In short
Arden Myrin discusses growing up in Rhode Island and New Jersey as a “fun garbage house” of unlimited snacks, then recounts her comedy path through Chicago and New York, and her LA eating habits (especially shared ordering and dessert hoarding).
Guest backgrounds
Arden Marine (Arden Myrin) is a writer, actress, producer, and comedian known for The Righteous Gemstones, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Freebird. She grew up in Little Compton, Rhode Island, and North Caldwell, New Jersey.
Key claims
Her childhood home had unlimited TV and snacks with “no rules.” Her parents hoarded seasonal candies (including devil dogs and Mint M&Ms) and even did “one bite” diets. She says LA restaurants are often about shared plates and she eats messily but loves food.
Notable examples
Mayor Buddy Cianci’s “Mayor’s Choice” pasta sauce; Rhode Island’s Dell’s Frozen Lemonade and coffee milk; Juan Teton Burritos in Chicago; New York spots like Cafe Con Leche and Emerald Planet; LA favorites like tacos guisados and “good ass salad” at all time on Hillhurst; Sunset Tower’s massive sundae; Magpie’s soft serve; Carvel ice cream cakes.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOGrowing Up in Rhode Island: A Snack House
0:45 to 3:40
Arden shares her childhood experiences growing up in a fun and unconventional household in Rhode Island.
“I also have to say, you said you grew up in Rhode Island.”
Unique Food Experiences: The Mafia and Local Delicacies
3:40 to 6:40
Discussion on Rhode Island's mafia history and its impact on local cuisine.
“No, it's like closer to New York, so it's only like about 35 minutes outside of New York.”
Snack Preferences and Childhood Memories
6:40 to 9:50
Exploring Arden's favorite snacks and the quirky ways her family enjoyed food.
“By the way, this thing is the third time devil dogs has come up in this conversation.”
The Iconic Snack Cakes and Hoarding Habits
9:50 to 12:40
A fun debate on favorite snack cakes, including the nostalgia surrounding them.
“There was a part of my story that was like, who is this character in like a Will Ferrell movie?”
The Influence of Parents on Snack Choices
12:40 to 14:00
Discussion on how Arden's parents shaped her snack habits and hoarding tendencies.
“put them in a cocktail glass, watch his nightly programs, and then if he liked you, he had a few extra for guests, but he doled them out.”
The Joy of Starburst Jelly Beans
14:00 to 15:05
Discover the nostalgic love for Starburst jelly beans and personal hoarding habits.
“I will die on the hill of Starburst jelly beans.”
Improv and Early Career in Chicago
15:10 to 18:08
The guest shares their experiences of doing improv in Chicago and the vibrant comedy scene.
“So where did you when did you end up in L.A.?”
Late Night Adventures and Food
18:08 to 18:44
Exploring late-night food culture in Chicago with anecdotes about burritos and eating habits.
“So it was not, it was not like a sophisticated 19.”
Navigating Stand-Up Comedy Life
18:44 to 21:21
Insights into the challenges and respect for the stand-up comedy lifestyle.
“We would then be like, let's go to it was always one time.”
Arrival in New York City
21:21 to 21:44
The excitement of moving to New York and living in a vibrant neighborhood.
“Because I wouldn't want to be eating between.”
Show all 17 chapters
Food Memories from New York
21:44 to 24:34
A discussion of memorable food experiences in New York during the late 90s.
“I'm at the best I love New York where were you living?”
Transition to LA Food Scene
24:34 to 26:10
The conversation shifts to comparing food experiences in LA with those in New York.
“There was no getting sales anywhere, right?”
Favorite LA Eateries and Food Culture
26:10 to 28:01
Exploring favorite restaurants and the unique food culture in Los Angeles.
“Also, like, their sweet potato sides are insane.”
Dining Etiquette and Food Sharing
28:01 to 29:52
Discussing dining habits, food sharing preferences, and expectations on dates.
“Like, so I guess that's what I'm asking is when you go out in restaurants in L.A., people eat.”
The Joy of Ordering Food
29:52 to 32:10
Exploring the excitement of ordering food and the social dynamics around it.
“where I've had the waiter tell me I've ordered too much food.”
Ice Cream Adventures at Sunset Tower
32:10 to 34:19
Sharing experiences about ice cream at Sunset Tower and favorite menu items.
“I eat at the Sunset Tower when I go to L.A.”
Soft Serve vs. Hard Serve
34:39 to 37:18
Debating soft serve versus hard serve and reminiscing about childhood ice cream experiences.
“There's a peanut butter soft serve that I get with rainbow sprinkles because I'm elegant.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00I feel like both of us are salivating a little bit and we get we're both a little excited and I can feel that both of us are kind of like actually thinking about Twinkies in a way that's kind of our tails are wagging.
0:09Arden Myrin:Hi, welcome to Snacks. I'm Jo Salts, the editorial director of Delish, and this is the podcast where we dig into the crazy food habits of your favorite stars. My guest today is someone you'll definitely recognize from some of your favorite shows like The Righteous Gemstones, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Freebird. But she's also a writer, actress, and producer, and hilarious comedian. Please welcome Arden Marine. And we'll be right back.
0:45Arden Myrin:Oh my god, I love snacks. I love snacks. I love snacks. I'm so excited that you love snacks. I also have to say, you said you grew up in Rhode Island. Yeah. What part of Rhode Island did you grow up in? Little Compton. I know Narragansett same diff Narragansett's a bougier version of Little Compton but it's like the same sort of like Olive Kitteridge vibe sort of seaside salty yes farmers but it's so pretty there and I mean also I feel like Rhode Island like New Jersey are like forgotten gems yes they're the forgotten stuff daughters they're not Cinderella they're not going to win this America The actual armpit of America.
1:28That's right. That's what we always get. Yeah.
1:29Arden Myrin:But I also really feel like there's decent food in Rhode Island. Oh. First of all, incredible Italian food. Yes. Wild. Why is there such good Italian food there? Now, then I'm not trying to stereotype here. I'm not trying to. This doesn't coexist. There's a big Italian population. It also was, growing up, the mafia capital of New England. I did not know that. So our mayor of Providence, Buddy Cianci, he was a convicted felon. He got put in jail twice and got reelected twice. Oh, beautiful. America. He had his own sauce called Mayor's Choice, a pasta sauce. Really? Yes. It was pretty fun. It's like a salty thing.
2:09Arden Myrin:So what era is this? That was like 80s, 90s. Yeah. And he had like a toupee that he called the squirrel. Oh, my God. And he hung out at a piano bar called Chip Riani's. And he got thrown in jail because his girlfriend was cheating on him. and he had an off-duty police officer drive to her lover's house and he beat the guy up with a fireplace and iron and put a cigar out on his business. You know what I'm talking about? Yeah. Isn't that fun? What a story. That's a story. But also sauce. And he made a sauce. And he made a sauce. Did you ever buy a sauce? I did. Was it good? It was really good. Okay.
2:43Arden Myrin:Do they still make it? I bet we could probably get it on eBay. I know. I was just going to say, someone on Amazon is going to sell it. Honestly, he also had his own coffee. Really? And the state drink of Rhode Island is both Dell's Frozen Lemonade and coffee milk. Dell's Frozen Lemonade is delicious. It's fantastic. I like snacks. I like flavors. I'm a hungry girl who likes to eat. I like Dell's Frozen Lemonade. So good. Did you ever have D 'Angelo's or anything like that? You didn't have that in New Jersey? No, we did not. It's like a, we called them Grinders, but it was like a sub shop. I will not acknowledge Grindr, but I will acknowledge Resub.
3:19Arden Myrin:We did not have chain sub places when I was growing up. Because you liked yourself more. Yeah, well, I think we didn't really get, I was just having this conversation, because we had a lot of individual places. In fact, Pizza and Sandwich Barn was really big where I was. Get at it. What town were you in? I grew up in a little town called North Caldwell, but it's like right outside Montclair. That's how you do it. More popular places. Is that like horse country? No, it's like closer to New York, so it's only like about 35 minutes outside of New York. Love it. But, you know, we got in on, like, a lot.
3:49Arden Myrin:We had good Italian. New Jersey, obviously. Obviously. Nutley and Clifton. Yeah. And then No Doi, for sure. No Doi. And then. Obviously. But, like, we didn't have, like, Subway came late. Sure. Blippies came late. You don't want that. All of that stuff. It was like we had locals. I've just discovered Jersey Mike's. Oh, Jersey Mike's is great. It's iconic. Although my husband will be really mad at me because I don't think he likes Jersey Mike's. I think he likes, what's the other one that I always confuse with Jersey Mike's? What's the other big sub place? Are you talking about Jimmy John's? Jimmy John's.
4:19Arden Myrin:Jimmy John's. Look, I'm not mad at all. I do like snacks. I like flavors. I'm a hungry girl. I like food. I like to eat. I actually really appreciate, because by the way, you're gorgeous. Thank you. And you, like, I love beautiful people who love snacks. I love snacks. I eat. I eat. I eat. Wait, so wait. I want to go back to childhood. So what was your snack house growing up? This is my quintessential question. First of all, we were the snack house. So we were, shout out, respect to my parents. I mean, honestly, respect to your parents. By the way, we were the fun garbage house. You know what I mean?
4:51We had unlimited access to television. We had no rules. My parents married on a dare. How many?
4:58Arden Myrin:Start what? We had trash bags. So everybody else was like, oh, we're going to cook. We had everything. How many siblings did you have? I had an older brother. Okay. But it was like lots of boys around, only male cousins. So we had fruit lips, snack packs. We were trash bags, like full. Lunchables? Were you a Lunchable family? Not really, but we did a lot of baloney, a lot of, my mom would send us, was like, like we, she was so angry. There was a day where we would raise money every year for the Oxfam fast for children starving. Yeah. And so we should, we give money, but she was angry. And she was like, why do my children have to starve?
5:34So she would send us with a bucket of fried chicken from Kentucky Fried Chicken with the fried chicken in like a baggie, like a drumstick in a plastic bag squished in, not refrigerated. And then you get like the biscuits and the gravy and the whatnot. Doritos. She would send me the hostess cupcakes.
5:53Arden Myrin:You got the fried chicken in your lunchbox. In like a bag. Okay. She wasn't sending you the bucket. No, no. It was like literally like stuck in. Got it. It was like having. It was like a sandwich bag. It was like something, like a texture you don't want sliding into your hand. You know what I mean? Not as a lady. A slippery, slippery piece of chicken. It's a vibe. Yeah, yeah, I get it. It's like, hey, don't kink shame me. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like something's like, you have like a squishy fried chicken sack. We're like, no joy. No joy. Got it. And so, but we had that. We had, I mean, like everything.
6:27Everything. Fruit lips. When I was born, I was born in a blizzard. My dad didn't come to the hospital for three days. to meet me, but when he came, he didn't bring flowers. He bought a box of devil dogs, which was her. She loved devil dogs.
6:42Arden Myrin:By the way, this thing is the third time devil dogs has come up in this conversation. They're the greatest. They're like the chocolate aisle without the coating and a dog, like a wiener dog, but a devil. I feel like fancier people would call it basically a rolled up whoopie pie. I mean, if you want to get split hairs. Yeah, but I do feel like it's delicious. I have said this before, but this joke I've made before, which is like no one's listened to two episodes, is that the snack cake is the unsung hero of the snack world. Thank you. Right? I feel seen. What's your snack cake of choice? I would say Hostess Cupcake.
7:19Arden Myrin:I mean, this is the perfect answer. What's yours? I love a Twinkie, but I actually, I don't mean to be like one of these people, but they've definitely changed the recipe of Twinkies since I've been a kid. Do you want to know what I see in you right now? What is that? I see both two fiends talking to one another on chairs. And I see both of us. Correct me if I'm wrong, and I don't want to put something on you. Please, I'll take it. But I can tell you it's happening for me, and I feel like it's happening for you. Okay. I feel like both of us are salivating a little bit, and we're both a little excited.
7:47And I can feel that both of us are kind of like actually thinking about Twinkies in a way that's kind of our tails are wagging.
7:53Arden Myrin:1 ,000%. But I will also tell you that, like, I feel like 90 % of my snack satisfaction, honestly, is getting excited about it. Not even actually eating it. I mean, I do also like to eat it. But I'm like, that's like 10 % of the joy. The 90 % is the like, oh, my God, I love that too. Yeah. The fiend. Yes. Fiends, he's fiend. Yeah. And I also, like, my husband will also attest to this, is that, like, sometimes all I want is a bite. Obviously. Like, I just want, like, one bite. Now, again, my mom, God bless her, an icon. And I'm not saying do this at home. You shouldn't. It's a very trashy mood.
8:28But this is what she would do. She would go, this is so trashy. She'd be like, you know what? She would always like, look, by the way, we all come from certain things. Of course. I was heavier growing up. She was like, I was 120 pounds all through college. I was like, you've mentioned that every day. Every day. Okay, I get it. Every day. Yeah. So then she goes, you know what I do when I want to lose weight? She goes, I, this is the trashiest diet you've ever, no, my dad had trashy diets too. But she would go, I, I just do my bite. And I drive along. She basically was a litter bug. She was like, I just drive in my Milky Way.
9:02I have one bite. I run out the window. I'm like, so you're throwing candy bars. Oh my, she would throw the candy bar out the window. She would throw like Whoppers out the window. Oh my God. She would throw like milk it, trash bag, like all over. Oh my God. All over like 128 outside of Boston. All over 24.
9:17Arden Myrin:Your mom's getting thousands of dollars in fines. Giving birds diabetes up and down the Northeast Corridor. By the way. Yes, trash bag. But, like, I have. Respect, Janet. Rest in peace, but, well, come on, lady. But, like, wild. A move. Wild. She was 120 pounds all through college. I guess you had to be a litter pod. Remember the days when you, when people would throw things out the window, though? I mean, yeah. I'm like, that was a wild thing. Dude, I saw somebody do that the other day in Vermont. Oh, my God. I was in Vermont last weekend. Were you, like, horrified? I was like, whoa. Like, I'm like borderline chase people down now if I see you litter.
9:50Arden Myrin:Can I just say that? There was a part of my story that was like, who is this character in like a Will Ferrell movie? Like, are we an anchorman? Like, what is happening? Is this like an old school Adam and Pet K? Like, rich people just throwing things out of windows. Like, who is this litter bug? Oh, my God. That is. Here for it? Vermont? I can't in Vermont. You choose Vermont? Maybe New Hampshire live free or die, but not Vermont. Well, I'm just like litter free. Litter free and die. Vermont. I feel like they came over from like New Hampshire. No, somebody definitely, though, was there. Did their license plate save Vermont is my question.
10:26Arden Myrin:Probably not. Great question. I was so distracted by the confidence of the toss. I don't know. That was probably Jersey, though. Let's be honest. New Hampshire is a full libertarian of snacks. Good for them. Good for them. I'm not going to mess with Texas or Vermont. We're a wild tapestry. of places in this country. People be wilding out. I just have to go back though. Myself included. Do you think that you having a good snack house made you infinitely more popular? Oh my God. Look, we all have certain liabilities and assets. Were we the most, no. We were the most not athletic. Were we the ones that fit in?
11:06No. Were we the fun ones where you can watch unlimited television and watch rated R movies at the age of 10? Yeah. Were we the ones where we had ColecoVision? Where we had basically, where we had jars of cigarettes out. I was walking around as a child, a stupid ashtray just filled with cigarettes. Yeah. Was I walking around with a cigarette and a candy cigarette? Making my grandmother a martini? Yes.
11:28Arden Myrin:Oh my God. But people go, how do you get into comedy? Welcome to the Marine household at Mobile Conference of Rhode Island. It's just how I was raised. Just lawless, candy, but fun. So all my friends that grew up with the nature lovers, the ones who were giving out raisins on Halloween, They were the fiends fiending out of the unlimited snacks. That's it. My dad was, I mean, it's too weird to even get into. Is it? Oh, yeah. Let's hear. I mean, I'll start light. I'll start light. Yeah, go ahead. He loved Mint M &M's so much. And at the time. I'm like, did they make them then? Thank you for asking.
12:07First, only in the holidays.
12:08Arden Myrin:Oh, got it. Then he wrote letters to the company. and they sent him like 50 bags and he put them in two filing cabinets in the garage for winter time. It's a freezer. He's a New Englander. He's a wasp. He's not going to pay for refrigeration. But he's going to put them in out near his Mazda Miata with vanity plates. But PSO not melting. No, no, no. No, no. Even if you were in a... No, no. And then he would literally dole... He would count out how many he had per week per bag for the year, dole them out, put them in a cocktail glass, watch his nightly programs, and then if he liked you, he had a few extra for guests, but he doled them out.
12:50That's just his least weird of his snacks.
12:53Arden Myrin:Wild. That's nothing. Oh, my gosh. That's nothing, honey. And that's what you grew up on. So you grew up on seeing that as normal. That's the TV presentable version. I do have to appreciate that because I can be a little bit of a snack order, too, when seasonal things come up. What do you love? I loved, I know I just interrupted. No, no, no. I have to answer it up before you. Go ahead. Do it. Cadbury cream egg. I was just going to say, not a Cadbury cream egg. You like the mayonnaise. I like the malt. I like the malted milk balls. The Whopper eggs. Whopper eggs. The Whopper eggs. You like the shape of it over a regular Whopper.
13:26Arden Myrin:I do. And Whoppers are my favorite. But the egg-shaped ones are particularly special. And also, the other thing I hoard, Easter is like the best candy time. The Cadbury eggs? No, I don't like that gummy middle. I'm not a fan of that. respect. Do you? Yes. You're like a Cadbury Greenbacker. You mean the fake yolk? Why do I need a fake yolk? Because you're a garbage person and your mom literally stayed thin. I just was not like eggs was not something that I was like, I need a candy version of this. I was like, that's fun. Look at that. But my dad was also hoarding M &M's and filing cabinets like a businessman.
14:00Arden Myrin:I will die on the hill of Starburst jelly beans. This is my absolute favorite. I don't know about this. This is. When did this come into it? They just started like in the last half a decade. What flavor? Like strawberry stuff? What's your flavor? All of your favorite Starburst flavors. Pink. I don't know. I don't know which one that is. Strawberry. That's my favorite. Red is cherry. Yeah. Pink's my favorite. And so they make Starburst jelly beans. They are the best jelly bean. And so that's another thing I'll hoard. Obviously. But by the way, like I hoard them and then I like don't open them. But honestly, to your dad's point, because I'm like, I don't want to waste them.
14:36Arden Myrin:No, no. But then I'm like, I never eat them. There's something kind of fun. Like when I get presents. Yeah. Now he used to be a present hoarder. And I have to say as much as I don't want to turn into my dad. Yeah. We're all turning into our mom and dad. It is. And it is really not who I wanted to turn into. But it's happening. I hoard him for a little bit. Because I like the reveal. I like to be like this is mine. Do you get a present and then you won't open it? I don't want to open it. I like to be like look at the wrapping. Look at the bow. I love it. Wrapped. That's really cute. I love it. I love presents.
15:05Okay. So now I want to talk a little bit more about.
15:07Arden Myrin:Okay. So now you then you moved. Tell me your journey. So where did you when did you end up in L.A.? Oh, God, I went from I picked the wrong college. So I ended up in Chicago because I didn't have because I it was the way I could get out of there at 19 to go do improv. And I was able to like so I started doing improv in Chicago. And then I moved to New York at 20 and worked at Conan and did stand up at night and worked for a casting director. I was a waitress. I was an elephant. Macy's stand. OK, we're going to hit on all these things. Chicago. Let's talk about Chicago as a food city. Great food city.
15:37Arden Myrin:Yes. What was your favorite thing in Chicago? Thank you for asking. It's not what you think. If it's not hot dogs or pizza, I don't have any other answers. Exactly. I'm going to surprise you. OK. Shout out. Buddy. OK, so I was 19. So the house team that was older was iconic. One of whom was Horatio Sands. He grew up there. He lived in this place of Chicago. So he was like, you know, born and bred. Yep. There is, I think, open until 5 in the morning every night. like almost 24 hours a day this place called Juan Teton Burritos that has like an armed guard in it and we would go at like 3 in the morning still to the does it still exist?
16:16Arden Myrin:I hope so and it's Juan Teton J-U-A-N-T-I it's near north and like it's near like north of Milwaukee oh Sarita's already on it she's like typing away looking it up they are this now it's not a burrito like we know burritos okay the first of all I gained 30 pounds and it's not just from deep dish pizza and alcohol and a fake ID. It was Wanty Tons. The burrito was like the size of a not even a regular wiener dog, like a Chihuini. Like a mixed with a Chihuahua. Like a chug. Like a beautiful chug. And was it just a normal burrito? Oh, no, no, no. Sorry, I will not interrupt you. You have to cut it in half.
17:01Then the tortilla they make there, it's like flesh. It's like your surgeon or like your Dexter. Like you're a serial killer. So then you go like this. Then once you pick it up, you're doing surgery. It's dripping down. It's an undateable proposition. You're not going to be... This is not date night. No, no, no.
17:20Arden Myrin:Wait, so wait. Who was at... So you were doing improv in Chicago. Who was at the... Where were you? I was at ImprovOlympic. It was Adam McKay who wrote everything. Everything funny. Literally everything. And also then like won Oscars for like all the things. Emmys. It was everybody. It was Horatio Sands. It was Neil Flynn who ended up being on Scrubs. It was Amy Poehler came after me. It was Jeff Richman who married Tina Fey. It was all the founders of UCB. So like it was Matt Besser and Matt Walsh. It was everybody. So did you guys like, were you eating to get, like what was the joy of like did you guys go out after?
17:58Arden Myrin:Yeah. Because I was also, I had to have a fake ID in order to perform. Oh my gosh. Because it was in a bar and I was 19. So I had a fake ID of some woman in Montana. I don't know how I got it. She was like a businesswoman. Clearly it wasn't me. It was like 30. And I looked young. Okay? So it was not, it was not like a sophisticated 19. I was 19 and I looked 13. And I was like, I'm a 30-year-old insurance representative. But they let me perform. And there was also no women there. I was like, I've never seen taller men. I've never seen bigger men. It was like the largest. and then part of the world of comedy yeah after shows you go out drinking you go to bars you go to somebody's apartment everyone had no money but everyone was talented yeah and and it was it was the only city where nobody cared like it wasn't about status it wasn't about brand it was like are you talented are you making something what are you making right now yeah and then you know and then like like three in the morning what are you eating 14 like i would have sea breezes because I'm elegant.
Read the full transcript
19:02We would then be like, let's go to it was always one time.
19:05Arden Myrin:It was always always one. You were always eating a 15 pound burrito. Yeah. As a 19 year old and I put on three in the morning at three in the morning and we would have pizza. We would have but it was really the one time burrito. It was so fun. That sounds so fun. But it was so fun. I mean, because it's sustainable. It doesn't seem sustainable. But also I have heard that the stand up life is very much about how do you feed your body what you need to keep you going such late and so much stamina. Well, it was also fun because it was improv and it was social. Oh, right. Do you know what I mean? Because I've also done stand-up too.
19:44I've also, oh, stand-up is a beast. It's like riding a bucking bronco. And like, by the way, I haven't toured for a few years. Like, so respect to the people. Like I was like, you know what? Not for me. Yeah, it's a lot.
19:54Arden Myrin:Respect to the, it's a lot. and I respect some people are so good at it like it is a lot well I think you have to commit to it like you commit to running a marathon it is a marathon and it's hard and you have to be able and you're the circus wrangler and each night is a different beast so I really respect the people that like are so good at it like I have so much admiration and it's a beast that is like a muscular skill to be able to have and it is a stamina thing where the late night crowd that is also having a great time and they want to blow up. People are blown off steam. Sometimes by the time you get on, if you're the headliner, sometimes it's one in the morning.
20:34It's Friday night.
20:36Arden Myrin:You're running with all this. You have to be able to ride. I have so much respect for people that tour. It's so hard. When it goes well, it feels so good. I also want to say, I did say, I didn't have skin thick enough for it. I will say that. I mean, I feel like it's probably less than 1 % of the 1 % that can actually do it and not let it completely kill you inside. Yeah, and I actually respect, like, some people are like, I don't know. I'm like, I have so much respect for it. And it is sort of a, there's so much adrenaline and it's so intoxicating. And there's often two shows in a night and you're doing an hour show by yourself.
21:20I can't imagine it. And, you know, when people are buying you drinks and there's like I would eat really early a full meal. Yeah. Because I wouldn't want to be eating between. And you do need fuel and stuff like that. And so it's interesting just to see like everybody's different.
21:37Arden Myrin:Yeah. And we'll be right back.
21:43Arden Myrin:Tell me about when you got to New York. What was that like? Oh, it was the best. I'm at the best I love New York where were you living? I lived on 83rd and Columbus I had a rent controlled apartment and I lived with my best friend from college and it was a duplex and we were like the basement and went like a little bit above the floor so we could be really loud we had like one of those metal spiral staircases a block from the park so fun and it was the best I had the best time food New York okay I loved China fun dumplings like the dumplings so good There was also Cafe Con Leche on the Upper West Side where I would get, oh my God, it was insane.
22:23There was a place called Emerald Planet that was like one of the first wrap places. Yes. And they had giant wraps and then they also had dessert wraps that were so incredible.
22:32Arden Myrin:You only like wrapped food I'm getting. It's ding-dongs. I like a bundle. You like a thing in a log. I love a taco. I like a bundle. Got it. And again, I had no money, you know what I mean? So it's not like I'm going to like find out. It's like, what could you afford? But also, I feel like it's so good. Because what was that, late 90s? It was late 90s, yeah. I feel like that's when the... Are you watching Love Story? I am, yes. Me too. It's good. It's good. But also, it's bringing me back to... Smoking in bars? Well, it's just like, I mean... I'm just like... Even like, there was a scene at the Odeon, and I just was like, oh my god, the Odeon was so cool.
23:05I haven't gotten to that yet, but the Odeon. It was so cool. And like, pay phones. Yes. Pay for, calling to like see from my agent, putting in the code, like, and then you could ghost people because there was no social. No one could find you. You could lie and be like, I'm moving. And nobody would be like, wait a minute, but I see that you're around the corner. Yeah. You could just ghost people. No.
23:26Arden Myrin:You could just ding dong ditch. But it was such a high time of, like, food and. What did you eat? I mean, I like, the problem is I had just graduated college. Yeah. So I. Yeah, same. I mean, see, I worked downtown when I first got into the city. I worked at a magazine. Which one? It's called Modern Bride. It was Bridal Magazine. And it was actually in, if you're a late 90s girl, didn't you remember the Barneys sample sales? And so my office was in the Barneys sample sale building. Did you go crazy? No, because one time I went and I saw women just stripping absolutely naked and fighting each other, and I never went back.
24:08Arden Myrin:it scared the living crap out of me. I went once and it was a little, I don't think I bought anything either. It was. I like didn't know enough about fashion to be able to fight with a woman. I didn't know enough to wear like a string bikini top like under camisole. No, and just be like naked. Yeah. And at that era too, it was also like, it was Kate Moss. It was like the vibe of all that was wild. It was wild. And also I would say too, like I, there was something then, those things didn't exist. There was no getting sales anywhere, right? No. So you had to like hear of it through somebody else.
24:40Arden Myrin:And so like to get any of that stuff discounted was, I can't believe this is welcome to snacks. This is what we're talking about. But the listener has to understand what this was like. It was like squid games. Yes. But for shopping. I know. I was not a Kate Spade girl, but I remember the Kate Spade sales. Yes. Like a certain woman, get out of here. I mean, get out of here. Get out of here. Did you have the Prada backpack? I did not. I was like a poor, I didn't have anything. When I say Prada backpack, did you go to Canal Street? No, because I didn't even know enough to go to Canal Street. But I will tell you where I did eat, which I loved and is not the same now, is Chelsea Market before Chelsea Market was cool.
25:20Arden Myrin:And that whole area was not, it's not the meatpacking district the way it was. It smelled like meat. It smelled like meat. It smelled like meat. I will tell you, though, you lived on the Upper West Side. And my mom went to therapy in the city. Okay. Hot. And she would bring home dinner from a place called Chirping Chicken. Did you ever eat a Chirping Chicken? I was yellow. It had a yellow. It had a yellow. And it was like grilled chicken. That was like 72nd. Yeah, 72nd in Amsterdam or something. That was near the hot dog place. Oh, my God. And so I. That was near Apple Bank. Oh. And also the freeway.
25:54Free. What's that? Fairway. Fairway. Fairway.
25:58Arden Myrin:So, yeah. So I'm like. But I. You know. So I have favorites like. um hail and hearty soup which doesn't exist anymore then which turned into basically now we have pret-a-porter now we have pret-a-porter and we have and now it's panera and all those things but this was back in the day but but so i want to move on now into la yes because like yes you're a food lover and do you feel like la is i i ask people this all the time but is la a good eating city oh yeah yes yes okay let's hear it yes okay tacos guisados tacos echo park incredible incredible i mean i mean the the mexican food that you guys have there is almost get the get the mole and i know you're gonna think when i say quesadilla you're gonna think case it's like a quesadilla taco where they put like like a it's incredible that's what you want okay go ahead name me three more of your favorites in la okay i i mean there's so many for like a local place i love all time on hillhurst get the go for lunch get the good ass salad incredible.
27:02Also, like, their sweet potato sides are insane. Like? Fries? No, they're like this, they're covered in, like, it's just covered in the sauce. Like, insane. I mean, downtown, there's so much great food. I love to eat. I mean... But when you're at a restaurant, are you eating?
27:20Arden Myrin:Like, are people eating there? I don't know. I have a terrible view of, like, of eaters in LA. I'm going to say something. I don't want to make people uncomfortable, and I don't want to I hope this isn't inappropriate. Okay. We can cut it if we don't like it. I lived in Zach Galifianakis' closet in the late 90s. Okay. And he used to call me Piggy Smalls of the Notorious P.I.G. because he couldn't believe how much food I eat. And I say that for real. And I don't know if that's inappropriate, but that is what his nickname was for me. And it was earned. I feel like he kind of strikes me as someone who could get away with it.
27:52I didn't come up with it. It didn't really feel flattering. No, I can't imagine. But that's what my nickname was.
27:59Arden Myrin:And because you would eat so much. Yeah. Like, so I guess that's what I'm asking is when you go out in restaurants in L.A., people eat. I don't know. I'm so busy chowing down that I don't pay attention. I am so messy. Yeah. I am. It's hard for me on a date. I do spill on my shirts. I get food in my teeth. I do my best to slow down. My fear is that I'm Michael Rappaport eating on Traders. Did you watch that? I did. You didn't see him pick up his plate and scoop it into his. You didn't see the angle with this? That's my fear. I try not to do that. I want to lick the plate, and I want to eat from your plate.
28:34I don't, but I love food.
28:38Arden Myrin:You don't eat from other people's plates? I mean, not on the first date. Okay. But, like, I want to steal from it when you're in the bathroom. But I don't. Yeah. But I don't. I want to. Are you a sharer? Oh, yeah. So you'll allow people to eat from yours? I've learned to. Naturally, no. I'm not a sharer. I'm like, this is my dance space. That's your dance space, spaghetti arms. But the reality is I've learned in a world of every restaurant as if it's a surprise. Yeah. We're a big shared. We do. I'm like, of course you do. How about I hate I hate the world we're in now where they go. Do you like me?
29:16Does everybody like me? Like, get your beats. I don't get your beats. Those are your beats. I'm going to like whatever. These are my beats. Like, why do we have to like, does everybody? Why is everything Everything has to be like
29:28Arden Myrin:We do things a little differently around here No everybody's doing this We do things a little differently We're sharing We recommend 14 to 18 plates per person This could be a$7 ,000 bill We recommend 14 to 18 plates per person Everything's shared Like you're like dude Where does everyone get money? I don't understand I have to be honest with you though Because I have been to more than one of those restaurants where I've had the waiter tell me I've ordered too much food. I have too. And I think, get out of here. Don't kinshame me. You don't know what I want. You know what my deal is. That's a lot of food.
30:07No, challenge accepted. Sir, it's always a sir. Challenge accepted. Let's go. Hang on to my hoops. Unzip the back of my Zara skirt. Let's go. A thousand percent.
30:19Arden Myrin:I also am laughing though too because you're right. eat that like I see my problem is when I eat with people I assume we're all sharing so even if it's not a sharing place I'm ordering with you but I want you to five I'm ordering five appetizers I'm ordering like I'm ordering a dinner you're ordering dinner do I want your dinner but also should be like like hacks like have you heard Mrs. the Mrs. Table joke which is definitely how I order I always order something for like we just have to get this because I want to try it yeah that's what it is it's like orange whip orange whip three orange trips that's what I want everybody I'm gonna I'm gonna force what I want yes I'm gonna act like burrata burrata burrata burrata yes I don't need dairy burrata yeah it's fine yes yes I just want we're just gonna bite I had it yesterday but I'm I just want to see what it tastes like I also I'm very famous for like not famous but I'm very known in my group for like we'll all order we're all order and then like as the waiters walk away it's like you know what let's just also throw in the by the way you are famous for it Look at this.
31:21Arden Myrin:Look where we are. Excuse me. Do they have this? Are they sitting in this high rise? I'm not ordering for it. Security more than like the White House. I'm definitely not. There's people laughing at this right now. I'm definitely not. But here's what I'll say. This is for you. You did it. Yeah, I elbowed my way onto this. But I will say. I mean, there's 15 people in here. You did it. There's a lot. Thriving. I appreciate that. Respect. But here's what I'll say. No, I'm definitely like, I'll throw one on at the end. Like, you know what? Let's just get the Brussels sprouts. I want to watch it with you.
31:47Arden Myrin:We will eat. Well, I got to be honest. I want to be the baby girl mate. So I just came home. I just want you to order. Like, oh, I got it. Daddy's got it. I want you to daddy me, I'll baby girl. I'll pay for it. I just want you to order for me. I got it, princess. You're too beautiful. I don't know where to go in L.A. I want to be so beautiful that you order for me. She couldn't possibly worry about what she wants to eat. No, she's not going to worry. She's not going to. She's not going to. I eat at the Sunset Tower when I go to L.A. Oh, my God. I love the tower. I love the sundae. And I love.
32:15Arden Myrin:So here's what I'll tell you. And I feel like this might be the only thing that will, this will solidify us as best friends forever. I feel for you. Here it is. I feel for you. The last time I ate dinner at the Sunset Tower, this is not a joke. I love the maitre d'. Love the maitre d'. Obsessed. Last time I ate at Sunset Tower, I ate with five people. And I was told by the waiter, by the server, that that was the largest sundae they have ever made at the Sunset Tower. I want to tell you, because my shirt's blousy, my cells are going crazy, and I feel like a feeling inside. And I'm like, is this love at first?
32:53That was the largest Sunday they've ever made. I'm having like a visceral reaction to you in a way that's like, I want you to know, if I was prone to joining a cult, it would be the twin flame thing. I'd be like, I found my twin flame.
33:07Arden Myrin:We are 100%. My hairy arms are staring off. So next time I'm in L.A., we are going to Sunset Tower. Can you zoom in? You see these hairy blond. They're literally having a visit. They're standing on end. That hairy blonde arm is like, ah, she's here. It's true. Finally. Everything has led to this moment. What did you get? Whipped cream, M &M's, Reese's Pieces. Caramel. Hot. We literally got everything. It's like, check, check, check, check. But actually, I really appreciate him being like, he's like, I want you to know the chef said this is the largest Sunday we've ever made here. And I was just like, where's the chef I want to go?
33:40Arden Myrin:like get out yes chef yeah it was great yes it was great it was so great and also like i was with a crowd of people who were so fun and they were so excited we all were so excited we just felt like we'd won the lottery did you finish it yes thank you are you kidding yes ice cream is my thing and so i heard that you're a soft serve girl yes why soft serve over hard serve have you tried magpies no look i try to limit my sweets because i i i'm not i've lost my privileges you know what i mean I get it. I misbehave. Do you know what I mean? Like, I've, I loved it too hard. Do you know what I'm saying?
34:15So I really, I'm on probation. I'm in a timeout. But if I was like, girl, I mean, if all of my family hadn't eaten their rate of diabetes or thrown candy at the window of cars, I would be every day at Magpie's Soft Serve. And I have no stake in this business. They don't know me there. Magpie's Ice Cream. There's three. There's one in Silver Lake. There's one in Highland Park. Who knows what the other one is?
34:40Arden Myrin:Tarzana? I don't know. Who knows? There's a peanut butter soft serve that I get with rainbow sprinkles because I'm elegant. The texture, the melt, the scoop on the set, the scoop up. I don't know. I don't know. Put a ring on it. You know what I'm saying? You had me at hello. I am like, we need to make a trip there now when we go back to LA. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm going to see your magpie. Get it. And raise you a. Get at it. Jolly Cow. Oh, I don't know this. In, well, it's the middle of nowhere. Kingston, New York. If you find yourself in the Catskills. Yes. Okay. I should have asked if I could do that before.
35:19Can I blow you a kiss?
35:20Arden Myrin:Yes, you can blow me a kiss. And I will tell you this. Find yourself in the Catskills this summer. I've already done. It's happening right now. And going to the Jolly Cow. Yeah. My cat Mittens is booking it right now. She can hear this. You are definitely booking this. And it is, I would say, the best and most innovative flavors of soft serve. And when I say I don't want innovative, like weird, but like. No, no. Cherry vanilla, pumpkin spice. Like I didn't know I wanted those in cherry vanilla. No, no, no. I didn't know I wanted peanut butter and rainbow. I'm just like wild for that. Give me other.
35:53I need to know other flavors. What did I have the last time?
35:57Arden Myrin:Look it up. Salted caramel. Salted caramel. I like a vanilla. I like a vanilla. I like a vanilla. I like a vanilla with sprinkles. May I blow you another kiss? Yes. Can I ask you one more? Are you a Dairy Queen person? You know what? I didn't grow up a Dairy Queen. Neither did I. I feel like I would be. I mean, all smart money says yes. Do you, because I was wondering if you like a dip, like a chocolate, like a shell over your. I would rather have like a McFlurry. Yeah, a mix-in. Like I'd rather have a mix-in. Like a blizzard. But I like a dip, but I would rather have a blizzard. I'd rather dig an Oreo.
36:30I like the treasure hunt.
36:32Arden Myrin:I like to be like, oh, I found a scoop. I found a chunk of a bigger Oreo inside. We did not grow up with Dairy Queen. we grew up with a place called Carvel. Oh! Which is... Cookie Puss! The best. Fudgy the Whale. The best. Hey, it's me, Mr. Carvel. The best. Carvel ice cream. Fudgy the Whale, Cookie Puss. And it was exact same shape. Cookie Puss and Carvel and Fudgy the Whale. Yes! It was like... Upside down. It was like... And Cookie Puss... May I be crass for a second? Cookie Puss had like a dick nose that was like an upside down ice cream cone. Yes. Yes. It was like a dick nose cone nose. Yes.
37:05Arden Myrin:But then you turn it upside down. But then you turn it upside down You know, I can see that and raise you up. It was also Santa. Hot. That was it. Yeah. Yeah. I love Carvel ice cream cakes. Me too. I love the jelly ice cream. Crunchy. I love the crunchy. So good. We're both south. I can feel our hearts popping. I know. But there's no one near here. There's not one anywhere near here. I think you can order them online. I ordered them for people. You can ship them from like Gold Belly, I think. Interesting. Well, here's what I'll say. We didn't have Dairy Queen, but now we have Dairy Queen and I'm loving it.
37:35Arden Myrin:It's terrible. You get a joy. I've had the best time. I know. It's so fun. Tell your friends. Tell everybody to come back to snacks. Legit. I will. Come back to snacks. You got to come to snacks. I had such a nice time. So fun. Next time I'll have actual ice cream for you here. We're going to do it right. Yeah. I really respect your empire. Oh, I appreciate that. No, but I feel like if you do what you love, like people, like if you build it, they will come, like if you really care about it, like Fiend Sees Fiend and like I see you. I really appreciate that. And I will tell you, the next time in L.A., we are outdoing my— We're going to the Tower Bar.
38:12Arden Myrin:We're going to Tower Bar. Tower Bar. And we're outdoing my Sunday. We're going to make sure we do it even bigger. I can't wait. Thanks so much for joining Snacks. Please make sure you like and follow and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts. And make sure you check us out on social media at Snacks Podcast.
38:36We'll be right back.
From the publisher
Comedian, actress, and The Righteous Gemstones star Arden Myrin joins SNACKS! for one of our funniest—and most snack-obsessed—episodes yet.
Arden shares what it was like growing up in the "fun garbage house" and reveals why Twinkies and Devil Dogs still hold a special place in her heart. Along the way, she dishes on Rhode Island's iconic food scene, late-night eats in Chicago, and her favorite restaurants in Los Angeles.
It's a wildly funny conversation filled with nostalgia, comfort food, and enough dessert talk to leave you craving a snack.
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