On the birth of Dimes:

Alissa and I wanted to create a space in the neighborhood that represented foods that we liked to eat. We just felt there wasn’t a place in New York (then) that had really done it—creating simple, good food that wasn’t over the top or too expensive.

On the importance of breathing:

I do this breathing technique called the Doctor Weil 4, 7, 8 breath. Breathe in for four counts through your nose, hold in for seven, and then release for eight through the mouth, making sure that the tongue is sitting on the roof of your mouth. It helps with stress, internal tension and anxiety. I do a set of four, twice a day.

On clearing out the cobwebs:

Twice a year I try to do a parasite cleanse with colonics. Colon detoxes are so important and can help reverse diseases while creating an environment in our gut (which houses 80% of our immunity!) for optimum vitality.

On centering oneself:

Achieving balance is a priority of mine. I'm prone to high levels of stress but have come up with a few ways to tamp it down. Taking long walks with my dog, Mars, and catching up with friends are great ways to normalize my day to day.

On cooking rituals:

Eating balanced foods is very important for me. If I overdo it with certain vices (which we all do), I make sure to listen to my body and make my way back to eating wholesome ingredients. I always eat probiotic rich foods and take apple cider vinegar with lemon every morning. When I cook for myself, I usually just see what I have around and freestyle it. I'm pretty well stocked with a variety of spices; it's the one thing I always use to amp up flavour. I’ve been very into my rice cooker lately—I throw all the ingredients together and let it do its thing. I usually have pickled red onion in the fridge that I like to throw on everything.