What's Your Fancy? Jesse Tyler Ferguson Shares His Favorites for the Kitchen and Beyond

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“I love the conversations that happen around the table,” Jesse Tyler Ferguson says. “People are more open when they’re being fed.”

That’s what the actor is counting on when it comes to his new podcast, Dinner’s On Me. The series follows Ferguson into his favorite restaurants for meals and wide-ranging conversations with famous friends, including Julie Bowen, Kristen Bell, Fred Armisen, Jesse Williams, Niecy Nash-Betts, and more. It’s a new project for Ferguson, but not entirely a new concept; “I’m definitely someone who enjoys sitting down for a meal and talking,” Ferguson, who won a Tony Award last year for his role in Broadway’s Take Me Out, explains. “I’m always hosting dinner parties at my house, and there’s something about having a meal together that makes us connect a bit more.”

Here, Ferguson shares what’s feeding him at the dinner table and beyond.

Food Between Friends: A Cookbook

"After writing this cookbook, the question I answer the most is what’s your go-to recipe, but the answer is always different. It depends on what I want to eat; I do pull a lot from my own cookbook, and I have an extensive cookbook collection. It’s risky to try new things when you have people coming over, so I do have things that I know always turn out well. But even last night, my mom came over and I tried three new things that all turned out so well that I’ll absolutely go back to them."

Slim-Fit Drawstring-Waist Wool Pants

"The reason I like these specific pants is because they look elevated, and you can wear them with a nice shirt, and they look like dress pants. But they’re also great for an airplane; they don’t wrinkle. In the past few years, I’ve embraced draw-string pants in a major way."

Moleskine Classic Weekly Planner

"I’ve been using these for the past 15 years, and I’ve tried new planners but just can’t do it. It doesn’t feel the same. So, every year I buy a different color and get excited for that—and I keep them all, so they act as almost diaries of my year.

Lemon Lavender Social Tonic

"My friend Luke started this company. In the past few years, I’ve embraced cannabis; I can’t smoke it, but it really helps with my anxiety or helps me sleep after a long day. It’s like having a little cocktail without the booze—and without the hangover the next day. The cans are also well designed, so they look cute in the refrigerator."

Tall Modern Cup

"For the longest time, I just had glossy white pieces in my kitchen, which were wonderful. But I got to a point in my life when I was hosting so many dinners that I wanted to really elevate, so I went with these. I’m always at restaurants turning over nice plates to see who makes them, and most of the time it’s Heath Ceramics."

Tomato Leaves Candle

"This is something my friend Daniel Levy taught me about. I can’t get away with the clothes, even though I appreciate them on other people. I was looking for a Christmas gift for my husband, Justin, so I was in the store, on the phone with Dan asking for help. He said, 'I don’t know what you should buy Justin but could you pick up one of those tomato candles before you leave?' I got one for him, and I got one for myself and I’m so glad I did."

Clifton 9 Sneakers

"A physical therapist told me that these are great running shoes, and they really do help my legs get not quite so sore. And once I bought my first pair, I looked around and saw everyone in my gym—young, hip people—were wearing them, so I felt like I was in good company."

Ena 4 Coffee Machine

"I drink too much coffee and am trying to cut back, but this makes such a good cup of coffee. It also makes single cups, so you’re not wasting an entire pot. It’s a splurge—Justin bought it for me a few years ago–but I really do love it."

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