Chef Andrew Gruel, a restaurateur and expert on cuisines, dives into the best pizza toppings and why you should skip the strip steak at restaurants. He shares insights on skyrocketing food prices and his love for deviled eggs. Comedian Chaunte Wayans, known for her film and stand-up work, discusses her new movie *Advanced Chemistry*, the tricky legacy of the Menendez brothers, and the challenges of parenting today. They also debate the pros and cons of self-driving cars, adding humor to some serious topics.
Chef Andrew Gruel emphasizes the importance of quality ingredients and traditional cooking methods for healthier meal preparation.
The podcast highlights the superiority of corn tortillas over flour tortillas, underscoring their role in enhancing authentic taco experiences.
Gruel advises diners to choose less popular but flavorful cuts of meat when eating out to elevate their dining experience.
Chaunte Wayans and Gruel express skepticism about self-driving cars, raising concerns about safety versus convenience in modern technology.
Deep dives
Chef Andrew Gruul's Culinary Philosophy
Chef Andrew Gruul emphasizes the importance of using quality ingredients and traditional cooking methods. He advocates for avoiding seed oils in recipes and suggests alternatives like butter or avocado oil for healthier cooking. Gruul also shares tips on making garlic paste from scratch to avoid unhealthy additives commonly found in store-bought options. He believes that home-cooked meals using fresh ingredients can lead to healthier eating habits.
The Art of Tacos and Tortillas
The discussion on tacos highlights the preference for corn tortillas over flour tortillas, particularly in authentic tacos. Gruul recalls experiences he had working in restaurants where flour tortillas were common but argues that corn enhances the taco experience. The podcast explores the significance of using quality fillings, like beef cheeks, and emphasizes not overloading tacos with too many ingredients. The notion that corn tortillas provide a superior taste experience is underscored repeatedly throughout the conversation.
Cooking Techniques and Flavors
The conversation covers essential cooking techniques, especially when preparing fish and vegetables. Gruul suggests baking fish first to release moisture before searing it for a delicious outer crust. When it comes to vegetables, he recommends proper cooking methods to avoid the trend of 'half-cooked' produce, advocating for fully cooked, flavorful vegetables. This approach ensures that dishes remain tasty and enjoyable while enhancing the natural flavors of the ingredients.
Smart Choices at Restaurants
Gruul provides invaluable advice for dining out, suggesting patrons choose obscure but flavorful cuts of meat rather than typical options like filet mignon or New York strip. He emphasizes the value of less popular cuts, which often have more flavor due to their connective tissues. The podcast also discusses avoiding common pitfalls in restaurant choices, particularly the tendency to select cream-based sides, and instead opting for simpler accompaniments. His recommendations promote making informed choices that enhance the overall dining experience.
The Ups and Downs of Restaurant Ownership
The challenges of owning a restaurant are discussed, emphasizing the strain of regulations, increasing costs, and complications arising from crime. Gruul mentions how recent restaurant policies in California complicate operations, including new laws affecting employee management. He reveals that crime has dramatically affected businesses, noting increased incidents like dine-and-dash, which have become alarmingly common. These insights reflect the broader struggles within the restaurant industry as owners seek to navigate these obstacles.
The Influence of Trends on Food Choices
Both Gruul and Wayans explore how food trends influence diners' tastes and preferences, often leading them toward subpar choices like sun-dried tomatoes and overly complex dishes. The discussion points out how culinary fads can overshadow simpler, traditional flavors that would be more enjoyable. Gruul recalls how certain food trends can be misleading, such as using cheap or inferior ingredients while presenting dishes in upscale settings. The podcast advocates for a return to simpler, wholesome cooking that focuses on quality ingredients.
Navigating Personal and Public Life with Fame
Shantae Wayans shares her experiences growing up in a famous family, where she often dealt with public scrutiny while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. The conversation reflects on the pressures of being part of a well-known family and how it can affect personal relationships. Wayans discusses the unique challenges of family gatherings where the public's interest and expectations overshadow personal connections. This balancing act of managing public visibility while dealing with familial dynamics creates a unique perspective on celebrity culture.
The Impact of Technology on Society
The podcast shifts to discuss the implications of technology in everyday life, particularly concerning autonomous vehicles and their perceived safety. Both Gruul and Wayans express skepticism about the readiness of self-driving cars and the reliance people have on them. They emphasize the need for caution when it comes to new technological advances, especially regarding personal safety while driving. As the conversation unfolds, it raises questions about the balance between convenience and safety in modern technology.
Chef Andrew Gruel returns to the show and they open with Chef weighing-in on some food “bests”, including best pizza topping, the best fish & how to cook it, and the best salad. He also explains why to never order a strip steak at a restaurant, shares in Adam’s love of deviled eggs and talks about how restaurants are handling skyrocketing food prices.
Then, Adam is joined by comedian Chaunte Wayans to talk about her new movie, “Advanced Chemistry”, the fate of the Menendez brothers, disciplining kids and why self-driving cars might not be such a good idea.
For more with Chef Andrew Gruel:
● TWITTER: @chefgruel
● INSTAGRAM: @andrewgruel
● WEBSITE: chefgruel.com
For more with Chaunte Wayans:
● NEW MOVIE: Advanced Chemistry available now for streaming on-demand.
● INSTAGRAM: @cwayans
● TIKTOK: @cwayans
● WEBSITE: cwayans.com for upcoming tour dates & more.
Thank you for supporting our sponsors:
● http://SimpliSafe.com/Adam
● This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp http://BetterHelp.com/Carolla
● http://OReillyAuto.com/Adam
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