It’s a switcheroo this time as Freesia gets a taste of her own medicine when she scoots into the hot seat and Sam grills her on vegetarian moussaka. It’s a distinctly non-Asian dish and with it’s many components and steps, it’s a diversion from quick weeknight dish. We talk about growing up vegan in the 80s and 90s, a cost-benefit analysis of improvising on special nostalgic recipes, and the unfair maligning of tofu.

In this very special episode we keep it in the family! We’re talking to Sam’s sister Angela about her childhood dinnertime lifeline, Ham-BUR-gah! (IYKYK) and what it’s like to grow up and cook as an adult in the shadow of a prolific homecook. We talk about cooking for kids and wonder whether dinnertime traditions are continuing a legacy or perpetuating guilt. But in a fun way. Plus a shocking-ish revelation about Sam & Angela’s mom! 

We’re talking to our friends Deanna and Rob, about being bi-racial in very white Virginia in the 90s, and what it’s like growing up in the same house, eating the same foods, but having different takes on the same experiences. They tell us about Mom’s Chicken, a kind of freestyle dish that was a hit as kids and is still requested on visits home. We talk identity, after school nostalgia, and the ever-changing experience of being mixed and Asian in an evolving society.

We’re joined by Nicole Cruz, Life & Leadership Coach to 1st & 2nd generation immigrants, to talk about her childhood sick-day soup, Arroz Caldo. We talk about the importance of food in Filipino culture, honoring our elders through their recipes, and how younger generations are crafting their relationship to culture and food in new ways. Plus, the future of Filipino food: not ube everything!

It’s our very first episode! We’re talking to Bay Area food & travel writer Margot Seeto who helped inspire this whole dang thing. We’ll talk with her about minced beef with peas—aka Peas a la Seeto at her house—and how she and Sam both had this as kids but with wildly different experiences at home. We also get into gender roles in the kitchen, cooking for our own kids, and Costco as a love language.

Freesia and Sam welcome you and discuss the origins of the show and title. For more stories and recipes, please visit worstqualitycrab.com and follow us on Instagram @worstqualitycrab.