How many people does your fridge need to feed?
It doesn’t really need to feed anyone because this is New York City so I could theoretically—and not just theoretically but actually—not eat here at all. I could have only some coffee and milk in there, or maybe a bottle of champagne and a couple of candy bars, like plenty of people I know. But, technically, it only needs to feed me, but it often feeds my girlfriend, although she increasingly likes to cook on her own, and we both work from home so we’re out and about a lot.
What do you usually eat for breakfast?
I have a pretty regimented breakfast. I’m on a little bit of an older-age diet, so I’m very religious about it, except on the weekends: I eat a Glutino English muffin with Earth Balance vegan butter and maybe a couple berries or grapes, and I have coffee with either fat-free half-and-half or whole organic milk, and a little bit of agave. On the weekends I usually wake up later and have something quick with my coffee when I get up. For instance, this morning I had some vegan spanakopita my building super brought over and then a couple hours later I made breakfast tacos with corn tortillas, melted Swiss cheese, a little bit of maple turkey sausage, sautéed onions, rock sea salt, and avocado. For my post-breakfast snack I’ve been eating some baby potatoes—I like to give myself a little starch in the morning to kill that craving.
Is there anything you eat every day?
Coffee. I’ve cut down on alcohol, sugar, carbs, cigarettes. But I have coffee everyday. I refuse to cut out caffeine.
Every week?
I love berries, especially blackberries or strawberries. I usually have cheese in some form or another, like most people. My favorite is Gruyere and I usually keep some good Gruyere around for a treat, and organic Swiss or cheddar slices.
What item are you forbidden from purchasing right now?
I’m generally not a forbidder—never say never—but I’ve been forbidding myself some packaged foods, and I don’t allow myself packaged candy or too many coffee drinks that are loaded with milk fillers. I sort of bend on things like energy bars or vegan cookies if I need a jolt when I’m out and about, and I occasionally eat those weird baked fries that are a good option if you crave a Cheeto and can’t have it. And I’m not allowed to buy organic Mallomars, or dark-chocolate-covered pretzels or graham crackers, because I have no control around them. And bagels: if I could eat anything and not gain weight, it would be bagels.
What’s the most delicious thing in here?
I always have ice cream because my girlfriend is an ice cream fanatic.
The most disgusting?
The Mike’s Hard Cranberry Lemonade that some Airbnb subletters left. I keep thinking that maybe I’ll randomly have a fratboy over and he’ll want some, but it’s unlikely.
The oldest?
Without a doubt the Super 8 film that someone got me for my birthday years ago because I’m a fan of Super 8 and analog and video films. Even though I know it’s probably on death’s door I haven’t had the heart to throw it out.
What's your guilty pleasure?
Dark-chocolate-covered pretzels and graham crackers, or some kind of chocolate peanut butter combination thing. Or just a fucking plain bagel.
Where do you do most of your food shopping?
I get meat and bigger items from Whole Foods usually, and I get most of my fruit, eggs, milk, and things like that from Khim’s Millennial Market or the place across the street from me—I’m totally guilty of going to hipster, jacked-up, gentrified places for most of my basics.
How much do you spend on groceries each week?
$40 on average, because some weeks I’ll spend nothing and some weeks I’ll spend $60 or $70.
How often do you go grocery shopping?
Lately I’ve been going a lot because I’ve been trying to eat better and drop a little weight before the summer, so I’ve been trying to stock my house with non-processed things. But sometimes I’ll go as little as every two weeks.
What percentage of your meals do you prepare at home?
Right now it’s higher: 30-50%, because, with the exception of dinner, I’m pretty much eating everything here. In the past I’d easily go full weeks without a single home cooked dinner but lately I’ve been making some simple meals at home.
Is there anything in here that we would have found in your childhood fridge?
Not much. My mom was a complete healthnut, an anal, lifetime Weight Watchers kind of person. She always had tons of fat-free products. I use an occasional fat-free product but I don’t think they’re great. And my mom has more condiments and sauces than anyone I’ve ever encountered, like weird garlic pesto mayonnaise kinds of things.
What do you wish you had in here?
Some organic duck that my girlfriend could cook because she’s really good at making French food.
Lauryn is a multimedia producer and artist and she’s holding a Taiwanese sports drink that was a gift and that she keeps because she admires the can even though she suspects that its contents probably taste like cat pee. She lives in Bushwick, Brooklyn.