If you’ve been watching 90 Day Fiancé for any length of time, you probably know that Jasmine Pineda is a woman who knows what she does and doesn’t want — and Jasmine does not want to pay twelve bucks for one measly avocado. (Honestly, same.)
Jasmine is also not shy about vocalizing her wants, needs, and opinions, so much so that her heart-to-heart with Big Ed during one of the recent Happily Ever After? Tell Alls was adapted into a fan-made song:
In the context of their conversation, for example, Jasmine said this to Ed as part of the pep talk that inspired the song:
You’re not my favorite person … I cannot say that we’re friends.
Jasmine has been in the news lately due to the events of the five-part TLC Tell All for 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?, which wrapped on Sunday.
However, Jasmine made a headline all by herself recently, after she revealed in a TikTok that she brings her own avocados (and a knife) to restaurants to avoid an expensive upcharge:
Today.com picked up the story, and the internet came together and lauded Jasmine for her ingenuity and frugality.
Just kidding, it instantly turned into a massive fight over whether smuggling avocados into restaurants is “clever and harmless” or “ought to be a felony,” and pretty much everyone fell into one camp or the other.
In the TikTok video in question, Jasmine is mid-meal at a restaurant (later identified as Shisho Palace), and she produces a white, zip-top bag.
A text caption reads: “I brought my own [avocado emoji] and [knife emoji] to the restaurant.”
Jasmine didn’t initially seem to be giving advice or even talking about doing it as a habit, but the TikTok post was still popular, and Today.com picked the story up:
In the Today.com article, the reality TV star explained that she routinely brings her own avocados to restaurants:
I decided that I didn’t want to pay $6 for half an avocado when I can pay like $5 to get two good avocados.
According to Jasmine, she sometimes gets “weird looks,” which she attributes to people not being brave enough to carry a purse avocado:
“I have received weird looks, not only from servers, but sometimes when you go to a restaurant and it is fancy, people stare at you.
“I was like, ‘Oh, come on, don’t look at me that way, because you have thought about it.” It’s just that I have the courage to do it.”
Usually, the comments section is where a fight kicks off, but in the article itself, chef Andrew Zimmern came out hard against Jasmine’s avocado kit, grumbling: “I call it self centeredness in the extreme.”
Over on Reddit, opinions ranged wildly, from agreement to stern disapproval:
“She’s right, but also wtf 2 for 5 is insane. I miss the days of 1 dollar avocados[.]”
“As every day passes I love her more haha[.]”
“Very uncouth. If you can’t live without it then dine at home.”
“Honestly, kind of an epic move. 😂😂”
Comments on Jasmine’s Instagram and TikTok posts about bringing an avocado leaned more in favor of it:
“She is unapologetically herself and I love it. She didn’t hurt anyone or anything. I think there’s more in this world to worry about than someone bringing an avocado to a restaurant. Get real people pick your battles[.]”
“I will also take jalapeños! It must be a Latina thing 🫶🏼”
“My mommy does this 🥹”
Folks who disagreed with Jasmine’s avocado tip often argued it was unfair to the restaurant, but Today.com noted that “a manager at Shisho Palace confirmed to TODAY.com they don’t mind if guests bring avocados since they don’t sell them.”
