a book coming out, like, a couple weeks before mine. And this is a writer I've respected for a long time, is a really good friend, and they were just like, yo, I'm like, I'm anxious about my novel coming out. And I knew, you know, like, a lot of writers feel anxious about stuff, and it makes sense. And she Was just like, are you anxious about yours? And I was like, I'm not trying to be, like, better. Because it's not better than, like, she may be correct to be anxious and maybe I should be anxious, But I was just like, I'm not anxious because I meant everything I said and come undone. It is exactly how I feel. It was not curbed for anyone. I refused to write a version of that book that compromised how I feel about you and life and my parents for an audience. I just refused. I was like, this isn't like an exercise in making money. This is how I feel. And that's why I have no anxiety and I don't care what happens. Like, I would love for people to read it and appreciate it and feel seen and heard and connect with it. That's what every writer wants. But if not, I'm like, it doesn't change how I feel. It's how I feel. And I think that's the theme of this episode. It's like, yeah, you shouldn't change how you feel.
- [39:22]
C
Yeah.
- [39:22]
A
How you feel is how you feel.
- [39:24]
C
And don't apologize for it either. Like, don't feel bad for feeling the way you feel because other people don't understand it.
- [39:30]
A
Yeah.
- [39:31]
C
Or maybe think that you should feel differently.
- [39:34]
A
And that's something you taught me a while back. Because when we get in arguments, the biggest thing I'd be like, hey, babe, that's not logical that you're upset. You know, it's not reasonable that you're upset about this.
- [39:45]
B
Girls love that.
- [39:47]
C
Yeah, we love. We love to hear that almost as much as smile.
- [39:50]
A
Yeah. And she turned around and was just like, you cannot tell someone how to feel about something. I'm gonna feel this way whether it's logical or you're not. And I was like, oh, yeah, you don't say. And it was like a real awakening moment. And like, yeah, I'm a dumb man. It took me 43 years to be like, oh, sheep man.
- [40:13]
C
Yeah.
- [40:13]
A
Like, can't control how somebody feels.
- [40:18]
B
We're all like that.
- [40:19]
C
Yeah, we'll get into. We'll. We'll take it less deep for this one. What meal pairs best with a Coke?
- [40:26]
A
Oh, Chinese food. I gotta say, Chinese food, Kung pao chicken, twice cooked pork.
- [40:32]
C
You know what my answer is? Every meal, baby. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I don't know a meal that doesn't pair well with a Coke at a diner having a steak and eggs Coke.
- [40:42]
A
Sushi doesn't.
- [40:43]
C
I'll have a Coke with sushi. I don't give a I'll have a Coke with anything nasty. You hear that? Do you hear that? Coca Cola. I'll have breakfast, lunch and dinner, baby. Nightcap. Pop a Coke. Coke Zero. No caffeine.
- [40:56]
A
I'm gonna say this. Sushi. No. Soup noodles. No.
- [41:00]
C
Super. Are you kidding me? A ramen with a Coke. You're out of your mind. A ramen with a Coke is everything.
- [41:06]
A
I'm thinking hard. I'm trying to think hard of what doesn't go with it. I would say sushi. I would say soup noodles. I would say charcuterie. I don't want. I don't want charcuterie with Coca Cola.
- [41:19]
C
That's crazy to me. A little red wine with some Coca Cola and a fucking charcuterie moment. Get out of here. Get out of here. Put. Mix the red wine with the Coca Cola and do the hokey pokey bitch.
- [41:31]
B
Okay, what about. What's the best pairing with a Gatorade though?
- [41:33]
A
Oh, come on, dog. Honestly. Honestly. I can't lie. Like sex. A little. A little. A taste of foot. Roll over. Gatorades.
- [41:47]
C
A little glacial. What is it?
- [41:51]
A
What else? A beef pat. I like Gatorade with Caribbean food.
- [41:53]
C
That's good.
- [41:54]
A
Barbecue jerk chicken. Let me get some good Greek food. Like anything with like flame charcoal grill. Gatorade, lemon lime. Gatorade. Fruit punch. Gatorade.
- [42:04]
C
Oh, yeah.
- [42:05]
A
Gummy bears, Bodega snacks, Chips.
- [42:08]
C
Yes. Like anything from a bodega with a Gatorade. That's like the one.
- [42:13]
A
Gatorade.
- [42:14]
C
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [42:16]
A
Gatorade movie. Gatorade.
- [42:18]
C
Hi. Okay, we'll do one last question. Navigating biracial relationships and cultural differences.
- [42:26]
A
Oh, what about it?
- [42:27]
C
I guess just like our take on it. Oh, I think embrace it. Like I embrace the. Out of your culture and you embrace my culture. And I think like doing the Greek Easter barbecue at the Taiwanese Chinese restaurant. Like, especially if you have kids, do the maximum of embracing of the other parents culture because that only benefits your child.
- [42:51]
A
I also just think it's fun. Yeah, I've always just thought cultural exchange was fun. I always thought like Warren growing up across the street was from New Orleans. And I just felt like Louisiana culture, New Orleans culture was so cool to absorb. Like any of my friends. Persian, Jewish, Russian, Dominican. Like I don't think I've met a culture that I didn't enjoy being a part of and experiencing.
- [43:14]
C
I agree.
- [43:14]
A
Like the homies converted me to Islam for a week in like 9th.
- [43:17]
C
What was your name?
- [43:19]
A
I didn't get a name. I like, I learned like, you know, the pillars. And I learned the tenants of it, but really it was because we were playing cards during lunch. We played tonk Ghetto rummy. And, like, all the dudes playing were Palestinian, and they were just like, yo, you should be Muslim. And I was like, all right, cool. Who tried this? And Mike Tyson had just gotten out of jail and was Muslim. I was like, this shit cool. Muhammad Ali, you know this shit cool.
- [43:43]
C
Yeah.
- [43:43]
A
But I think.
- [43:45]
C
And then, now that I'm thinking about it, I think if there's cultural expectations and, like, familial standards, like, something that you taught me was that I should be serving tea for your parents, or if we're at the dinner table, or I should be, like, serving whatever dish. And I think I. I like that. I respect that, for sure. And there would be times where maybe we'd be sitting down for dinner. That's just, like, not the norm in my culture. And I would forget. And then I would be like, oh. Like, they probably. Maybe they feel some type of way or feel that I'm disrespecting them. But I think as long as you're just trying, and as long as you put forth minimal effort, like, things typically are fine.
- [44:26]
A
Yeah.
- [44:26]
C
And then I know that there's instances where there's probably, like, blowouts and things bubble under the surface and whatever, but I think, like, do your best to educate yourself. Try. Especially if you love the person. It's like, why wouldn't you?
- [44:39]
A
Your culture has been so much easier to be a part of. It's like, the parents love the children. The children come first. Just the adults just sit outside and smoke cigs. Like, if you're old, you're outside smoking cigs, playing cards, drinking that, like, what. It looks like vodka, but I know it's not vodka, and it's crazy.
- [44:56]
C
Yeah.
- [44:56]
A
And then kids, just be inside. Do whatever you want, and you can do no wrong. Basically, I'm like, this is a good culture. This is good.
- [45:04]
C
Yeah. It's not very productive.
- [45:05]
A
No one's, like, asking what grades you got or what you got on the sat. No one's playing piano.
- [45:11]
C
No.
- [45:11]
A
No one has a violin. We're just like, yo, you like your kid?
- [45:15]
C
You.
- [45:15]
A
You like your kids?
- [45:16]
C
We're still talking about sp.
- [45:17]
B
Sparta.
- [45:17]
C
Like, we're still being like, would you have gone to war or would we have thrown you over the wall? Like, that's the conversation. A lot of, like, philosophy.
- [45:25]
A
Every five minutes, someone's like, greeks invented that. Greeks invented that. And I'm like, all right. Oh, you guys are like, chill. Because you invented everything. You have nothing left to do.
- [45:32]
C
Yeah.
- [45:33]
A
And you, at the end of inventing everything and living many generations, you're like, just love your children.
- [45:38]
C
Yeah.
- [45:38]
A
I'm like, this is culture.
- [45:40]
B
Such an underrated, zero life cycle of culture.
- [45:43]
C
Literally, there's zero. Zero expectations. Like, it was so crazy for me to, like, meet Eddie. And he was like, my parents needed me to do. And I was like.
- [45:50]
A
My mom was like, a house.
- [45:52]
C
Yeah. My mom was just like, have fun and enjoy life. Like, be a free spirit. Like, party. Do everything you can. Just be happy and have fun. And I was like, what if I don't have a job? She was like, that's cool, too, man. Like, there was no. I had no. There was. Nobody had any expectations for me. They were like, you being here and being cute and funny is enough.
- [46:12]
A
You want to see how deep it is? And my dad is funny. My dad. Everything about Asian expectation, my dad has been able to flip on its head and make, like, funny.
- [46:18]
C
Yeah.
- [46:19]
A
So I was able to laugh at it. But I remember one time I was, like, showering when I was, like, 14. He just, like, pulls the curtain, goes, how big's the dick? I was like, what, bro? You are really checking my stats, man.
- [46:31]
C
As if you don't already do that to Senna. No, Senna was in my womb. And he was like. We were looking at the sonogram, and he was going, dick looks big. The doctor was like, but I was
- [46:41]
A
just doing that to try to make the doctor laugh.
- [46:43]
C
No, I know, because on the Sonic,
- [46:44]
A
I was like, dude, he's got a hammer. And the doctor was just like, what is this guy talking?
- [46:50]
C
Just had, like, a full wand inside of me. Like, oh, yeah, great.
- [46:53]
A
Every. Every visit, I just be like, oh, this kid's carrying a hog. And is your husband okay?
- [47:00]
C
There's somewhere. There's, like, a file maybe on us. I was like, are they fit to raise a child?
- [47:06]
A
Well, look, I have to pee again. I love the mailbag questions.
- [47:09]
C
They're great.
- [47:10]
A
Anyone listening? Please continue to send questions.
- [47:12]
C
You could just DM me them.
- [47:14]
A
They're cute.
- [47:15]
C
Yeah. This is really good. This is a good place to end. Yeah.
- [47:18]
A
Wonderful. This is fantastic.