Tasting Notes

Photography By Benedict Evans
Groomer: Jonathan Mason/Artists By Timothy Priano

Maulik Pancholy,Actor

We met at a pool party on Fire Island. It was my first time in the Pines, and it was like nothing I'd experienced. We've been together for so long, and we've loved each other for so long, that it's hard to recall when I first told him I loved him. We moved in about two years into our relationship. That was a huge step, in the face of never having lived with anyone before, and still struggling at the time with being out to my entire family.

Early on, it was a little scary for me. I remember going to my first SAG Awards with the cast of Weeds, back in 2007, and we talked about how we were going to handle it. I said I didn't want to do red carpet photos together. It had way more to do with me than with the industry, although of course the industry has had issues around all that stuff historically. That was challenging for Ryan, who has been out a lot longer than me. I look back and think about how great it would have been just to be more comfortable in my skin.

We'd always said we'd be ready to get married once we could, and once we'd met each other's families. We got engaged at the Taj Mahal last January, and told our families the next day, before posting it on Facebook. It's three hours from Agra to Delhi, where we were going next, and when we arrived, Ryan said, "I'm going to check my computer," and there was so much press about it. This was on the heels of India's Supreme Court reinstating Section 377, which says that homosexuality is a crime. A lot of Indian papers ran the story of our engagement, so, without intending to, we made a statement.

I'm so grateful that I get to spend the rest of my life with Ryan. When I'm upset about something, he really hears it. He is extremely kind -- not only with me, but in the way he deals with other people. And he cooks for me, which is pretty fucking great!

Ryan Corvaia,Chef and Caterer

My share house on Fire Island threw a party, and Maulik was a day-tripper who came with a friend. He had his party hat on, and his eyes were bright and he was [new to the scene]. We fell in love pretty fast. He wasn't pretentious, and had no attitude, and I was attracted to that. After we both returned to the city, I had him over for dinner, and we kind of jumped right into it. We definitely complement each other in a lot of ways. I think I'm more New York City street-smart, and he's more book-smart. He was a mathlete in high school -- my complete opposite. Food has always been such a big part of my life, and he doesn't cook. Before me, Maulik had never realized he could go to dinner and have a vegetarian tasting menu, and now he has a palate -- I think I'm responsible for that.

Maulik's so endearing. For him to get dressed to go out takes about three or four outfits, with clothing all over the bedroom, and they all look the same. And then we're late. I make fun of him for those kinds of things, but of course I like it -- I wouldn't want him to change.

Even in my 20s and early 30s, I didn't think it was conceivable that we'd be allowed to marry -- it's all so new. But the decision to get engaged at the Taj Mahal was very much mutual. There were some things to think through, like our families, but it was easy. We had been together for 10 years. To be honest, the wedding is a blur, but we had a perfect day. His dad is my dad now. For Indians to be able to say that -- it was very special.