The Dave Chang Show

Dave recounts the thrilling tale of his trip to Cabo San Lucas, during which he was detained in the airport for bringing a suitcase full of food into the country, and the golf injury that has sidelined him for weeks. Then Dave and Chris go into Food News, where they talk about Los Angeles’s hottest new restaurant trend, Spanish food, and the siloing effect of always labeling food based on ethnicity. Other topics include eating kimchi for the probiotics, the immigrant urge to never spend money, extra wide Warby Parker glasses, Japanese Starbucks, Wendy’s chili, the Chris Rock special, and McDonald’s on a Saturday morning.Hosts: Dave Chang and Chris YingProducers: Sasha Ashall and Gabi Marler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Special guest Isaac Lee joins to cap off the Japan vs. Masa sushi experience debate and participate in a new segment called “So You Wanna …" during which he explains what it actually takes to be a creative producer and musician. Other topics include axe throwing, the egg fertilization process, the finer points of making limoncello, Taco Bell Cantina, the largest white truffle Dave’s ever seen, the evolution of vocals in pop music, auto-tune, and more.Hosts: Dave Chang and Chris YingGuest: Isaac LeeProducers: Sasha Ashall and Gabi Marler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave recounts all the amazing things he ate in Mexico City, including one of the best last courses he’s ever eaten at Pujol and the timeless excellence of Contramar. Then Dave and Chris introduce a couple of new segments, "Theoretical Dinner Party," in which they draft aging rock stars to eat dinner with, and "Culinary Arbitrage," in which they dissect the value of live shellfish and New York City sushi. Other topics include white lying to your friends, the importance of colonoscopies, ice baths in the morning, the benefits of routine, and spot prawns vs. lobster.Hosts: Dave Chang and Chris YingProducers: Sasha Ashall and Gabi Marler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After an extensively meandering conversation, Dave and Chris construct historical fiction describing how humans could possibly come to eat a sea cucumber or accidentally make cheese for the first time. How does something so weird or stinky or strange become a delicacy? How does something that on the face of it is relatively worthless become of value? Other topics include the proper way to eat a burger, a depressing turkey club sandwich, Ta Nahisi-Coates’ ‘Black Panther’ run, ‘Armageddon’ vs. ‘Deep Impact,’ the fabled Momofuku bullshit book club, and guessing the Noma Kyoto menu.Hosts: Dave Chang and Chris YingProducers: Sasha Ashall, Aleya Zenieris, and Gabi Marler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After Chris and Dave lead you through the dreaded chain reaction of what occurs in a restaurant kitchen when a table is five minutes late to their reservation, they do their very first Debate Club on whether dining should require a special license on the diner's part. Other topics include kids as the death of punctuality, burying “friends of Dave” on the waitlist at Momofuku Ko, and what it takes to be a respectful diner.Hosts: Dave Chang and Chris YingProducers: Sasha Ashall, Aleya Zenieris, and Gabi Marler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave and Chris examine the systems and criteria we use to decide who we think is going to be a winner, whether that is in sports, business, music, or beauty pageants, and why they're such terrible predictors of success. Then, they invite Matt Higgins, venture capitalist and executive fellow at Harvard Business School, to ask about what he looks for to predict success, hear about his incredible life story, and talk about his new book, ‘Burn the Boats: Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential.’ Other topics include ‘Physical: 100,’ rooting for the underdog, the original ‘Ninja Warrior,’ Brock Purdy, useless high school extracurriculars, and choosing the difficult path.Hosts: Dave Chang and Chris YingGuest: Matt HigginsProducers: Sasha Ashall, Aleya Zenieris, and Gabi Marler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a drop-in visit from the Podfather, who then proceeds to rejoice in the pleasures of populist food and culture, Dave and Chris speak with Tyler Huggins—CEO and cofounder of Meati Foods. He brings his unique point of view on environmentalism and sustainable food systems to address the problem of a potential global protein shortage with Meati: a meat alternative made out of mycelium. Other topics include ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (again), backcountry splitboarding, and what to do with a year’s worth of elk meat.Hosts: Dave Chang and Chris YingGuests: Tyler Huggins and Bill SimmonsProducers: Sasha Ashall, Aleya Zenieris, and Gabi Marler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After an illuminating game in which Dave asks Chris to guess which 2023 food trend listicle was written by ChatGPT vs. a real person, they debate the relevancy of food writing in a world ruled by social media and where food media will go from here. Other topics include the diet changes that aging brings, being the Tom Brady of eating, and how to update the James Beard Foundation Awards for our times.Hosts: Dave Chang and Chris YingProducers: Sasha Ashall, Aleya Zenieris, and Gabi Marler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris and Dave have enlisted their good friends Euno Lee and Chris Bianco to trade in the cultural stock market. Euno pitches food trends that he predicts will hit the market in 2023, including high-end mortadella, experiential dining in theme parks, fried chicken skins, A5 Wagyu, and mushroom coffee, to Dave, Chris Ying, and Chris Bianco. They then have two minutes to justify why they are buying or selling the trend. Other topics include Arby’s, Musso & Frank Grill, and how to introduce your kids to pastrami sandwiches.Hosts: Dave Chang and Chris YingGuests: Euno Lee and Chris BiancoProducers: Sasha Ashall, Aleya Zenieris, Eduardo Ocampo, and Gabi Marler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris and Dave dive into the Discord to answer your burning questions, such as what to do with old cooking oil, what’s the best kind of vegetable peeler, mayo vs. butter on grilled cheese, and how to learn knife skills at home. Other topics include the proper way to brunoise a shallot, the 'Avatar' sequel, 'Top Gun: Maverick' vs. 'Everything Everywhere All At Once,' culinary catfishing, kitchen shears, and Dave’s top five favorite citrus fruits.Hosts: Dave Chang and Chris YingProducers: Sasha Ashall, Aleya Zenieris, Cory McConnell, and Gabi Marler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices