00:00FRIED RICE AND MARINARRA
00:10Young Mikey M danced to his front door.
00:20Mom, do you know I'm about to turn four?
00:24All of my friends will come over and play.
00:31Then piles of presents will fill our driveway.
00:36We'll have a huge cake, and my buddies will say,
00:40Your party was perfect. Hip, hip, hooray!
00:47Mikey's mom smiled as he finished his speech.
00:51Your plan is fantastic, my sweet little peach,
00:56but no celebration is ever complete
00:59until you've decided what you want to eat.
01:05Her statement stopped him dead in his tracks.
01:10Food, of course! Every party needs snacks!
01:15Well, pizza is something that everyone loves,
01:24but tacos fit in your hand like a glove.
01:28Burgers and hot dogs are easy to eat,
01:31but pork and fried rice is such a nice treat.
01:38He needed a guru, a trusted grub guide.
01:42What food did you have for your birthday, Babu?
01:53In Hong Kong, Chinese food is all that we knew.
01:59Nona, do you know what food you would choose?
02:03My roots are Italian, so pasta can't lose.
02:06Chinese or Italian, both are delicious.
02:14He remembered his cousin's birthday dishes.
02:20For the twins, rice and spice on their special day.
02:29While Joe had lasagna, he ate a whole tray.
02:33Mikey was stuck, not sure what to do.
02:43He couldn't decide between the two.
02:50Ravioli or dumplings?
02:52Linguini or lo mein?
02:55All of these options were hurting his brain.
02:58Focaccia, burrata, caprese, risotto, dim sum or wontons or noodles and shrimp roe.
03:16His mind was a jumble of possible choices.
03:19He heard both sides of his family's voices.
03:23He rushed to the park to get out of his head.
03:35His best friend, Sophia, found him and said,
03:39Are you okay, Mikey?
03:41Why so much sorrow?
03:43I can't pick a dish, and my party's tomorrow.
03:47Your mom is Italian, your dad is Chinese.
03:54You're free to choose food as unique as you please.
03:58Why not have both?
04:00Is that too outrageous?
04:02A Chinese-Italian mash-up for the ages.
04:07Yeah!
04:08Sophia, that's it!
04:10I don't have to choose one!
04:12He bolted straight home.
04:16There was lots to get done.
04:21Mikey burst in the kitchen.
04:24I'm ready to pick!
04:26I've made my decision.
04:28This isn't a trick.
04:31I want fried rice and marinara sauce.
04:36That'll be different.
04:37But hey, you're the boss.
04:42He awoke the next day in a jittery mood.
04:52Friends were arriving.
04:54Will they like the food?
04:59Mikey's mom fried up a wok full of rice.
05:03In went the veggies, two eggs, and some spice.
05:07His friends helped give the tomatoes a squish.
05:13They drizzled the sauce to complete the new dish.
05:16Mmm!
05:21Mikey tensed up as his friends took a taste.
05:25But the fusion of flavors lit up every face.
05:28Mmm!
05:29Mmm!
05:29Mmm!
05:29Mmm!
05:30Mmm!
05:30Mmm!
05:30Mmm!
05:30Mmm!
05:31Mmm!
05:31Mmm!
05:32Mmm!
05:33Mmm!
05:34Mmm!
05:35Mmm!
05:36And, Raj, R-E-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R.E-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R
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