Simu Liu & Melissa Barrera Talk Spy Training and Resolutions at Bangkok Supper Club — Let's Do Lunch

Quick Overview

Simu Liu and Melissa Barrera discuss their favorite New York and Toronto restaurants, reveal their go-to filming snacks, and debate character drinks for a hypothetical bar scene before concluding that they both prefer five-course tasting menus over all-you-can-eat buffets.

Key Points: Simu Liu names Bangkok Supper Club as one of his favorite restaurants in New York, citing a recommendation from friend Ronny Chieng. Melissa Barrera names Sirah, located inside a mall in Polanco, Mexico City, as her favorite restaurant from her hometown. Melissa's go-to filming snacks include Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Doritos, Chips Fuego, and Takis, while Simu mentions Wendy's as an honorable mention for his list of six Toronto recommendations. Simu Liu lists six favorite Toronto dining spots: Pai, Akin, Fishman Lobster Clubhouse, Mandarin Restaurant, Wendy's (honorable mention), and Aburi Hana. When asked about their characters from 'The Copenhagen Test' walking into a bar, Simu suggested his character (Alexander) would drink beer, while Melissa suggested her character (Samantha Carpenter) would drink a cocktail with three different spirits. Melissa revealed she started acting in telenovelas and found the transition to American media to be surprisingly not crazy, though she realized the platforms were bigger and the reach was larger. Both Simu and Melissa prefer a five-course tasting menu over an unlimited all-you-can-eat buffet.

Context: Actors Simu Liu and Melissa Barrera join Eater for an installment of 'Let's Do Lunch' to discuss their dining preferences, favorite restaurants in New York and Toronto, and share insights about their roles in the Peacock original film, 'The Copenhagen Test,' which streams on December 27th. The conversation flows between personal culinary recommendations and hypothetical scenarios related to their acting work.

Detailed Analysis

The video features Simu Liu and Melissa Barrera having lunch at Bangkok Supper Club and discussing food and their careers. Simu Liu chose the restaurant based on a recommendation from Ronny Chieng, calling it one of his favorite spots in New York. Melissa Barrera mentioned Sirah in Polanco, Mexico City, as her favorite spot from her hometown. During the meal, they sampled several dishes, including Uni and Crab Tartlet, Hokkaido Scallop Ceviche, Bangkok Gai Yang with sticky rice, Whole Branzino with crispy skin, and a Coconut Pandan dessert. Simu praised the food, especially the dessert, for being perfectly balanced and 'not too sweet,' which he considers the highest praise for an Asian dessert. When asked for their favorite dining spots in Toronto, Simu listed Pai, Akin, Fishman Lobster Clubhouse, Mandarin Restaurant, Aburi Hana, and gave Wendy's an honorable mention. Melissa's go-to filming snacks are spicy options: Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Doritos, Chips Fuego, and Takis. Discussing their spy roles in 'The Copenhagen Test,' Simu guessed his character (Alexander, raised by an assassin) would drink beer, while Melissa suggested her character (Samantha Carpenter) would drink a three-spirit cocktail. Melissa also discussed her transition from acting in telenovelas to American media, noting that while it seemed huge from afar, the reality was less dramatic, though the platforms were bigger. When posed with a choice between a five-course tasting menu or an unlimited all-you-can-eat buffet, Melissa immediately chose the buffet, but Simu ultimately sided with the tasting menu, stating his metabolism slows down as he ages.