Josh Scherer and Nicole Enayati, co-hosts of Mythical Kitchen's A Hot Dog Is A Sandwich, dive into the quirks of cuisine. They tackle the heated debate on lab-grown meat bans and question Chipotle's portion sizes. The duo humorously navigates whether tacos could legally be defined as sandwiches. Alongside this, they explore age restrictions in restaurants and the food world's latest oddities, including new cereal mixes. Their unique perspectives bring a blend of comedy and critical thought to the food landscape.
The ongoing legislation in Florida to ban lab-grown meat highlights the clash between cultural politics and the evolving agricultural landscape.
Recent consumer reports about Chipotle's shrinking portions illustrate broader issues of food quality and the dynamics of online ordering in restaurants.
Deep dives
Bogle Family Vineyards: Exceptional Quality at an Affordable Price
Bogle Family Vineyards is a third-generation, family-owned winery in California that produces high-quality wines priced around 10 dollars a bottle. Known for consistently earning best buy designations and high ratings from wine enthusiasts, Bogle offers a diverse selection catering to different tastes and food pairings. For instance, their crisp and fruity Pinot Grigio is ideal for spicy dishes and fish, while a balanced Chardonnay pairs exceptionally well with pork tenderloin or butter chicken. The affordability and quality of these wines make them appealing to winemakers and casual drinkers alike.
The Ramen Scene in South Dakota
Visiting South Dakota presents an opportunity to explore its rich culinary landscape, as highlighted by Justin Warner, a chef who opened a ramen restaurant there. Through his experiences, he emphasizes the importance of experiencing new places through local cuisine, suggesting that food can be a key to understanding a region's culture. Apart from dining, summer days in South Dakota are filled with outdoor activities like hiking and lakeside relaxation, fostering a sense of wonder about the local environment. This combination of culinary adventure and nature makes a visit to South Dakota enticing.
Lab-Grown Meat: Controversy and Legislation
The recent introduction of legislation in Florida banning the production and sale of lab-grown meat has ignited a heated discussion about the future of this technology. Lab-grown meat, produced from animal cells in the lab, aims to eliminate the need for raising and killing animals for food, representing a significant shift in meat production. The decision to ban this innovation, which has received safety approval from relevant federal bodies, appears to be more politically motivated, potentially aimed at protecting traditional farming interests. Critics argue that this move is more about cultural politics than genuine concern for farmers, as the agricultural landscape continues to evolve.
Chipotle's Shrinking Portion Sizes Sparks Debate
Recent reports from consumers claiming that Chipotle's portions have shrunk have sparked online protests and prompted the company's CEO to assert that their recipes and portion sizes have not changed. A study by Wells Fargo revealed significant weight variation in burrito bowls, indicating potential inconsistencies in food preparation. Some argue that online orders could lead to employees feeling less personal accountability, resulting in smaller portions being served. The discussion reflects broader concerns about food quality and the impact of customer surveillance on service dynamics within restaurants.
Why are politicians trying to ban lab-grown meat? Is Chipotle secretly serving smaller portions? And just how good is that new cereal mix by Jason and Travis Kelce? We dig into these questions and more in this edition of the Salad Spinner, our rapid-fire roundtable discussion of the hottest and oddest recent food news. Joining us in the Spinner are Josh Scherer and Nicole Enayati, co-hosts of the Mythical Kitchen podcast A Hot Dog Is A Sandwich. Nicole and Josh have lots of opinions on 7-Eleven egg salad sandos, age restrictions in restaurants, and whether it’s okay to define a taco as a sandwich in court.
The Sporkful production team includes Dan Pashman, Emma Morgenstern, Nora Ritchie, and Jared O'Connell. Publishing by Shantel Holder and transcription by Emily Nguyen.
Right now, Sporkful listeners can get three months free of the SiriusXM app by going to siriusxm.com/sporkful. The SiriusXM app has all your favorite podcasts, and you can listen to over 200 ad-free music channels curated by genre and era. Plus, live sports coverage, interviews with A-list stars and more. It’s everything you want in a podcast app and music app all rolled into one. For three months free, go to siriusxm.com/sporkful.
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