Tongson’s personal cooking style relies on saving the ingredients or parts that traditionally, institutionally have less value — “something that you think is burdened by indignity, cheapness and trash” — and finding her own perfect application that proves otherwise. “Sometimes it is relevant to bring in the conversation that Nietzsche started, in relation to Britney Spears,” she says with a laugh.

Quick! Pick one stereotype and squeeze yourself into it.

Yeah, Meaghan O’Malley thinks that’s pretty stupid, too. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you crossed an activist, self-assured, cargo shorts-wearing, feminist lesbian with an embroidering, cupcake-baking, doting housewife, Meaghan is your answer …