Spoon Mob

Ray starts this weeks episode talking about the recent events involving the terrible and tragic Jacob Blake shooting and the pending spiral that is the approaching election. Then he gets into the weeks major food stories like airplane nuts for sale, the peach recall, Dunkin' and McDonalds trying something new, dog beer, Cameron Diaz's wine being shitty (as predicted), and Bon Appetit's new editor in chief. Then he makes the round to all the major food cities in the U.S., touching on San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Detroit, Houston, Dallas, Louisiana, Honolulu, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and all the notable restaurant closures and openings since last week. Saving the best for last, Ray wraps up the episode by talking about chef James Beard and his foundation, covering his life and death, how the foundation came to be, voting rules, the categories, why the awards used to mean something, how the foundation lost its way, and how the awards fit into his life and the websites future going forward. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On the second half of the double drop Parts Now Known Podcast, Ben and Ray follow Bourdain and Ripert to Peru to hunt for all white cacao beans. The guys talk chocolate before marveling at the spread at Marissa's weekend gathering and touching on Lima, the Andes, the Amazon, ceviche, flounder, culantro, catfish, eating ants, poisonous yucca, how brooms are made, Bourdain's love for weird museums, street meat, Columbus the explorer, Cortez, the first chocolate factory opening in New England in 1765, the shaman scene, militia guarded toll roads, crossing a raging river on a leaky boat and floating barge, how chocolate is grown, the hiking scene to the trees, and if they made any money off the venture. Ray fills Ben in on why the shaman scene is even funnier when you know the backstory and they guys go through the categories before updating their episode rankings ahead of next weeks season one finale, Congo. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On the first episode of the double drop of Parts Now Known pods, Ben and Ray rewatch the Libya episode centered around the country's 2011 revolution that overthrew it's dictator Muammar Gaddafi. First things first as Ray fills everyone in on Gaddafi's rise to power, outlining how he was actually a good leader up until the late 1970's early 1980's when things began to turn towards his outspoken unpredictable dictatorship style that most remember him for. With an idea of Gaddafi in hand, the guys talk opening scene in the episode before Ben shares a story of holding onto fireworks for too long when he was 12. Then they talk about having fish cooked to order, imagine an Arab restaurant in NYC that enforces hierarchal roles when dining in 2020, pastors that run a grift, Benghazi, if the KFC knock off Uncle Kentucky fried chicken was really that or a corporate plant, Gaddafi's compound Bab Ala Zizi, power vacuums, CIA assets, calling in airstrikes over twitter and google earth, the drive to Mizrata, homemade rocket launchers, lamb balls, Roman ruins, the Boy Scouts, and names of Girl Scout cookies dependent upon the region you live in before running through the categories. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1). Sponsorships: off for this episode

On this episode, Ray talks about chef Ryan Ratino's Logan Circle restaurant Bresca. Ray talks about Ratino's career, his work trip to D.C., and Ratino's new restaurant Jont before breaking down that tasting menu experience and some dish highlights from the meal. For more on chef Ryan Ratino and Bresca, visit spoonmob.com/ryanratino. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On this week's episode of food news, Ray talks about the major news stories from the past week before getting in to the overarching topics of this weeks food news that include McDonalds suing their former CEO, the James Beard Foundation canceling their awards for 2020 and 2021, the 2020 California Michelin Guide being out of date before it's even released, a new season of Chef's Table. Then Ray makes the rounds through all the major food markets in the U.S., covering delivery apps putting restaurants on their service without their consent, an overly left San Francisco, changes at the LA Times food section, the continuing struggle for restaurants in New York City, Dan Barber not closing but kinda closing Blue Hill at Stone Barns, the latest drama around Taste Kitchen & Bar, a few listener submitted stories, and all the notable restaurant closures and openings since last week. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On the first ever Spoon Mob Pod wine episode, Ray cracks a bottle of Maeli Infinite Bianco that Ben tries for the first time while Katie also continues her trend of chirping in from off mic in an effort to advocate for a mic of her own. The guys chat about the wine before touching on a wide variety of topics that include winemaker tasting notes, what magnolia's taste like, yellow fruit, gooseberries, Nespresso ice coffee, bubble tea, 90 day fiancé, marble racing, the best restaurants in Columbus, food discounts for first responders, Asheville, New Orleans, the JJ Reddick podcast, Baxter Holmes, Greg Popovich, Pinot Noir, Wine.com, Syrah, Cooper's Hawk, Basi Italia, Lindey's, Pizza, and Ohio Cities food scenes. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On this episode, Ray talks about chef Brian Canipelli's Asheville Italian restaurant Cucina 24. Ray talks about his trip to Greenville/Asheville last year and Canipelli's culinary career thus far before breaking down that tasting menu experience and some dish highlights from the meal. For more on chef Brian Canipelli and Cucina 24, visit spoonmob.com/briancanipelli. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On this week's episode of food news, Ray talks about some upcoming food TV shows on Hulu and another recall before explaining Russell Crowe's recent donation. Ray makes the rounds to all the major food markets and their notable stories from the past week including Rainforest Cafe, Michelin inspectors, the highest profile restaurant closing to date, restaurants vs insurance companies, community fridges, some restaurant layoffs, brewery expansions, and all the notable restaurant closures and openings since last Friday. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

We decided to record a podcast to the bring up the vibe after recording the depressing Morocco episode of our Parts Now Known series. Maybe one day these will be more frequent and on Patreon but for now enjoy the first episode of "Get It Off Your Chest". Topics we cover on this pod include returning to an office setting, the return of college football, coronavirus, tiktok, depression, Groundhog Day, corona this fall and this winner, waiting for the government to do something, the upcoming election, Trump, Biden, the stupidity of presidential debates, the irony of picking Biden over Bernie, bitcoin, the stock market, airline layoffs, sports being a joke in 2020, the college all 18 year olds should be applying to, Oregon, grocery stores in Columbus, people who don't like seafood, Mitchell's Fish Market, ramen, Momofuku Vegas, shishito peppers, restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip, Gordon Ramsey, Greenville/Asheville, BBQ, Trump's Axios interview, Rob Lowe, Post Malone, Waka Flocka Flame, Alyssa Milano, The Fighter & The Kid Podcast, cheese, queso, salsa, guac, serial killers vs terrorists, a future Spoon Mob cheese tasting, mozzarella, and burrata. (The rattle noise in the background is Ray's dog Phoebe playing with her ball. Ernie steals it so it stops for a while until she picks a squeak toy and eventually picks up the ball again. We just let it all happen). For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On this episode of the Parts Now Known Podcast, Ben and Ray slog through their least favorite episode of season 1 so far, Tangier Morocco. They talk about how Tangier is Europe's Las Vegas, ferry accidents, how this is a "one for Bourdian" episode, define some drug terminology, recount the numerous odd scenes throughout the episode, chat about Burroughs killing his wife, remark at how this is the first episode where the food isn't a focal point to the level it almost doesn't matter at all, and desperatly try to complete the episode categories. We didn't love the Morocco episode, but squeezed 45 minutes out of it for all our loyal SPOONIES! For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On this episode, Ray talks about chef James Rigato's Hazel Park Michigan eatery Mabel Gray. Ray goes through how Rigato first got into the culinary industry, how working at a recycling company led to his first restaurant The Root, and how looking to highlight Michigan ingredients led to transforming an old diner into what is now Mabel Gray. Then Ray talks about a memorable moment on Top Chef between Rigato and Colicchio before recounting his first experience at Mabel Gray and previewing his upcoming return visit to the restaurant. For more on chef James Rigato and Mabel Gray, visit spoonmob.com/jamesrigato. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On this week's episode of food news, Ray opens with how sports being back on TV is a weird watch before getting into some updates to airline travel from the past week. the problems with Cameron Diaz's new wine, distilleries in a post hand sanitizer world, an onion recall, DoorDash's embarrassing wage increase, both sides of the allegations levied against Rose's Luxury Group by former employees, some new state regulations, new industry survey results, and all the notable restaurant closures and openings. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On the 25th edition of the Spoon Mob Pod and the Quebec Parts Now Known Podcast, Ben and Ray geek out recanting the food porn episode to end all food porn episodes, the tongue in cheek titled "Canada" episode. The two speculate about the reason for shooting and including the out of place postman scene before breaking down the ice fishing cabin dining scene with Fred Moran and David McMillan of Montreal's legendary restaurant Joe Beef. Then they talk about the Picard beaver scene and a random few minutes at a local pick up hockey game before deep diving into adding caviar, foie gras, and truffle to a rail car meal. Theres a quick side bar about Columbus not having Amtrak service before the guys are mesmerized about Bourdain, Moran, and McMillan's dining experience at the Continental in Quebec and the underground hipster restaurant L'Affaire est Ketchup. After briefly touching on the Quebec separatist movement of the mid 90's that neither of them researched on their own and Picard's seasonal restaurant of all things maple, Ray educates Ben on the Maple Syrup Cartel before the guys wrap up discussing Moran and McMillan trying to make Bourdain tap out, assigning categories, and updating their respective best episode rankings. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On this episode, Ray talks about chef Greg McPhee's vegetable forward Greenville South Carolina restaurant The Anchorage. Ray starts off going through McPhee's culinary career thus far before touching on the importance of Sean Brock to the region and South Carolina as a whole, the extensive process McPhee had to go through to rebuild the 100+ year old building, how achieving success with a vegetable forward restaurant is much harder than a meat centric one, and how The Anchorage has become a pillar within the growing tourist destination of Greenville. For more on chef Greg McPhee and The Anchorage, visit spoonmob.com/gregmcphee. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On this week's episode of food news, Ray touches on the recent Epstein Maxwell overnight document drop before talking about Amazon's push into grocery delivery, a wine international crime ring, the lawsuit against the USDA, updates to the James Beard Awards & MICHELIN Guide, why seeing "cooked at famous restaurant x" is not always what it seems, Chris Duffy's new restaurant Ever, coronavirus, the time line of the Ohio liquor sales ending at 10 p.m., and all the restaurant closures and openings from the past week. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).