Russian friend Kim Kardashian about chanson, Russian cuisine and celebrities

Reality TV star, Kim Kardashian's best friend and businessman - Jonathan Cheban - has long become one of the American celebrities. No one even realizes that he is of Russian origin, and if Jonathan himself talks about it, they simply do not believe him. We met him for coffee in the Russian district of Miami, Sunny Isles Beach. “Shall we speak Russian? - Cheban is surprised. “It will be more difficult this way...” But now he’s already talking, his half-forgotten native language takes its toll, and Jonathan enthusiastically talks about his favorite dishes of Russian cuisine, remembers his childhood and reveals the behind-the-scenes secrets of the reality show.

How did you get to America?

I am very grateful to my parents for this step. It was the 70s, they decided to move to another country, to the other side of the world. I was born in Chisinau, I don’t really remember the move, I was about 4 years old. And so he and his small child overcame so many difficulties and found a way to move to New Jersey, where I grew up. Thanks to them, I plunged into the life of a big city - New York - and became part of it.

Being a Russian by birth, do you feel more like an American, Russian or cosmopolitan?

I fully feel like an American. I grew up here, studied. I have no accent, I speak English much easier than Russian.

I do not even believe when I say that I am Russian. People just think I'm kidding!

By the way, in recent years I have somehow more clearly felt my Russian origin, I even began to go to Russian parties more often. I, of course, never hid this, but, of course, I didn’t tell everyone I met. And now that I start talking about it more often, people think it's a joke. They say I don’t look like a Russian - and that’s all!

Do you like Russian cuisine?

Of course very! I am well versed in this business: pancakes, soup with meat and always with sour cream, meatballs with mashed potatoes, beef stroganoff ... A lot of things, I'm a real fan of Russian cuisine. And caviar: red, black! Why Americans do not like her so much, I do not understand. I just love caviar, ready to swim in it. Caviar, yes with pancakes! Even my most vivid childhood memory is about Russian cuisine: the smell of pancakes roasting in the morning. Mom knew that I really like pancakes, so I always cooked them for breakfast. I could only be lured out of bed with this scent! Right now I see this picture very clearly: how we have a wonderful family with my mother’s pancakes.

What did you want to become then, as a child?

Well, I knew for sure that I would not be a doctor or a lawyer, I would not choose one of the so-called “serious” professions. From childhood I was attracted to television, music, movies, show business. I couldn’t know how to sing or dance, but I really wanted to be a part of this world.

Kim Kardashian calls you his BFF - Best Friend Forever. Tell us how you met, how did your friendship begin?

I have long been acquainted with her family. My company did PR for Kim, and she called me to appear on her shows. She was always very sweet and friendly, with her is easy and interesting. As a result, we began to communicate very closely, spent a huge amount of time together and never tired of each other.

Kim and I never end up talking topics, we are always interested and comfortable together, we trust each other very much.

It is very important to have such a loved one in your life.

Who are the famous celebrities?

I don’t even try to enumerate, because I know all of them, we constantly intersect in New York at various events. Generally real friends with whom in the fire and in the water, is not easy to find. This task becomes even more difficult if you are a celebrity. I do not communicate with my childhood friends, it somehow turned out by itself. Sometimes I see the sons of my mother's friends with whom we were friends in childhood, but time breeds people. People change, their interests change, some leave your field of vision, but others come. That's life. All my friends are the people who appeared in my life at least 7 years ago. They are all Americans. And new acquaintances are all kind of too superficial, nodding, and a huge amount of them. Only a couple of people with whom I met relatively recently, I could call more than just friends.

What do you need to become a reality show star?

In general, now it is almost impossible to do this. The show has become too much, and their level of quality has dropped significantly.

Now, any freak that grimaces in a low-grade TV show becomes a microweek for a few months. Real popularity is no longer possible due to the reality show. That is, repeat the success of Kim will not work.

She was the first to do such shows, her popularity has withstood the test of time and is now only growing.

What is the reality show behind the scenes?

This is hard work on 16 hours per day. Many people think that acting in reality is almost nothing to do. But you try to attract the attention of the film crew all day long, constantly invent something, not show fatigue, be on a positive wave and still talk all the time. A lot of talk. It is harder than it looks. You get tired of constant conversations very quickly, anyone who owes a lot of contact with people knows this.

What projects are you currently working on?

I have an order of 10 business lines that I run, including media and restaurants. I own a Jet Set Inc. consulting company, an entertainment website. TheDishh.com and a burger franchise burger bandit. I also own the Glam Screen phone accessory line, which is sold worldwide, and the RichRocks jewelry line. I also own a Sushi Couture sushi bar at Ocean Drive in Miami. And besides, I am working on other franchises that will be launched soon.

Which city do you call home?

I live between New York, Los Angeles and Miami. But my home is still New York. I also like to be in Miami, and much more than in California, here I am comfortable.

I do not take my trips to Miami as a vacation. I, like a real local, do not even go to the beaches!

Your favorite places in Miami, where you can meet?

Most of the time, you can meet me wheeling back and forth on Collins Avenue in search of adventure or a new restaurant.

Do you visit Russian restaurants?

Sometimes. I love New York “Marie Vanna” very much, I’m there right at home, I have already studied the menu - well, it's very cozy and tasty there. And although I live in Miami in the Russian region, because it is more convenient for my parents, I don’t go to Russian restaurants: “Lula Kebab” is no longer the same, and “Tatiana” is too pretentious for me, I like more cozy places.

And do you listen to Russian music?

Yes, but I love old Russian music, modern somehow all the same and uninteresting. I was once in Miami at the Russian New Year's party, Leningrad performed there, I didn’t like them, and some Russian Paul McCartney, an elderly person with glasses and a guitar. Who! Yuri Antonov? Yes exactly! And here, by the way, I’ve been listening to one song all day, “The Crystal Castle” is called, you know that? Victor Korolev sings.

This song is just stuck in my head, here, listen, I'll turn it on now. I put it and Kim, she liked it too! Like Russian cuisine, by the way. We have the same tastes.

In one episode of the Millionaire Matchmaker reality show, you said that you are a single man looking for love. Is it still?

Well, you see, it's hard with me. I am constantly here, there, then shooting, then the paparazzi ... And, of course, not everyone can take it and not everyone can do it.

And how do you see your perfect soul mate?

Such as Jennifer Lopez! This is my type of woman: strong, beautiful, bright, talented! I am delighted with how she looks - always sexy, always feminine. If we talk about style, I still really like the way Cate Blanchett dresses - elegantly and sophisticatedly. And, of course, Kim Kardashian, she now dresses especially well, I think she found her own style, and he suits her very much.

What are you most proud of professionally?

I starred in the most popular shows that were watched in 150 countries of the world. Everywhere I go, everyone knows me.

And in personal?

I am proud to always maintain dignity. I can often meet at parties in nightclubs, but you will never meet me drunk.

Of course, I can afford alcohol, but I never cross borders. I will never have anything to do with those who get drunk and behave disgustingly, look repulsive. I also do not take drugs, I absolutely do not need to have fun. The most important thing for me in life is my family. Probably, over the years, you understand it more sharply that there is no one more expensive and closer than the family. When we gather with the whole family, we are never bored together!