Dinner’s On Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Episode: Side Dish: More Phil Rosenthal
Release Date: March 26, 2026
Episode Overview
This “Side Dish” episode features a warm and candid continuation of Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s conversation with Phil Rosenthal, the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond and the beloved host of Somebody Feed Phil. Over a meal at LA’s Holbox, they explore topics ranging from the formative power of food and family, to Jesse’s new theatrical project, to the deep influence of Phil’s Holocaust-survivor parents. The episode is filled with humor, relatable family moments, and heartfelt reflections — peppered with L.A. food talk and showbiz insights.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Jesse's New York Theater Roots & The Play “Tru”
(03:08–08:41)
- Jesse discusses his current project: starring in a one-man play, Tru, about Truman Capote, staged in an intimate, historic brownstone in New York’s Upper East Side.
- He shares the personal draw of Capote and how his New Mexico upbringing fueled his need for a big city and creative risk-taking.
“I needed to be in New York City...That’s where I became, like. That’s where I came out of my shell. That’s where I, you know, became the version of me that exists today.”
— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (05:42)
- Phil responds with playful banter about old age stage makeup and reminisces about college theater days.
- Jesse reveals that the idea for Tru grew from reading the play and that he acquired the rights to see his vision through personally.
Notable moment:
Phil jokes about Jesse looking too young for the role after shaving — and they both laugh at the challenges of “playing old”:
“When I shave, I look younger than I should look. And it’s a problem. It’s a terrible, terrible problem...There’ll be these lines...nasal lobby folds.”
— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (03:28)
2. Food, New Mexico, and “Breaking Out”
(04:59–06:20)
- Jesse and Phil swap stories about New Mexico cuisine, Santa Fe versus Albuquerque, and local pride/infamy over TV shows like Breaking Bad.
- Jesse explains how moving from Albuquerque to New York allowed him to come into his own after feeling sheltered due to bullying and not fitting in.
“But it was. New York was a really great place for me to sort of spread my wings.”
— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (06:19)
3. Parenting, Family Legacy & Lessons from Holocaust-Survivor Parents
(10:28–17:41)
- Phil reflects deeply on being a parent and the profound impact of his upbringing—especially by parents who survived the Holocaust.
- He shares touching and humorous stories about his father’s generosity—like the time his dad donated clothes to a struggling family of a different faith, unannounced.
“To see your dad do something like that...that gesture was so unexpected and so beautiful. This is not our religion. These are not our people. Right. But he does this because it touched his heart...This has stayed with me my entire life.”
— Phil Rosenthal (15:25)
- Both agree that kids learn more from seeing kindness than from lectures:
“You can talk till you’re blue in the face. If they see you doing something terrible, that’s what they’re gonna remember...But then I guess they were listening.”
— Phil Rosenthal (11:11, 12:22)
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Phil recounts his parents’ stories: his father escaping Germany after Kristallnacht, and his mother surviving a concentration camp as a child.
-
Jesse warmly acknowledges how Phil honors his parents on his TV program, calling the episode about them a “30 minute love letter to your parents.”
“And there’s so many people that you don’t even know who love your parents because they loved watching them.”
— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (16:29)
4. The “Community” of Restaurants & Max and Helen’s
(18:47–22:19)
- The two gush over favorite Los Angeles restaurants — Anajak Thai, Mozza, Bestia, and Max and Helen’s (Phil’s own diner, named in honor of his parents).
- Jesse lovingly describes the diner’s comforting details; Phil draws parallels between running a diner and producing a hit sitcom.
“You know what it feels like when I walk in there? It feels like we have a hit show...when people would come to the taping of Raymond, you see that they’re happy to be there. They laugh...Same at the diner. It’s all show business. Right. We built a set. We cast it. The food are the jokes that have to be good, otherwise nobody’s coming back.”
— Phil Rosenthal (20:39)
- The pair reflect on their affection for the LA food scene and their mutual investments in restaurants such as the much-loved (now closed) All Day Baby.
5. Showbiz Resilience & the Power of Persistence
(23:30–25:07)
- Discussion shifts to Jesse’s admiration for the culinary world and Phil’s own James Beard Award win for Somebody Feed Phil, which made the jump from PBS to Netflix after initial funding challenges.
- Both agree success is often born from stubbornness and bouncing back from rejection.
“Every single [Oscar] speech is the same. So what does it teach you? That if you make something a priority in your life, you simply won’t stop until it’s done.”
— Phil Rosenthal (24:34)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On breaking out of small-town roots:
“I was very sheltered and very, like, self sheltered in Albuquerque...New York was a really great place for me to sort of spread my wings.”
— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (06:05–06:19) -
On parenting and legacy:
“You show them that we give to charity...We help people. That gets through.”
— Phil Rosenthal (12:37–12:44) -
On the diner as community and showbiz:
“It’s the exact same feeling...It’s all show business. ...The food are the jokes that have to be good, otherwise nobody’s coming back.”
— Phil Rosenthal (20:39) -
On persistence in creative careers:
“If we give up, it means because something else became the priority. Like having a normal life where you're not just beating your head against the wall. But I kept beating my head against the wall until it made a crack. And in my head.”
— Phil Rosenthal (24:49)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 03:08–08:41 — Jesse discusses the play Tru, theater roots, and coming to New York.
- 09:09–10:28 — Segue to the next course: Family, parenting, and the lessons kids absorb.
- 10:30–17:41 — Phil recounts stories about his parents, Holocaust survival, and family generosity.
- 18:50–22:19 — Favorite LA restaurants, Max and Helen’s, and what makes a great neighborhood eatery.
- 23:30–25:07 — Reflections on creative resilience, James Beard wins, and making your own opportunities.
Overall Tone & Style
The conversation is by turns playful, affectionate, honest, and deeply heartfelt. Both Jesse and Phil bring warmth, self-deprecating humor, and vulnerability to the table—literally and figuratively—with Phil’s stories about family and Jesse’s perspective on art and self-creation providing the heart of the episode. The dynamic is natural and inviting—like sitting in on an exceptionally charming dinner among friends.
For Further Listening
Listeners are encouraged to check out the full Dinner’s on Me episode for a deeper dive with Phil Rosenthal, and to watch the special episode of Somebody Feed Phil dedicated to his parents. Next week’s guest is Jenna Dewan, promising new conversations about dance, resilience, and love.