Romilly Newman Transcript
Kerry Diamond:
Hi, everyone. You are listening to Radio Cherry Bomb, and I'm your host, Kerry Diamond, coming to you from Newsstand Studios at Rockefeller Center in the heart of New York City. If you love hustle, bustle, and the holidays, Rock Center is the place to be right now. It is packed with humans. One of my favorite humans is today's guest. It's Romilly Newman, chef, food stylist, host extraordinaire, and style icon. Romilly has been cooking since childhood, and she even competed on an episode of “Chopped” when she was just 13 years old, and that's the adult version, not the kids' “Chopped.” Romilly interned for Cherry Bombe when she was a teenager, earning my eternal affection and the nickname, Rom The Bombe. She joins me in the studio in just a minute to talk about making resolutions, throwing dinner parties, Lily Allen, the death of the potluck, extra hot coffee, and whether she's an Ina or a Martha. Stay tuned for my chat with Romilly Newman.
Today's show is presented by JW Marriott. Team Cherry Bombe is always on the move, traveling for events, photo shoots, gatherings, and, of course, our biannual Jubilee conferences. Logging time in hotels is simply part of the job, but the best days are always the ones that feel very far removed from work, which is why we're so inspired by JW Marriott's mindful approach to hospitality by creating restorative moments through serene spaces, garden-fresh ingredients, and thoughtful touches of nature. Every JW Marriott stay is designed to bring care, joy, and mindfulness to your journey, helping you feel present, balanced, and fulfilled, a concept we can definitely get behind. Learn more and book your trip at jwmmarriott.com. Romilly and I, by the way, worked on a fun project the other month with JW Marriott when we co-hosted a garden party at their brand new hotel in Reston Station, Virginia. You could see the videos and some of the content we created on Cherry Bombe's Instagram, and I just put some pictures on my own Instagram @kerrybombe, so take a look.
What else? Tickets are on sale for our 2026 Jubilee conference, and they make a great holiday gift. If you buy two or more before the end of the year, you'll save 20%. Another way to save is if you are a Bombesquad member or a paid Substack subscriber. If that's you, check your inbox for a discount code for special early bird pricing, good through December 31st. Jubilee is taking place on Saturday, April 25th, in New York City, and we would love to see you there. By the way, our Jubilee scholar application is open right now as well, but the deadline is today. If you're new in the industry, a career changer, or maybe you just need a little boost and some inspiration, you should apply. Everyone chosen receives a complimentary ticket to Jubilee. The link is in our show notes.
Let's check in with today's guest. Romilly Newman.
Romilly Newman:
Again.
Kerry Diamond:
Welcome to Radio Cherry Bombe.
Romilly Newman:
Thank you for having me, Kerry.
Kerry Diamond:
And you'll be on next year too, for reasons that we'll announce at some point.
Romilly Newman:
Oh, true.
Kerry Diamond:
Right?
Romilly Newman:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
So, it's going to be a lot of Romilly, a lot of Rom the Bombe.
Romilly Newman:
I have to change my personality again before then.
Kerry Diamond:
No, you don't. No, you don't. I mean, we're going to focus on holidays today. But before we talk about that, I need to talk to you about your coffee order. Why do you order it extra hot?
Romilly Newman:
I didn't used to think about this that much, and then now I think that I think about this a lot because it probably has a lot to do with all the things that I do, but my sensory preferences are so strong, so if something's cold, I need it to be so cold that it's glacial in my mouth, and if something's hot, I want it to burn the roof in my mouth. I think it's like that with food, with drinks, with temperature, with people. I really like extremes.
Kerry Diamond:
So, you run hot or cold. You're not Goldilocks.
Romilly Newman:
I'm not Goldilocks. I like to feel something. Maybe it's all part of this quest to feel something, but I like a little burn on the roof of my mouth.
Kerry Diamond:
We're starting deep.
Romilly Newman:
I know. I can't help it. We're both Pisces, Kerry.
Kerry Diamond:
I know. I know. I do feel, though, I'm more of a people-pleasing Pisces than you are.
Romilly Newman:
100%.
Kerry Diamond:
Back to the coffee, because I used to own a coffee shop, and I don't remember anyone ordering their coffee extra hot, but you are the second person in a week who told me that they wanted their coffee extra hot.
Romilly Newman:
I mean, I do also think it's so freezing outside.
Kerry Diamond:
Well, it's 23 degrees outside, Fahrenheit.
Romilly Newman:
Yes, so I think the second you step outside, your coffee gets cold, and then you kind of want it to be hotter again. It's my weird sensory thing, and then also just wanting to be less cold.
Kerry Diamond:
You wanted a cappuccino extra hot, extra shot.
Romilly Newman:
You're really outing me here.
Kerry Diamond:
I don't approve of the extra shot.
Romilly Newman:
I know. It's not good.
Kerry Diamond:
It's no longer a cappuccino.
Romilly Newman:
Well, I know I'm definitely not a coffee purist. I think I'm pretty bad at coffee, to be honest. The extra shot is because I haven't had a coffee yet today, and I need the IV, just straight to the blood source.
Kerry Diamond:
Again, because I used to work behind the counter at the coffee shop, I like to make-
Romilly Newman:
I remember I once assisted in the back, baking at your coffee shop.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh, that's right. You did. You did. Because I had to work behind the counter a few times, it's hard. Everybody should have way more respect for the people who work in their coffee shops and their local baristas. People come up with the craziest orders. Everybody's got a different order, so to streamline things, I got the same thing you did.
Romilly Newman:
And you hate it.
Kerry Diamond:
I don't love it.
Romilly Newman:
It's not great. I agree it's not great. It's a means to an end.
Kerry Diamond:
I don't love it, but I said to the guy, "Am I going to be up now until three in the morning?" And he said, "Don't worry."
Romilly Newman:
I also think it might be, when I was younger, I didn't like the taste of milk, so I think it also might relate to the fact that if you don't taste the milk. You just taste the coffee.
Kerry Diamond:
True.
Romilly Newman:
A lot of reasons.
Kerry Diamond:
All right. We'll stop talking about coffee. Tell us about your Vogue Living cover. So thrilling. Vogue Living Hong Kong, right?
Romilly Newman:
Yes. A huge honor. I went to Hong Kong on a press trip a year ago.
Kerry Diamond:
Who'd you go with?
Romilly Newman:
Almost exactly a year ago with Perowne, who is this amazing, it's owned by Jules Perowne, and she represents the most incredible hotels across the world, and they always do these really special press trips, where they bring writers, designers, chefs, people across all fields, and really show them the towns.
Kerry Diamond:
It's a fascinating city, isn't it?
Romilly Newman:
It's unbelievable.
Kerry Diamond:
Feels part “Blade Runner,” part very modern.
Romilly Newman:
I was just completely blown away by it, and it just left a very strong impact on me. But it's funny, while I was there, someone who I used to know from New York City reached out and said, "I moved to Hong Kong, and I'd love to get coffee." And I-
Kerry Diamond:
And you said, "I would like my cappuccino extra hot."
Romilly Newman:
Exactly, and I was like, "I don't know." No, just kidding. We got coffee. When I met her, she was a model agent, and she said, "Now I work, primarily, for Vogue Hong Kong, and we would love to feature your apartment." At the time, my apartment had some furniture in it, but it was a wreck because I had moved in not that long ago, and it was definitely not Vogue Hong Kong ready. And so, the pressure really started to boil.
I mean, first of all, I was in shock because I was expecting just to have a nice coffee ketchup, but then after that, I was like, "Okay. I have a fire under me. I need to get my apartment in order," but it's good. I mean, I'm the kind of crazy person who really likes to treat their living space almost like a set. I like the idea of kind of set design, and I think that's why I do what I do in food too, is because it's kind of creating these worlds, this idea of escapism, and creating something kind of fantastical out of something ordinary, but my apartment luckily has become this kind of oasis that's very country cottage-like and Vogue shot it.
Kerry Diamond:
Do they come in and zhuzh anything?
Romilly Newman:
It's so funny. Not at all. I know this woman who's an event designer, and she and I collaborate occasionally, and she did these amazing florals. Her name's Mel Allison. They kind of tasked me with the idea of doing a Christmas spread, because it was coming out of December, so we put a fake tree outside and we zhuzhed it up, but obviously, the entryway of my apartment looked like an insane person's entryway, because I hid anything that was actually useful and not pretty. I think that's the funny thing about these shoots, is you have to remember no one's house looks like how it looks in the pictures.
It's funny, a friend of mine came over the day after the article came out, and said, "Well, this doesn't look like Vogue Hong Kong."
I was like, "Yeah," because my laundry hanging rack was out and everything, but...
Kerry Diamond:
Very Brooklyn.
Romilly Newman:
Very Brooklyn, but I'm very grateful that my space was featured, because it means a lot to me. My environment is very much a reflection of who I am.
Kerry Diamond:
I love the cover. I love the inside photos.
Romilly Newman:
Thank you.
Kerry Diamond:
I'm dying to get my hands on it. It's hard to find in America.
Romilly Newman:
I haven't seen it.
Kerry Diamond:
They haven't sent you a copy yet?
Romilly Newman:
Not yet.
Kerry Diamond:
Tell them to send you an extra. First thing I did was I called my friends at Casa Magazines, and they said that they don't carry it.
Romilly Newman:
If Casa doesn't have it, no one has it.
Kerry Diamond:
Ugh, I know. And it's tough for a magazine junkie like me. When my baby is on the cover and I'm a magazine junkie, it's like, how can I not have a copy of that?
Romilly Newman:
I'm going to get some, and I'll mail you one.
Kerry Diamond:
Okay. Good, good. Maybe we have listeners in Hong Kong. You bring up something that I think is good for people to remember. The things you see in fashion magazines and what you see on Instagram, they're not documentaries. These are things that, not that yours was staged. I've been to your house. It looked like your house, but so many things are staged, made nicer, made prettier, et cetera. So, just remember that when you look at things and then you look at your own life, it's not apples to apples.
Romilly Newman:
It's funny. That's something I wouldn't say I'm grappling with, but I'm trying to expose a little bit more in terms of my presence online, because I think there's this duality and it's very much present in who I am as a person, regardless of my career or how I come off on a broader scale. I love making things beautiful. My mom will always make fun of me. She'll be like, "You go into your bathroom, and every little lipstick is lined up, and you have flowers and a candle, and then you go into your bedroom and there's a year's worth of clothing on the bed." I think that kind of sums it up, where it's like, yes, you can be in the pursuit of beauty. You can love curating, elevating, and all of those things.
Kerry Diamond:
Romanticizing-
Romilly Newman:
Romanticizing-
Kerry Diamond:
... Your life, as they say now.
Romilly Newman:
... Your life, which is something I do all the time, but the internet is designed to make us want things that other people have, without really understanding if they have them or not, and I think a lot of social media is pretending.
Kerry Diamond:
Not pretending. You just don't see the clothes pile, and you don't see the dirty dishes, but yeah, sure. Some of it might be pretending.
Romilly Newman:
It might be just pretending everything's perfect, and so I think, while in my work I love to create this fantastical, and create something that looks maybe different than anything you've seen and is really transportive, I also like to kind of talk to people about the reality of my life, because both exist. They're both me, and I think the internet can be really difficult.
Kerry Diamond:
How do you feel as someone who is younger than most people realize? I mean, you have been doing all this since you were a teenager. Were you on “Chopped” before you were a teenager?
Romilly Newman:
I was on “Chopped” when I was 13, but I started my blog when I was 11.
Kerry Diamond:
Right.
Romilly Newman:
So, the CBS morning show was 11 years old.
Kerry Diamond:
Wow. How do you feel about the band in Australia on social media accounts for teenagers?
Romilly Newman:
I think it's good. I think I always say, when I started on the internet, it was really great because there was very little access to the people you followed. My blog, there was a comments section that no one really used. There was no DM section. People couldn't really reach out to me, but also, if you wanted to read something or you wanted to find someone, you kind of had to go out of your way, and I think that was a healthy boundary, and that was just enough space where, I remember finding out about Tavi Gevinson and I was like, "This is so cool, girl like me who was precocious and had a really strong passion."
Kerry Diamond:
Tavi had Rookie Magazine, for those who don't remember
Romilly Newman:
Mm-hmm. Who already had a career going. Looking at her inspired a lot of what I did, and I was like, "Oh, I can totally do my thing if she's doing that," so that was great, but it wasn't this world where you look at your phone and you see 1000 other girls, doing exactly what you're doing and you're comparing yourself. I felt like comparison really wasn't present, and I can't imagine if it was when I was that age, so I think it's a good thing. I genuinely do.
Kerry Diamond:
Comparison is the thief of joy.
Romilly Newman:
It really is.
Kerry Diamond:
Who said that?
Romilly Newman:
I don't know, but I quote it all the time.
Kerry Diamond:
You know what? I have a supercomputer right in front of me. It was probably Thoreau or Thomas Jefferson.
Romilly Newman:
Close. Theodore Roosevelt.
Kerry Diamond:
There you go, though some sources suggest variations were used by others, like C.S. Lewis, love him, or Mark Twain. There we go. Teddy Roosevelt.
Romilly Newman:
I've got options.
Kerry Diamond:
Who knew? We'll be right back with today's guest. The holiday issue of Cherry Bombe Magazine is finally here, and the team and I love this issue so much. It's all about cake and features three incredible, self-taught cake artists on the covers. Lucie Franc de Ferriere of From Lucie, Aimee France, aka Yungkombucha420, and Amy Yip of Yip.Studio. The issue is packed with recipes and lots of great stories. Head to cherrybombe.com to subscribe or order your issue. You can pick whichever cover you want or check out our list of stockists around the country. We love our stockists, and you can find Cherry Bombe Magazine in great places like Mama Bread in Nashville, Lady Bird Books in Charleston, and Matriarch in Newport, Rhode Island.
Let's talk about food.
Romilly Newman:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
Something we both love.
Romilly Newman:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
What are your favorite things to cook in December?
Romilly Newman:
It's kind of cliché, but I love to make warm, slow-cooked things in December, stews, braised meats. I become very kind of carnivorous and very-
Kerry Diamond:
Yeah. I noticed a lot of steak on your Instagram.
Romilly Newman:
A lot of steak, a lot of slow-cooked things. I think this year, more than ever, I'm making a lot of duck, which I love, braised duck legs. I think if you're able to get them, it's nice because they're kind of just as easy to cook as braising a chicken leg, but have such a depth of flavor and are so warm and gamey and delicious. But yeah, just kind of playing around with different meats. No, but I also love making a seafood soup in the winter, but also, you know what? I love whole roasting squashes and making dishes, like squash with grains, with cheese, with herbs, all those things, so I think I'm very much a primal eater in December. It's just like whatever my body is craving, I will go out and make. In the summer, it's like, I could do this, I could do that. In the winter, it's very like, "I need to feed my body this exact thing."
Kerry Diamond:
So, you pretty much follow the seasons?
Romilly Newman:
I do.
Kerry Diamond:
Tomatoes in the summer.
Romilly Newman:
I do.
Kerry Diamond:
Braises in the winter.
Romilly Newman:
Well, it tastes better.
Kerry Diamond:
Yeah, yeah. Of course. Do you bake much? I don't feel like you're a baker.
Romilly Newman:
I always say that I'm an okay baker, but I would never have a career if I was pursuing baking, and I think that sums it up. I can bake. I think if I put more energy towards it, I would be a pretty good baker, but I hate following rules. I love cooking because it's such a creative outlet and I can throw things in, and I taste and I adjust, and also, I kind of love the fact, in cooking, you can fix things. You add too much vinegar, you add a little sugar.
Kerry Diamond:
That is a great point.
Romilly Newman:
There's this freedom, and you kind of almost feel like some magical creature. It's like you can bring things back to life. You can make things taste different than they did. Baking is very rigid and very disciplined, and I have so much respect for people who can do it because it's just not in my nature.
Kerry Diamond:
What are some things you love to do in December, in addition to the cooking?
Romilly Newman:
I like to stay warm.
Kerry Diamond:
Tough this week. Tough this week, and Brooklyn is covered in a sheet of ice right now.
Romilly Newman:
I know.
Kerry Diamond:
Slumlords. You have to salt in front of your buildings.
Romilly Newman:
Even in the winter, I wear a heel.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh my gosh, dedication.
Romilly Newman:
I'm wearing a heeled clog right now. I like to live life on the edge, but no, I love to watch movies. I like to go to museums. I love to go out to restaurants, because I think the great thing about restaurants in the winter, it's like it's an activity. Lunch, dinner. It's so cold outside, but once you finally get in, you feel like you're in this other world, and I do like ice skating, although anyone who knows me well will probably laugh hearing that answer, because I probably haven't ice-skated since I was like 14, but this year is going to change.
Kerry Diamond:
Any New York holiday traditions? Specific places, specific restaurants?
Romilly Newman:
I always like to go to Bemelmans at the Carlyle around Christmas, because it just feels like Christmas. It's very special. I grew up around Washington Square Park, so going-
Kerry Diamond:
You don't drink martinis. What do you drink at-
Romilly Newman:
I like a cosmo, and my cosmo order is-
Kerry Diamond:
All right, Carrie Bradshaw.
Romilly Newman:
I know, I know. It's only recent that I like cosmos, and I realized it's because my order is, I say, less sweet than sour.
Kerry Diamond:
Does that confuse them, or they know that's a cosmo variation?
Romilly Newman:
I think they just know I like it tart, so I like that, and I like a gimlet, and I love a hot toddy.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh, yeah. Hot toddy is fun.
Romilly Newman:
So, going to Bemelmans. I grew up around Washington Square Park, so going to the tree there is very nostalgic for me. One of my favorite things to do is King: Jess, Clare, and Annie. They do caroling, and they also do raclette, and the king raclette on the weekend, they do an alcoholic hot chocolate and raclette, the beautiful sheet of cheese, crusty, over potatoes and cornational and pearl onions. I mean, to me that is-
Kerry Diamond:
That is so much fun.
Romilly Newman:
Yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
I forgot about that. I walked through Washington Square Park Sunday night when it was snowing, and it was just so beautiful, and the park was completely empty.
Romilly Newman:
It's special.
Kerry Diamond:
I mean, it's shocking to see Washington Square Park empty.
Romilly Newman:
I always think Washington Square Park always feels very kind of storyboard to me.
Kerry Diamond:
It does. You are someone who's both a great host and an in-demand guest, so I want to talk about both personas. Does hosting come naturally to you?
Romilly Newman:
Hosting comes very naturally to me. I think when I look back on my childhood, I loved having play dates at my house. I loved curating the snacks. I loved curating if we watched a movie, what music we listened to. I think it's very much in my DNA.
Kerry Diamond:
I'm laughing because I'm not shocked.
Romilly Newman:
No, it makes total sense. I love having people over. I love kind of surprising people, and it doesn't have to be this grand gesture, but maybe they told me they liked something, and six months later, I remembered and I served it. I'm actually having people over tonight, and I'm like, "What's that little thing I can put out where people are like, 'Oh my God. How did you think of this?'" And I think the important thing to remember with hosting too, is that it doesn't need to be a sit-down, three-course dinner.
Tonight I'm like, "Come at 8:30. I'm not serving you dinner, but I'll have mulled wine and delicious cocktails and some snacks." Hosting can really be whatever you want it to be, but I think, especially in a busy city like New York and in this kind of world where we're all a little bit lonely, having people over to your house is such a gift, and it's just as much a gift to me as it is to the people I invite over. I think they kind of say like, "You know your wedding's good if your guests have as much fun as you do." I feel like that's kind of how I feel about hosting.
Kerry Diamond:
How about being a good guest? What makes a good guest?
Romilly Newman:
Yes. Well, I'm always late, so that's not a good guest, and I'm working on it. It's definitely my New Year's resolution for the 18th time in a row, but I think-
Kerry Diamond:
You did put on Instagram that you RSVP and then don't show up.
Romilly Newman:
Okay, so I don't actually do that. That was for jokes.
Kerry Diamond:
Because that's my number one pet peeve, as someone who throws a lot of events.
Romilly Newman:
Okay. I actually don't do that, and I will speak to that, because I think it's really rude when you have a seated dinner, and someone RSVPs and they don't come, because as a host, you put a lot of thought into who is invited, who's sitting next to who. I do this for work, but it's still so hard to figure out how much food do you need to buy, how much liquor, all of those things. So, I do not condone that, and I do not do it. What I kind of meant more was canceling last minute to a party, because I always get really tired.
Kerry Diamond:
I also feel like there's a little bit of you that's an introvert.
Romilly Newman:
Well, that's the thing I think people don't realize about me, is that I'm as much of an introvert as I am an extrovert, and I really like to be alone. I really need to recharge after socializing, and so I think sometimes, and that's where this goes, my stupid Instagram post that was, oh my God, what was it? Unfortunately, I do love. Yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
Yes, that was hot on Instagram for a little while.
Romilly Newman:
My Instagram post. Sometimes I just hit a breaking point, and I realize that I will not be a good guest. For me, I think it's about self-preservation, because I go out a lot and I'm learning that I don't need to go out as much.
Kerry Diamond:
True, but it's hard in New York City. It is hard, because sometimes you feel like you get invited to something so interesting, and you're like, "Ugh, how can I say no to that?"
Romilly Newman:
Well, the reason I love New York is because every morning you wake up, and you can have a completely different ending to the day. You don't know who you're going to meet. You don't know where you're going to go. Everything unfolds, and it's kind of magical. You can try something for the first time, you can meet someone, you can have a best friend by the end of the day. I think that's why I'm so open to doing all these different things, is because I feel like my life is constantly fuller because-
Kerry Diamond:
That is the most beautiful way to describe living in New York City, and I think it's completely true.
Romilly Newman:
It is.
Kerry Diamond:
You just never know.
Romilly Newman:
You could just try a new food. I mean, it could be the smallest thing. It could be the biggest thing.
Kerry Diamond:
Every day on the subway.
Romilly Newman:
Everything.
Kerry Diamond:
It's like a complete, new adventure.
Romilly Newman:
Everything, and so I think I'm charmed and romanticized by that notion. I try to go for it, but also I think boundaries are also important.
Kerry Diamond:
Are there any signature Romilly hosting moves, like something you always do or always have?
Romilly Newman:
I'm trying to think of a signature hosting move. I always say that you have to have a playlist beforehand, because there's nothing more awkward than when you're hosting, and then an embarrassing song comes on shuffle, you're like scrambling to find your phone, and you have no idea where your phone is, but I do kind of like, sometimes, it depends on who's coming over, but for the guests to share a playlist, because then they get excited about their music, and also I learn new songs. But another thing is I think just this kind of sense of whimsy and playfulness. It's like, "Oh. I didn't buy dessert, but I have two tubs of vanilla ice cream, so why don't we make affogatos?" or "Why don't we all write something we want to leave behind and burn it in the fireplace?" I like to do programming a little bit, and it's never thought out. It's never forced, but just things that add a little bit of fun and joy and leave people thinking.
Kerry Diamond:
I want to talk a little bit more about being a good guest. Do you watch Subway Takes?
Romilly Newman:
Of course.
Kerry Diamond:
On Instagram, I'm obsessed with Subway Takes.
Romilly Newman:
Amazing.
Kerry Diamond:
I feel we need to manifest both of us being on Subway Takes in 2026.
Romilly Newman:
I'd be curious to see your subway take.
Kerry Diamond:
I need to think about. Do you know what your take would be? Don't tell me, because then it'll ruin it for the show.
Romilly Newman:
No. I have what I think is a very obvious answer, but I think I would think of one more interesting.
Kerry Diamond:
I know you have lots of very deeply held takes.
Romilly Newman:
The take that I think just, I'm sure you and every other woman agree with, is that tampons should be free in any public space, any restaurant.
Kerry Diamond:
100%.
Romilly Newman:
Any area where there's a bathroom, they should have tampons.
Kerry Diamond:
I'm going to pretend I'm Kareem right now. 100%.
Romilly Newman:
Thank you.
Kerry Diamond:
Agree.
Romilly Newman:
Thank you. That's my obvious take. It's not hot. Well, you know what? I think that's actually ice-cold.
Kerry Diamond:
There are more tampons for free-
Romilly Newman:
There are.
Kerry Diamond:
... Than when I was in need of a tampon. There were no free tampons back in the day.
Romilly Newman:
Any place that has toilet paper should have tampons. That's the take.
Kerry Diamond:
100% agree. All right. I hope you get to tell that to the world. Anyway, Robby Hoffman is on the latest subway takes. It is hilarious. She talks about potluck dinners, getting invited to someone's house, especially if they're rich, and being expected to show up with something, like a bottle of wine. She's like, "If you're rich, I'm not bringing anything to your house."
Romilly Newman:
I think potlucks are a dying breed.
Kerry Diamond:
Potlucks are a dying...
Romilly Newman:
Breed.
Kerry Diamond:
Breed, okay.
Romilly Newman:
I think there's something kind of fun, and now I think there's something kind of retro about them, but if I'm invited to someone's house, and I have to spend the whole day cooking before, and then I have to eat a bunch of other people's food.
Kerry Diamond:
So, you're with Robby Hoffman on this one?
Romilly Newman:
Kind of. I love a cookie swap, or if everyone makes dessert or something like that, but I think, as a host, it's maybe a little bit-
Kerry Diamond:
So, the potluck is dead.
Romilly Newman:
... Lazy.
Kerry Diamond:
I don't know. Does everybody agree? DM me. Let me know if you agree about the potluck.
Romilly Newman:
I mean, I think if you're part of a cookbook club and everyone brings a dish, that's great, but I think-
Kerry Diamond:
If you have a successful, long-running potluck, let me know.
Romilly Newman:
What do you think?
Kerry Diamond:
I mean, my life is not conducive to bringing a dish to someone's dinner party.
Romilly Newman:
I just think you're kind of getting out easy. You're hosting, but you're doing...
Kerry Diamond:
I don't know about that. This is a great idea. I want to hear from the potluck people. DM me, because maybe we can do a whole episode or a story about potluck.
Romilly Newman:
Yeah. I just think if you're hosting, it's a great deal, because everyone cooks the food and they bring it in Tupperware, so you don't have to worry about it.
Kerry Diamond:
That's true. Fewer dishes, all that. All right. We're going to table that until we hear from the potluck experts. Do you need to bring a host gift?
Romilly Newman:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
What do you like to bring?
Romilly Newman:
I think sometimes people are scared to ask the host what to bring, and I think that's the best-
Kerry Diamond:
Yeah, because then the host always says, "Don't bring anything."
Romilly Newman:
Yeah. Then, you kind of pressure and then they tell you what they need, because I think it's really helpful. Sometimes you're hosting, and you've made all this elaborate food, and then you realize, "I have nothing to serve. I have not one piece of bread," or "I don't have a drop of alcohol," and so it's actually kind of nice when someone says, "What can I bring?" and you can tell them exactly what they can bring. I think with hosting and with being guest, a really good thing is to actually just be kind of communicative. It's like, even at the end of the night, you can be like, "Are you tired? Should we go?" Because I think there's all this kind of tiptoeing around things, and it ends up making it a little bit awkward.
Kerry Diamond:
It's the same as life though, right?
Romilly Newman:
Exactly.
Kerry Diamond:
We need to be more straightforward.
Romilly Newman:
And then, also maybe the host has resentment or maybe the guest has resentment, so I think it's really good, without being too forthcoming, but to be like, "Would you prefer if we didn't sit in the kitchen while you cook? Would you prefer if we left? Do you want us to clean the table?" all those things. I think it's a nice thing.
Kerry Diamond:
Right. I have a friend who, legit, does not want help with the dishes when she has friends over.
Romilly Newman:
Right, and you know what? But I think sometimes you have to respect that. I know, for me, when I have guests over, I always set up some snacks and some drinks. I like for everyone, even if they don't know each other, to sit in the living room, to chat, and to mingle, because then I can finish cooking, but I really don't like when everyone gathers in the kitchen.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh, that's interesting. A lot of people, that's their favorite part of a dinner party.
Romilly Newman:
I think I like if it's a dinner, we're all sitting, and it's very casual. Then, people can sit in the kitchen while I cook, but if it's a dinner party, and I'm trying to impress people and I'm putting out the cheese plate and I'm doing this, I'm trying to show off, then I kind of like for everyone to stand back, and then I can be like, "Dinner's ready."
Kerry Diamond:
Get out of Romilly's kitchen.
Romilly Newman:
I think communication is underrated at dinner parties.
Kerry Diamond:
I love it. I'm writing that down. Great tip. Do you celebrate Christmas?
Romilly Newman:
I do.
Kerry Diamond:
How does the fam celebrate?
Romilly Newman:
I always say my mom is Santa Claus from a very young age. She just always made things very special, and she really valued traditions, so I always talk about this, but my mom always had a British Christmas pudding that we would actually light on fire with Brandy, and it's this kind of dense cake with orange peels, raisins, and all these different things. It's very English.
Kerry Diamond:
Store-bought, homemade?
Romilly Newman:
Store-bought. You can buy a few different English brands. Fortnum's makes it. You can buy a few different things. It's special to me, because every time I taste it, it reminds me of being young, being happy, and the holiday season. So, I'm big on traditions. I think traditions are such a beautiful thing, because they can transport you back to a different place or time and make you feel warm and fuzzy. I know there are things that I did when my grandparents were alive that, when I smell that specific thing or I taste that specific thing, it brings me back, and I think that, ultimately, is what I love about food and what I love about hosting. I'm all about traditions.
Kerry Diamond:
Do you have a favorite Christmas movie?
Romilly Newman:
“Elf.”
Kerry Diamond:
“Elf.”
Romilly Newman:
Always. I have two older brothers, and they're kind of goofy and they're boys. We always watched “Elf,” but it was kind of the one movie where we were all dying laughing. To me, watching “Elf,” in the same way the Christmas pudding or any of the other things, it just brings me back to being five years old.
Kerry Diamond:
My brothers insist on an “Elf” showing on Christmas Eve.
Romilly Newman:
There you go.
Kerry Diamond:
My brother, Patrick, started a really fun holiday tradition a few years ago. On Christmas Eve, we have an old copy of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas,” and we go around the whole entire family, and everybody reads a little piece of the story out loud-
Romilly Newman:
I love that.
Kerry Diamond:
And it's just great. It's so beautiful. Now I'd be so sad if we didn't do it.
Romilly Newman:
See, exactly. I think that's so sweet, and it's special to your family.
Kerry Diamond:
And it's never too late to start a tradition.
Romilly Newman:
No.
Kerry Diamond:
I think that's a good reminder.
Romilly Newman:
I think that's really what I'm trying to do with my work moving forward, is this idea of creating your own traditions. I taught myself how to cook because my family was not a cooking family. The dishes I made on Thanksgiving and on Christmas were ones that I just decided to start making, so I think this idea that like, "Oh. You have to have these recipes passed on, or you have to have these traditions that have been around before you were even born," it's not true. You can start a tradition tomorrow.
Kerry Diamond:
What was the highlight of 2025?
Romilly Newman:
This is going to be a boring answer, but I think 2025 was a year of tremendous growth, and I think that that was the highlight. I think I learned a lot about what I want, what I don't want, what makes me happy. Sure, a lot of shiny, exciting things happened, and I'm grateful for all of those things, and obviously I'm grateful for my friends and my family, but I think I can only say this because the year is ending. There's something very lucky about a year of growth and transformation. Hopefully, I'm turning into a butterfly. I feel very caterpillar right now.
Kerry Diamond:
What are your New Year's plans?
Romilly Newman:
I don't know yet. I think New Year's is one of those things, where I often stress, am underwhelmed, and so I'm trying to be a little lax about it, but I'll probably stress two days before.
Kerry Diamond:
I think it wasn't until I was in my 30s when I realized I really just wanted to be home on New Year's.
Romilly Newman:
Exactly. I think I don't want to ruin the magic for people, but New Year's and Halloween are two things where I'm just kind of happiest if I'm home. I used to think I have to be in this fantastical place and I have to be at these parties and whatever, and I realize now, if you're just kind of a little goofy and you're happy, it doesn't matter.
Kerry Diamond:
Yeah. I think you get peer pressure into thinking you have to do something big and dramatic on New Year's. Are you a resolutions girl?
Romilly Newman:
Totally. I tried to shift and make manifestations instead of resolutions, because I found the resolutions. I'm a very contrary person, and a little bit of a masochist, and I found that the resolutions, I'd often be like, "Well, I'm not going to do that," but manifestations are much easier.
Kerry Diamond:
Give me an example, so people know the difference between a resolution and a manifestation.
Romilly Newman:
Instead of saying, "This year, I'm going to go to the gym five times a week," I would be like, a manifestation is, "I'm going to feel really great in my body this year," and I think it's kind of branding. There's probably no difference, but just kind of reframing things as a positive and not as a, "You didn't do this, this year. You're going to do it next year," or "You have to cut this off."
Kerry Diamond:
Right, or I have to fix this about myself.
Romilly Newman:
Exactly.
Kerry Diamond:
Yeah.
Romilly Newman:
So, a huge manifestation person, though.
Kerry Diamond:
I'm guessing you don't make vision boards.
Romilly Newman:
I love Pinterest. I go on Pinterest in the middle of the night when I can't sleep. It's a much better alternative to TikTok. I love it, and I kind of build my dream life on Pinterest. Whether it's a pair of gloves, or it's a kitchen, or it's a garden, or whatever it could be, I think I subconsciously vision board on Pinterest.
Kerry Diamond:
I love your captions on Instagram.
Romilly Newman:
Thank you.
Kerry Diamond:
One of my faves was, "Dreaming is free."
Romilly Newman:
Yes. I think, again, in this world, where everyone's very polished, it's nice to just be real.
Kerry Diamond:
What's on your 2026 wishlist? Places to go? I feel like Dr. Seuss, places to go, things to do, people to meet.
Romilly Newman:
I love traveling, because I really get to experience other cultures, and I love eating and I love craftsmanship. Traveling really does kind of feed all of my senses, because I love clothing, and I love design, and I love food, and I love architecture and all those things. I really want to go to Peru, because I just hear the food is unbelievable. I'd love to go to India.
Kerry Diamond:
Have you been to Japan?
Romilly Newman:
I went to Tokyo, and then I went to Nawshima, which is that amazing art island, but I would really love to go back.
Kerry Diamond:
I've never been. I really want to go, and when are we going to Ireland?
Romilly Newman:
We can go to Ireland whenever. I think you're so Irish. They should pay us to go to Ireland. You kind of have it.
Kerry Diamond:
I won't disagree with that, but yes, I'm happy to go. Ireland and Paris. If I could time-travel, I would just go to those two places over and over. I'm very lazy.
Romilly Newman:
There's something magical of a place that hits the same and just as hard every time you go.
Kerry Diamond:
Also, something about both places, literally, I will land and get off the plane and I feel different. My blood feels different.
Romilly Newman:
It's an amazing feeling.
Kerry Diamond:
I'm happy and so excited to be there. I'm sure you have some places like that.
Romilly Newman:
Oh, 100%.
Kerry Diamond:
Is London like that for you?
Romilly Newman:
Yeah, it's funny. A lot of people don't feel that way about London. They get off, and then they're like, "It's so gray. It's so cold," but my mom is Anglo-Irish but was raised in France. It's so funny, everyone's always like, "What are you? Are you French? Are you English? Are you American?" I think people think I'm lying, but in reality, it's just a weird amalgamation of things. I didn't really go to London much growing up, and then, as an adult, I went once on a trip by myself, and I was like, "This is my place." It's that feeling you kind of described, where I just felt very calm, and I'm a very anxious person. I just felt very at peace, and I got along with people. I was very happy to just do nothing or to do everything. So yeah, I think London for me is kind of that place.
Kerry Diamond:
And we should mention how much we adore your mother.
Romilly Newman:
She's very special.
Kerry Diamond:
Hopefully, when you're on the podcast next year, you'll come home with your mom. Are you good at trusting your gut?
Romilly Newman:
I'm very good at trusting my gut. I definitely have some witchy powers. My mom is a total witch. It's so funny, because sometimes I have to clarify to people that witch is not a bad thing anymore, because people are like, "You're a witch. Get away from me," and I'm like, "No, I think witch in the sense that you have a very strong intuition, you have feelings and you feel things deeply, and you have a sense of the future and the past, and it's a privilege, I think." My mom does tarot card readings.
Kerry Diamond:
I didn't know that.
Romilly Newman:
Yeah, and she's remarkable at them. It's funny, because it's not something she ever set out to do. She doesn't do it for money or anything like that, but she's amazing at it. I have very strong feelings, and I think I used to ignore them because maybe the feelings weren't exactly what I wanted to hear, and now I've learned that they're always right, but I'm very much a person who believes that everything happens when it's meant to happen, the stars align, don't do any big deals during mercury in retrograde. All those things are true.
Kerry Diamond:
The witchy thing. I'm part Scottish. I'm sure some relative or maybe me in a past life was burned at the stake.
Romilly Newman:
Exactly. I feel that strongly.
Kerry Diamond:
No doubt.
Romilly Newman:
Very strongly.
Kerry Diamond:
Motto or mantra, do you have one? Some people have them tattooed on their bodies.
Romilly Newman:
No, I don't.
Kerry Diamond:
I'm going to say, I know you do not have your motto or mantra tattooed on you.
Romilly Newman:
This is something that my mom always told me, and I was always like, "Eh," and then now I would say, in my growth year, it's become more and more clear, but do things for yourself, not for other people, meaning it's not saying be selfish, but it's saying don't care what other people think. I think I've come into myself a lot, and I know who I am, and I used to worry a lot, "What if people think this? What if people think that?" Whatever, and now I just feel like if I'm authentically myself, if people don't like it, then they're probably not the right people.
Kerry Diamond:
And you are always authentically yourself.
Romilly Newman:
Thank you.
Kerry Diamond:
I love that about you. Speed round. What beverage do you start the day with?
Romilly Newman:
Coffee, which is terrible, because I have gastritis, my cortisol levels spike, and I'm not a wellness guru, okay? Well, I'm many things, but not that.
Kerry Diamond:
You have a whole lifetime to start your wellness era.
Romilly Newman:
Yeah, exactly.
Kerry Diamond:
Do you have a favorite cookbook? I know you said you're not really a recipe follower-
Romilly Newman:
No.
Kerry Diamond:
... But is there a cookbook that you love and turn to?
Romilly Newman:
Well, it's funny. I'm not a recipe follower when it comes to baking, but I love cookbooks. I collect cookbooks, because I think I find so much inspiration from them, and certain chefs and authors do things in a way that I never would think about. I often read them when I am bored or when I don't know exactly what I want to cook, and I think, "Oh, wow. I would never would pair that ingredient with that ingredient." I always go to the “River Cafe Cookbook,” because everything's so simple and so beautiful. Ruth Rogers makes a kale pesto, and all she does is boil a pot of kale with one garlic clove and olive oil.
Kerry Diamond:
I never even thought about that.
Romilly Newman:
That's it. That's the kale pesto, and it is like the most sumptuous, green, rich sauce. There's no cheese. There's no nuts. It's just a pot of blanched kale, one garlic clove, and olive oil, and so I think-
Kerry Diamond:
I need to jump on this, because I miss pesto in the winter and I'm not a fan of-
Romilly Newman:
You have to make that pesto.
Kerry Diamond:
... Jarred pesto.
Romilly Newman:
So, I think things like that are why I love reading cookbooks, because I would never, ever, ever think that's all I need in a pesto, but I love all of Nigel Slater's books. I think he writes about food so beautifully and he cooks so beautifully, and it's all kind of food you'd eat by a fireplace.
Kerry Diamond:
I've never interviewed Nigel. I'd love to talk to him.
Romilly Newman:
He's amazing.
Kerry Diamond:
You met him?
Romilly Newman:
No.
Kerry Diamond:
Nigel, come talk to us. Always in your fridge?
Romilly Newman:
Anchovies and mustard.
Kerry Diamond:
Most used kitchen tool.
Romilly Newman:
Microplane.
Kerry Diamond:
Fave snack food?
Romilly Newman:
Chocolate.
Kerry Diamond:
What kind of chocolate?
Romilly Newman:
I like a dark chocolate, but something that has a nut or a dried fruit or something in it, so something that has a little textural variation.
Kerry Diamond:
Fave food as a child. You've loved everything as a kid.
Romilly Newman:
It's so funny. I asked my mom this the other day, and she had two answers, and both seem like a parody, and anyone who knows me knows I'm basically a parody of myself. She said, "Your day-to-day favorite were cucumber tea sandwiches."
Kerry Diamond:
Yeah, but you know what? I can see that.
Romilly Newman:
You are dainty, right?
Kerry Diamond:
And you were a dainty kid.
Romilly Newman:
A little white bread with cucumber and cream cheese, and you cut off the crust, and I just thought that was really sweet, actually. Then, she said, and this makes so much sense, my favorite food was the food we'd eat on holidays.
Kerry Diamond:
Were you the kind of kid who loved Kraft macaroni and cheese in a box?
Romilly Newman:
Well, it's funny. I have two brothers, and one's a huge foodie. The one who is, James, they're nine and six years older than I am, so James was actually quite influential in my food discovery because he loved food, he loved restaurants, and he kind of encouraged me to try things, and he'd watch food shows and whatnot, but Griffin did not eat anything other than boxed mac and cheese, French bread pizza, Domino's, Taco Bell.
Kerry Diamond:
Still, first French bread pizza?
Romilly Newman:
Yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
All the classics.
Romilly Newman:
And the reason why is because when he was little, the doctors were like, "He is so skinny. If he doesn't eat, he's going to have a serious health problem," and my mom had to make the executive decision that it was more important that he ate-
Kerry Diamond:
Something.
Romilly Newman:
... Than eat healthily. So, when I was little, I used to sneak in and steal his food, because I thought it was my special brother's food. I have this weird, enduring, soft spot for Domino's, because whenever my parents went out and Griffin would babysit me, we'd turn down the lights, he'd put on a rated R movie, and we would order Domino's.
Kerry Diamond:
He was a good big brother.
Romilly Newman:
He was a very good big brother.
Kerry Diamond:
Fave food smell.
Romilly Newman:
I love the smell of pork fat.
Kerry Diamond:
Favorite food movie.
Romilly Newman:
It's a hard choice, but I love “Tampopo.” I think “Tampopo” is one of the most beautiful films, but close second is “Babette's Feast.”
Kerry Diamond:
I'm dying to have a food film festival somewhere.
Romilly Newman:
That would be amazing.
Kerry Diamond:
Right? Maybe down at the new A24.
Romilly Newman:
Oh, yeah. Cherry Lane. That's perfect.
Kerry Diamond:
Cherry Lane, yeah. What are you streaming right now?
Romilly Newman:
I love adrenaline. I just finished “All Her Fault” with Sarah Snook, which was a very exciting, unraveling, kidnapping story, and I love “The Pitt,” and it's funny, I love “The Pitt” because it really helps me to relax.
Kerry Diamond:
Okay. We have very different tastes.
Romilly Newman:
I know. I know. I like something very high stress, high energy in order to relax.
Kerry Diamond:
See, I had to stop watching that.
Romilly Newman:
People are going to listen to this podcast and be like, "We need to send her to therapy," but it's what works for me.
Kerry Diamond:
I had to stop watching that Claire Danes one on Netflix after the first episode.
Romilly Newman:
Oh, “The Beast in Me.” Really?
Kerry Diamond:
Yeah. It was just too stressful.
Romilly Newman:
You're a little squirmish.
Kerry Diamond:
Give me “Room With A View,” “Breakfast At Tiffany's.”
Romilly Newman:
I mean, I like those too.
Kerry Diamond:
I guess the most stressful movie I like is “The Royal Tenenbaums.”
Romilly Newman:
I love that. That's a favorite.
Kerry Diamond:
Which just turned like 24 or something.
Romilly Newman:
I know.
Kerry Diamond:
Is it older than you?
Romilly Newman:
No.
Kerry Diamond:
Oh. You'll always be like 19 in my brain.
Romilly Newman:
I'm like, no, but it's really not that much younger.
Kerry Diamond:
Yeah, okay. Streaming. What are you reading? Any good books? Do you read books? Not everybody does. A lot of people listen.
Romilly Newman:
No. Well, I read cookbooks like they're books, but there's a selection of books that I have on my bookshelf. I'll be honest, I'm so ADHD that it's hard for me to finish a book, but I love reading, but I actually just started reading “The Price of Salt” by Patricia Highsmith.
Kerry Diamond:
Never read that. Love it?
Romilly Newman:
Love.
Kerry Diamond:
Yeah. I need to give a shout-out to a bookstore. I was just in Charleston for an event. I love Charleston so much, and there's a brand new bookstore called Lady Bird Books.
Romilly Newman:
That's such a cute name.
Kerry Diamond:
It is one of the most fabulous bookstores I've ever been in. I walked in, and I just thought, "You can bury me in this bookstore."
Romilly Newman:
Aw. You love Three Lives?
Kerry Diamond:
I love all bookstores.
Romilly Newman:
My mom will go to a bookstore just to relax, so growing up, I spent a lot of time in bookstores, sitting on the little seats.
Kerry Diamond:
And I worked in bookstores all through high school and college. Loved them so much, but yes, if you're down in Charleston, go check out Lady Bird, and tell them Cherry Bombe sent you. What are you listening to? There's so much good music right now.
Romilly Newman:
I mean, obviously, I'm listening to Lily Allen.
Kerry Diamond:
Beyond. We tried to get tickets, and I think I was-
Romilly Newman:
I got tickets.
Kerry Diamond:
Shut up. How? The normal way, or did you go on StubHub?
Romilly Newman:
The normal way. My friend, who's much more organized and impressive than I am, just was on it and said, "Do you want one?" I said, "Yes," so I'm going to see Lily Allen. The Rosalia album is unbelievable.
Kerry Diamond:
Lux.
Romilly Newman:
Unbelievable.
Kerry Diamond:
I mean, both of those albums, I really think are masterpieces.
Romilly Newman:
They are masterpieces. West End Girl and Lux, I'm blown away every time I listen. It's funny. I'm the type of person, where the second a song comes out, I listen to it 100 times and then I get tired of it, but those albums are so amazing that I just listen to them entirely through. It's like a play.
Kerry Diamond:
It's really rare. I mean, I feel like it was all about the single for the longest time, and this year, I mean, there are just these albums that are fantastic from start to finish. It's also, there's something nice about listening to them the way the artist intended.
Romilly Newman:
They're stories.
Kerry Diamond:
Yeah. You know what has gotten me through a stressful December is Audrey Hobert's album.
Romilly Newman:
Oh my God. I love Audrey Hobert. I've been writing more on Substack, and I think I felt a lot of pressure when Substack first came out, because I was like, "I have to tell people how to cut their flowers and lay their silverware and all these things," and I felt a little paralyzed by it and I stopped for a long time, because I was like, "Everything has to be perfect on Substack," because I think Substack, number one, reminds me a lot of how I started on Blogspot, and it's a very good medium for me, so I felt like I had to be really good at it, but anyway, I took a long break and then I came back, and I started just writing off the-
Kerry Diamond:
You're writing really personal things.
Romilly Newman:
Very personal things that I never imagined I would write, but I think I wrote something recently about, we just all need to stop caring so much. I was kind of inspired by Audrey Hobert. I think she is the perfect example of someone who is just 100% authentically herself, and she is doing something that's entirely her own and you can't stop watching. I think some people are mad about it. Some people are like, "Why is she so like this? "
Kerry Diamond:
Oh, really? Oh. I haven't followed any of the discourse.
Romilly Newman:
Because I think she's not following a norm, and I think when people are just so cool, so themselves, and not trying to appeal to industry standards, people are like, "What is this?" And I think it's refreshing, and I think she's so talented, and I think it's inspiring to me.
Kerry Diamond:
Yes. Audrey Hobert, go listen.
Romilly Newman:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
And she is Gracie Abrams...
Romilly Newman:
She is, yeah.
Kerry Diamond:
She writes songs with her. Yeah, yeah. I hope you keep writing. You're a terrific writer.
Romilly Newman:
Thank you. I really like it. Hopefully I don't share too much. I'm joking, but it has become a weird, therapeutic thing for me.
Kerry Diamond:
I was going to say, you share a lot.
Romilly Newman:
Yeah. I do share a lot. I know. I can always imagine Kerry reading my posts and being like, "She did what?
Kerry Diamond:
I do comment, from time to time, when I just approve of something you've done, but with love.
Romilly Newman:
I think, if I can share things, hopefully with the intention of maybe people won't make the same mistakes I have, then I'll do something right.
Kerry Diamond:
Always with love, Rom.
Romilly Newman:
Yes.
Kerry Diamond:
Okay, let's wrap it up. Favorite restaurant. What do you love in New York?
Romilly Newman:
Right now, my favorite restaurant is Britches. I think it's amazing.
Kerry Diamond:
Are you a Martha or an Ina?
Romilly Newman:
Obviously, I'm a Martha.
Kerry Diamond:
Why obviously a Martha?
Romilly Newman:
Because...
Kerry Diamond:
You do think store-bought is fine.
Romilly Newman:
I do think store-bought is fine. I'm a Martha, because I set the table, I create the home, I curate. I think Ina's incredibly stylish and everything is beautiful, but Martha creates an entire existence. I think Martha's a way of living, and while I'm the first person to say I don't have a green thumb and I am not a perfectionist, I strive for perfection, but I never reached it, but I love this idea of creating an entire universe, whereas Ina is just kind of chilling and she's having a great time and she's relaxed, and I don't think I could ever be that relaxed.
Kerry Diamond:
And don't strive for perfection. You're perfect just the way you are, Romilly Newman.
Romilly Newman:
Thank you, Kerry.
Kerry Diamond:
All right. If you had to be trapped on a desert island with one food celebrity, who would it be and why?
Romilly Newman:
Padma, because I think Padma's kind of Wonder Woman. I can imagine her lighting fires, cutting down trees. I can imagine her talking to animals and them understanding. She's just kind of otherworldly.
Kerry Diamond:
She absolutely is.
Romilly Newman:
Padma could say "Jump," and I'd say, "How high?" I really do think that she would save me.
Kerry Diamond:
She really is just otherworldly.
Romilly Newman:
Exactly.
Kerry Diamond:
Yeah, and she's so freaking smart.
Romilly Newman:
And funny.
Kerry Diamond:
And funny.
Romilly Newman:
We were both judges on the World Stuffed Cabbage championships. I mean, what a privilege and what an honor to sit next to Padma and eat stuffed cabbage for two hours.
Kerry Diamond:
I don't even know what to say.
Romilly Newman:
Exactly. You can just end it there.
Kerry Diamond:
Yeah, we can just end it there. Anyway, Rom, you know I love you.
Romilly Newman:
Thank you, Kerry. I love you too.
Kerry Diamond:
Happy holidays.
Romilly Newman:
Happy holidays.
Kerry Diamond:
That's it for today's show. Thank you so much to Romilly Newman for joining me. You're still the Bombe, Rom. Don't forget, tickets for Jubilee 2026 are on sale. The Cake Issue is out now, and check out our Substack. Our theme song is by the band Tralala. Joseph Hazen is a studio engineer for Newsstand Studios. Our producers are Catherine Baker and Jenna Sadhu. Our executive assistant is Brigid Pittman, and our head of partnerships is Rachel Close. Thanks for listening, everybody. You're the Bombe.