Justine Lupe has revealed that her husband's culinary contributions to their relationship could practically fit on a single hand — and one of those efforts involved a rice cake. The Nobody Wants This star made the revelation while chatting with Dax Shepard on his Armchair Expert podcast, where she joined her co-stars to discuss life on and off screen.
The conversation eventually turned to the little habits that can test a couple's patience, and Lupe had a particularly memorable complaint about her husband, artist Tyson Mason. Apparently, keeping the kitchen clean is one thing Mason has mastered. Making dinner is another matter entirely.
Lupe admitted that she could recall only three occasions when Mason had prepared food for her throughout their relationship. That is hardly a demanding cooking schedule, especially for a couple who have shared a home and welcomed a child together. But the story became even more entertaining when she explained what counted as one of those meals.
The Meal That Made a Lasting Impression
Among Mason's limited contributions to the couple's dining history was a rice cake topped with almond butter, blueberries and honey. The ingredients might work perfectly well for a quick breakfast or an afternoon snack, but Lupe apparently had higher expectations when her husband presented it to her as a meal.
Shepard was surprised that she could remember the occasion so clearly, which prompted an amusing exchange about just how memorable the dish had been. Lupe explained that she was pregnant at the time, adding another layer to her disappointment. When you're expecting a baby, a few toppings arranged on a rice cake might not exactly inspire excitement at mealtime.
To be fair, there is nothing wrong with a simple dish, and Mason's creation at least demonstrated some effort. However, the actress's story suggests that his attempt did not quite make the culinary impression he might have intended. And with only two other meals to compete with, that rice cake has secured an impressive place in the couple's domestic history.
One Is a 'Neat Freak', the Other Leaves Clues Everywhere
Cooking is not the only area where the couple's personalities appear to differ. Lupe described Mason as someone who takes household order seriously, while she confessed to having a habit of leaving cupboards open and forgetting to replace container lids. Her absent-mindedness can also produce some rather baffling results.
The actress recalled instances when Mason discovered a cotton bud beneath a chocolate bar or came across a spatula abandoned in the bathroom. Rather than simply putting the objects away, he would photograph the strange arrangements and ask her to explain how they had happened.
It's an understandable question. A kitchen utensil turning up in the bathroom is the sort of domestic mystery that would leave even the most patient partner wondering what went on.
Lupe acknowledged that her husband finds these incidents frustrating, although she presented them as relatively harmless quirks rather than serious relationship problems. Their household dynamic sounds like a comedy in itself: Mason wants everything in its proper place, while Lupe occasionally leaves behind evidence of activities she seemingly cannot remember completing.
Their Relationship Has More Than One Recipe for Romance
Fortunately, Mason's apparent reluctance to cook does not mean he lacks other ways of showing affection. Lupe has previously spoken about the thoughtful gestures that make her feel appreciated. In an interview with Us Weekly in January 2025, she described how Mason prepares a bath for her in the evenings, complete with candles and a drink.
For the actress, those everyday acts of consideration make a meaningful difference. The couple's story began in 2023, when Lupe commissioned Mason to draw a portrait of her dog. Their connection developed beyond the original project, and they welcomed their daughter, Ellis, in August 2024.
They later married in a courthouse ceremony in Beverly Hills on 18 February 2025, with their daughter present. Lupe's latest confession offers a humorous look at the less polished side of married life. Romance does not always involve elaborate gestures, and living together inevitably means discovering the habits that would never make it into a glossy love story.
In Mason's case, the ability to create a candlelit bath may be considerably stronger than the ability to put together dinner. Still, there is one obvious opportunity for improvement.
After three meals across their relationship, perhaps it's time for him to surprise his wife with a fourth — preferably one that requires a plate, some actual cooking and a little more ambition than a rice cake. At the very least, it would give Lupe a new story to tell the next time someone asks about her husband's kitchen skills.
