The Dave Chang Show

In a lively discussion, Ruby Tandoh, bestselling food writer and former Great British Bake Off contestant, explores the evolution of food criticism in the age of social media. She shares insights on the roles of influencer-critics like Keith Lee versus traditional critics, and the challenges of reliability in democratized reviews. Ruby also discusses how algorithms shape trends, the resilience of narrative cookbooks, and her ambivalence towards the recipe economy. Plus, she humorously envisions a more comfortable dining experience.

In this lively discussion, comedian and author Eric Wareheim teams up with Gabe Ulla to delve into the world of steakhouses. They explore why steakhouses are a quintessential American institution and share their favorites from a road trip across 65 locations. Key topics include the mysteries of dry-aging versus wet-aging, the nostalgic significance of steak dinners as modern-day rituals, and a catalog of beloved potato sides. Plus, they offer insights into ethical beef sourcing and playful dining etiquette that can elevate any steakhouse experience.

Stephen Starr, the visionary restaurateur behind STARR Restaurants, shares insights into his journey of opening high-profile culinary spaces. He reveals the risks of massive build-outs and discusses how film and music influence restaurant atmospheres. The conversation dives into finding and nurturing culinary talent, emphasizing the balance between large and intimate venues. Starr also compares his restaurant strategy to that of a record executive, as he successfully scales chefs' concepts while evolving dining standards.

In a lively conversation, Alex Stupak, chef and founder of Empellón, dives into the evolution of culinary trends, from modernism to nostalgia-driven menus. He discusses the effects of social media on food consumption, emphasizing how visual experiences redefine our dining journeys. With a nod to authenticity, Alex reflects on the blurred lines of culinary attribution in the age of Instagram and critiques the shift from culinary street cred to viral fame. Surprisingly optimistic, he foresees a future where skilled execution and comfort food reign supreme, even amidst the rise of AI.

Dave sits down with Alison Roman, whom he has known since the early days of Milk Bar, as her new cookbook, 'Something From Nothing,' comes out soon. They reminisce on the old days before they talk about how Alison made a path for herself and worked hard for a long time before becoming an "overnight success." The duo also discusses creating a personal style, how difficult it can be to mature in the public eye, and the process of actually making a cookbook. Dave closes with an Ask Dave about Momofuku ramen. Get your copy of Alison's new book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/608062/something-from-nothing-a-cookbook-by-alison-roman/  Alison's previous book Dining In: https://amzn.to/4ohywo8  Learn more about Milk Bar: https://milkbarstore.com/  Learn more about Major Food Group: https://www.majorfood.com/  Learn more about Quince: https://www.quincerestaurant.com/  Watch our episode with Christina Tosi of Milk Bar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsKKidj7f7E  Learn more about Rich Table: https://www.richtablesf.com/  Learn more about Pies 'n' Thighs: https://piesnthighs.com/  Learn more about Domino magazine: https://www.domino.com/  Check out the French Laundry Cookbook: https://amzn.to/3W4kQAW  Read the Michel Bras Cookbook: https://www.kitchenartsandletters.com/products/essential-cuisine-english-edition-from-france-c?srsltid=AfmBOoqKKlD7ZxhErIOyQLp_YgoO9BDOvmwhR72lwQgKb5ehU1-hblQd  Check out the website domain Alison wishes that she had: alisonroman.com  Momofuku book: https://amzn.to/3VYhcIE  Watch our episode with Brooks Headley of Superiority Burger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekz3XJ2LVLs&list=PL7SmJHepo13dGH9Eqp4gIssMjeLBLqB2E&index=2  Learn more about Benton's: https://shop.bentonscountryham.com/  Send in your Ask Dave questions to bit.ly/AskDaveForm or askdave@majordomomedia.com. Subscribe to the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedavechangshow. Subscribe to Recipe Club on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@recipeclubofficial. Submit your favorite food moments in your favorite movies to majorfoodporn.com. Join our community Discord on majordomo.com. Host: Dave Chang Guest: Alison Roman Majordomo Media Producer: David Meyer Spotify Producer: Felipe Guilhermino Engineer: Belle Roman Editor: Stefano Sanchez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave is in New York at Infatuation's food festival, EEEEEASTCON NYC, with special guests: chef Justin Pichetrungsi of Anajak Thai; and author, director, and chef Eddie Huang. The show starts with an Overrated/Underrated on New York City food (5:05), and then the trio gives out their Best of EEEEEATSCON Awards: Best Fried, Best Sandwich, and Best Sweet (25:48). They finish with their Best in Show award (38:19). Learn more about Infatuation NYC: https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york  Learn more about Eeeeeatscon NYC: https://www.eeeeeatscon.com/new-york  Learn more about Anajak Thai: https://www.anajakthai.com/  Follow Eddie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mreddiehuang/ Check out Eddie's Substack: https://basedfob.substack.com/  Learn more about L'Industrie: https://www.lindustriebk.com/  Learn more about Pizzeria Bianco: https://www.pizzeriabianco.com/los-angeles  Learn more about Courage Bagels: https://couragebagels.com/  Learn more about Langer's Deli: https://www.langersdeli.com/  Learn more about Katz's Deli: https://katzsdelicatessen.com/  Learn more about Schwartz's: https://schwartzsdeli.com/  Learn more about Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray Soda: https://www.drbrownssoda.com/flavors  Learn more about U-Bet chocolate sauce: https://www.goldshorseradish.com/chocolate-syrup  Learn more about Cheesecake Factory: https://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/  Learn more about Lucali: https://www.lucali.com/  Learn more about Lungi: https://lungirestaurant.com/  Learn more about Atoboy: https://www.atoboynyc.com/  Learn more about Laliko: https://laliko.com/#  Learn more about Atomix: https://www.atomixnyc.com/  Follow Food Baby on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodbabyny/?hl=en  Learn more about Anthony's Paninoteca: https://anthonyspaninoteca.com/  Learn more about Charles' Pan-Fried Chicken: https://www.charlespanfriedchicken.com/  Learn more about Cmarty's Jerk: https://www.cmartysjerk.com/  Learn more about Titi's Empanadas: https://www.titisnyc.com/  Learn more about Bánh Anh Em (which won Best in Show): https://www.banhanhem.com/  Learn more about Caffè Panna: https://www.caffepanna.com/  Learn more about Culture: https://www.cultureespresso.com/  Learn more about Birdee: https://www.birdee.nyc/  Learn more about Win Son Bakery: https://winsonbrooklyn.com/  Send in your Ask Dave questions to bit.ly/AskDaveForm or askdave@majordomomedia.com. Subscribe to the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedavechangshow. Subscribe to Recipe Club on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@recipeclubofficial. Submit your favorite food moments in your favorite movies to majorfoodporn.com. Join our community Discord on majordomo.com. Host: Dave Chang Guests: Justin Pichetrungsi and Eddie Huang Majordomo Media Producer: David Meyer Spotify Producer: Felipe Guilhermino Editor: Stefano Sanchez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brooks Headley, an award-winning chef and musician, is known for his vegetarian-focused eatery, Superiority Burger. In this lively discussion, he shares insights on the evolution of his menu and the punk ethos that fuels his creativity. Brooks reflects on the challenges of moving to a new space, how iteration has shaped his dishes, and the art of maintaining a small yet impactful menu. He also muses on the joys of walking NYC, the importance of seasonal specials, and the unique relationships with local farmers that inspire his cooking.

Mark Ladner, a veteran New York chef and restaurateur known for Lupa and Del Posto, joins to discuss the highly anticipated reopening of Babbo. He shares memories of New York's dining scene and the evolution of Italian cuisine. The duo delves into risotto techniques, innovative pasta approaches, and the importance of embracing traditional flavors. Mark also reveals insights on kitchen upgrades and his ambitious new menu. Listeners get a sneak peek of Babbo's thrilling offerings, including a unique aged minestrone and a revival of the iconic 100-layer lasagna.

Dive into the juicy evolution of the burger and its pivotal role in fast casual dining. Discover how DB Bistro redefined it as a luxury item and how Eleven Madison Park's team birthed Shake Shack from a humble cart. Learn about celebrity butcher Pat LaFrieda's unique blends that elevated the burger experience. From Minetta Tavern's iconic Black Label blend to the science of cooking techniques, this discussion fuses culinary history with modern trends. Get ready for a delicious exploration of the ultimate umami sandwich!

In this engaging conversation, Sarah Fennel, founder of Broma Bakery and author of 'Sweet Tooth,' shares her journey from anthropology to baking and blogging. She discusses how she leveraged social media to carve out a food career and the pivotal role early experimentation played in her success. Sarah reveals how the pandemic and TikTok significantly boosted her followers and explores her aspirations for a physical bakery. She also emphasizes the importance of passion and resilience in recipe development and creative pursuits.