“WHEN I ASK BRETT WHAT HE WANTS FOR DINNER, HIS TYPICAL RESPONSE IS ‘SURPRISE ME,'” says Michaela Nachmani, artistry coordinator for Bobbi Brown on home-cooked meals with fiance and co-founder of The Farmer’s Dog, Brett Podolsky. “I prefer not making the same dishes, in fact I rarely cook the same dish twice.” Since meeting and dating in high school, it seems Nachmani and Podolsky know a thing or two about everlasting love–and, it so happens, the best place to get tuna tacos. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we caught up with the pair and their darling Rottweiler Jada where they talked falling in love, Brooklyn’s dining scene and the secret to the “perfect” relationship.
Photos by Sasha Israel
How did you two first meet? When did you each know you she/he was “the one”?
Brett: We were introduced by a mutual friend and hit it off immediately. We all hung out for an hour then I dropped her off at a friends house and we parted ways. I couldn’t stop thinking about her and miraculously I received a text message from her saying that she had forgotten something in my car. I went back to her friends house and we spent 30 minutes looking, but nothing was ever found. It wasn’t until years later that she told me that she didn’t lose anything, she just wanted to see me again. From that day on, we spoke on the phone everyday after school for hours till we both fell asleep on the phone.
Where is your favorite place for a date night? What do you order when you’re there?
Brett: Since we moved to Brooklyn our new favorite spot for date night is Samurai Mama. Although they specialize in udon, we order the spicy tuna tacos. They’re unreal. Picture an order of sushi with the tuna over a bed of rice, now imagine a piece of seaweed wrapped around like a taco with some cucumber and spicy mayo. It’s all about the higher seaweed ratio here. Eating regular rolls will never be the same.
At home, what is a pantry must-have?
Michaela: One ingredient that we always have in the kitchen is sesame seeds. They are an amazing addition to many dishes.
What does the ideal Sunday look like for each of you?
Brett: We take our Sundays very seriously. Sundays are our family day. Over our many years together it has become a tradition. Lately, we’ve been starting the day with an episode of Sopranos, or five.
What are your top three favorite cafes/coffeeshops/restaurants in Brooklyn?
Cafe Devocion, Blue Bottle, Sweatshop. For restaurants, we love El Almacen, 12 Chairs and Samurai Mama
Michaela, what are your top three favorite natural products in your beauty cabinet?
Castor oil – I massage castor oil into my lashes and brows every night for growth.
Lactic acid – I’m obsessed with this product from Sunday Riley. It has completely transformed my skin. I apply it every morning and night before my moisturizer. It helps with breakouts and uneven skin tone.
Michaela, as a bride-to-be, how are you preparing for your wedding?
Michaela: If anyone knows me, they know I love my junk food but since getting engaged, I have definitely been watching what I eat, not only to maintain my weight, but also to control breakouts. I’ve noticed a huge difference in my skin already. Out of all the face masks and dermatologist visits, eating right is the one thing that has actually transformed my skin. As for my hair, I apply a mask 2-3 times a week (Ouai treatment mask is my favorite). You see immediate results and I’ll probably end up using this the night before my wedding. I’m also constantly getting trims about every two months to keep it as healthy as possible.
What’s the best advice you would give about relationships?
Brett & Michaela: Too many people are looking for this ‘ideal’ person with a list of impossible criteria. Nobody’s perfect, that’s not how life goes. If you want a relationship where you’ll never have a disagreement, get a dog. If you never have a disagreement with your girlfriend or boyfriend, then you’ve found the wrong person. Find someone who will challenge you to be your best self.
