There is perhaps no more enduring culinary question than this: what, exactly, should one eat when high?

For April, we turn our attention to one of dining's most democratic rituals—the munchies. Elevated or greasy, planned or entirely impulsive, the best post-smoke meals tend to reveal something essential about both a city and the people eating in it.

So we asked our Dine with Dez contributor & friend, Cassell Ferere, to weigh in: To weed, or not to weed? Oui or non? From late-night staples to meticulously assembled spreads, these are the dishes, destinations, and rituals that define the art of eating under the influence.

Cassell is a multifaceted creative professional and founder of the Reverie Page & former fashion contributor to Forbes

Now, let’s get into it.

With love,

Desmond, Ramses, & Cassell

I run to challenge myself. I smoke to relieve myself. I eat to recover. I smoke weed to eat. I eat and it gives me energy to run. I smoke to prepare mentally.

This is the cycle. Less a routine, and more of a rhythmic alchemy. Cannabis culture rolls into a performance enhancer, recovery tool, and ultimately, its presence is moving. It is not about optimization, it’s a recalibration of mind and body in a world that demands both urgency and endurance.

There is growing research that is validating what many runners, lifters, and everyday athletes have long known; cannabis doesn’t necessarily make you faster, stronger, or more technically precise. It can make the process feel more human. Studies suggest that cannabis use before exercise may increase enjoyment, elevate mood, and deepen the sensory experience of movement, even if it does not enhance performance at any scale. In practice, that distinction matters. Because consistency - the real currency of fitness - is often driven less by peak output and more by whether you want to show up again tomorrow.

For me, cannabis operates as a mental primer. Similar to music or solitude, it creates a psychological threshold. It becomes a space where the noise of obligation quiets, and intention sharpens. Now focused, the run becomes less about distance and more about immersion. Each step feels deliberate, each breath accounted for. It’s a reframing of exertion into experience.

There is also the question of recovery, where cannabis moves from its ritual use, to a subversive remedy. Although there may be survey-based research, I can tell you that cannabis post run is relaxing at the least. THC and CBD aid in post-workout recovery, reducing pain, inflammation, and fatigue. This aligns with a broader shift in wellness culture prioritizing restoration as much as exertion. Ice baths, compression therapy, sleep optimization are all valid, and cannabis enters that ecosystem not as a shortcut, but as a supplement to the body’s natural recalibration.

But the relationship is not without tension. Cannabis, like any tool, can blur into dependency if left unchecked. It can guide, but it can also overtake. The same compound that quiets the mind can dull urgency. The same ritual that enhances presence can become a prerequisite for it. While cannabis may elevate the pleasure of exercise, it does not reliably increase motivation or performance, and in some cases may even make exertion feel more difficult .

And yet, there is something undeniably powerful in its ability to unlock appetite, as much as provoke anxiety or induce sleep. Not just for food, but for life itself.

Hunger, in this context, becomes metaphor. Cannabis reintroduces curiosity. It transforms the mundane into something textured. A simple meal becomes an euphoric exploration. Eating becomes meditation, becoming something to be experienced rather than to just consume. The same instinct that drives you to try a new restaurant without knowing the menu, with an openness to discovery, sensation, and possibility.

These are the overlooked intersection between cannabis, fitness and food culture. Not performance enhancement, but perspective enhancement. In a culture obsessed with metrics, worried about pace, calories, and output, cannabis offers something less tangible but equally valuable in its presence. And in that, a cycle can form, encouraging you to move, recover, and nourish - on repeat. Not out of obligation, but out of desire for more life.

And sometimes, that is the most powerful motivator of all.

Planted firmly on the infamous corner of Avenue A and Houston, Bar Bianchi is a Milanese style bar paying homage to the piazza culture of Italy. When looking for a fun and buzzy spot to kick the night off at, one usually makes their way to the Lower East Side. For being a fairly new addition to the downtown bar scene, it has quickly become a go to for the cool it kids, fashion photographers, models and even a Summer House cast member on a good night. With a vivacious crowd, minimum lighting and easy access to the street for an after meal cigarette, it does serve as the perfect solution for an anti climatic Friday night. Personally, the star of the show might be the Branzino however, the menus is filled with the standard pasta dishes you would expect like a Pappardelle Bolognese or a Cacio e Pepe which they do at ease. A solid option for a fun catch up with friends or second Hinge date, Bar Bianchi has become a cute event to our ever growing rolodex.

But don’t take our word for it… go check it out yourself and let us know what you think. #THISISNOTANAD

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“Dine With Dez”, is conceptualized by Desmond Sam an experiential event producer, publicist, and entrepreneur from NYC with co-producer-partnership and experiential creative, Ramses Rubio. This collaboration began simply as an idea to elevate how we experience each other. We’ve noticed that it wasn’t nightlife as in clubs or parties that stimulated us in comparison to breaking bread with like-minded creatives. As we start with these intimate installments we will continue to build our community and broaden the conversations needed for a brighter tomorrow!

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