Spoon Mob

After 2+ months Ben is finally back in studio and the episode is off the rails chaos from the start. Yes we do re-rank some of the questionable episode ranking choices Ben made in the heat of the moment but we also talk about Jake Paul & Logan Paul, the Michael Jackson documentary on HBO, the Woody Allen documentary on HBO, Jamal Kashoggi, the Ugly Tuna Saloon disappearance, Ben still wanting to visit a Jollibee, Chip and Joanna Gaines, streaming service subscriptions, adults without kids who vacation to Disney, the Abandoned series on Bright Sun Films Youtube Channel, where to go with Ben's Delta companion pass, Las Vegas, Austin, Atlanta, Charleston, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, the lack of identity in the Short North, DK Diner, Starliner Diner, Mmelo Boutique Confections, what we're watching now, and upcoming season 5 episodes while Katie fights a bag of lettuce for the Bo Ssam we were cooking while recording this episode. 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 restaurant review, Ray talks about one of the top restaurants in Canada, Botanist. Ray timelines chef Hector Laguna's culinary career, the restaurants layout, highlights the all the accolades Botanist received after opening, and touches on Vancouver's restaurant scene including Hawksworth. For more on chef Hector Laguna and Botanist, visit spoonmob.com/hectorlaguna. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1). We are extremely grateful to each and everyone of our loyal listeners, a.k.a SPOONIES, and appreciate all their help in spreading the word about the Spoon Mob website and Spoon Mob podcast!

On the latest episode of Spoon Mob's Chefs & Guests podcast series, Ray talks with Chapman's Eat Market line cook Matt Larkin who was the inspiration for the restaurants special "A Journey Through Vietnam Menu." They talk about Matt's background, how he got into cooking, how he wound up moving to Vietnam, traveling within Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hue, finding work in the restaurant industry in Vietnam, working in Hong Kong during the protests, traveling back to the U.S. during the pandemic, landing the gig at Chapman's with chef BJ Lieberman, and how the Vietnam menu came to be before answering the "burning grill" questions! For more on chef Matt Larkin and Chapman's Eat Market, visit spoonmob.com/mattlarkin and follow him on Instagram @porkstories & @eatchapmans. Visit eatchapmans.com for menu details, reservations, and online ordering. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1). Audio Editing by @TrackEditPrint. Intro music by @kabbalisticvillage.

On the season 4 finale of Parts Now Known, they guys crank up the reggaton and head to Jamaica to talk about rich guys like Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Michael Chin, and Les Blackwell while also running through the list of potential candidates to be the next James Bond, and debate all inclusive versus authentic travel experiences before checking off the episode categories and updating the 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 weeks episode of Parts Now Known, Ray and Ben do their best to make the Massachusetts episode not as much of a downer as it was during the rewatch. The guys breakdown the heroin epidemic in America before Ray talks about what life growing up in and near Provincetown was like from the traffic to the restaurants to the small town beach vibe to the LGBTQ friendly community and everything in between before pointing out some not so accurate facts in the episode. Then they look back on Bourdain's likely depression diagnosis, talk about the small town diner, and Ben gives an update on rehab before they go through the episode categories and update the 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 week's restaurant review podcast, Ray talks about his visit to the two Michelin starred Korean fine dining restaurant Jungsik in New York City. Ray recaps chef owner Jungsik Yim's career to this point, talks about why the New York City restaurant opened in the first place, marvels at Jungsik's North Korean restaurant Pyung Hwa Ok, and breaks down all the dishes from the tasting menu that he had. For more on chef Jungsik Him and his eponymous restaurant Jungsik, visit spoonmob.com/jungsikyim. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On the latest episode of Spoon Mob's Chefs & Guests podcast series, Ray talks with chef Garrett Talmage, the former executive chef of Nada's Columbus restaurant and the new executive chef at the soon to be open Short North steakhouse Galla Park. They talk about how Garret got into cooking, his first job at The Waffle House, a kitchen full of 30+ year olds nicknaming him "The Prodigy" at The Top, all the different kitchens he worked in around the Columbus area, his first executive chef job at The Corner On Union in Athens Ohio near Ohio University, all the challenges of being the executive chef at the now closed Cosheca Cocina, learning how to run a kitchen while managing a restaurant at Nada, how the Galla Park opportunity came to be, and where they're at with opening the restaurant before answering the "burning grill" questions! For more on chef Garrett Talmage and Galla Park, visit spoonmob.com/garretttalmage and follow him on Instagram @g.l.talmage & @gallaparkcolumbus. Visit gallapark.com for menu details, reservations, and online ordering. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1). Audio Editing by @TrackEditPrint. Intro music by @kabbalisticvillage.

On this week's restaurant review, Ray talks about former #1 Restaurant In The World Eleven Madison Park. Ray recaps executive chef and owner Daniel Humm's career, talks about EMP before Humm's arrival, compares Danny Meyer to George Steinbrenner (but in a good way), the partnership with Will Guidara and the eventual split, and what EMP has been able to do to survive in the pandemic before breaking down his experience at the restaurant and all the dishes from his visit. For more on chef Daniel Humm and Eleven Madison Park, visit spoonmob.com/danielhumm. 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 restaurant review, Ray talks about a surprisingly delicious visit to husband wife chefs Nick and Audra Guidry's East Nashville restaurant Pelican + Pig. Ray talks about how the two first met, how their first restaurant came to be, the atmosphere, the vibe, why getting a proper wine glass is the best start to a meal you can have, and breaks down all the dishes from his visit. For more on chef Nick Guidry, chef Audra Guidry, and Pelican + Pig, visit spoonmob.com/nickguidry. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On this weeks episode of Parts Now Known Ray and Ben recap another surprisingly enjoyable episode, this time on Iran. The guys talk about the weirdness of the countries generations, Jason the Journalist and his wife being detained and in-prisoned, the meals in homes, whether that was actually pizza at the end of the episode, and try to figure out what is the best oil themed movie of all time before going through the categories and updating the episode rankings. Ray also pitches his idea to figure out who has the best burger in Columbus once Ben can walk again and gives an update on what to expect for an upcoming handful of new Chefs & Guests episodes. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).

On this weeks restaurant review podcast, Ray talks about Detroit's Lady of the House, owned and run by chef Kate Williams. After recounting her culinary bio, Ray talks about the name of the restaurant, why it had to be located in Corktown, why it recently closed, and what chef Williams is up to now. For more on chef Kate Williams and Lady of the House, visit spoonmob.com/katewilliams. 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 Spoon Mob's Chefs & Guests podcast series, Ray talks with chef Brett Fife, the executive chef of Ghostwriter Public House in Johnstown Ohio, about how he got started cooking in college, his aspirations for a career in criminal justice and law enforcement, going to culinary school at Columbus State University, working for Cameron Mitchell during the restaurant group's early years, working at Hyde Park during their early years, his time at a few mom and pop restaurant around Columbus, using the backdoor to get in at Brio, interviewing and landing the executive chef gig at Lindey's, how the offer to run the kitchen at Ghostwriter Public House came about, the vision for the restaurant, how they navigated covid, why the burger is so special, and Grill Works before answering the "burning grill" questions! For more on chef Brett Fife and Ghostwriter Public House, visit spoonmob.com/brettfife and follow him on Instagram @chefdaddyx4 & @ghostwriterpublichouse. Visit ghostwriterph.com for menu details, reservations, online ordering, and overnight stay booking. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1). Audio Editing by @TrackEditPrint. Intro music by @kabbalisticvillage.

On this weeks episode of Parts Now Known Ray and Ben recap the surprisingly enjoyable Tanzania episode. The guys talk about scuba diving, the  food on tourist excursions, Zanzibar, street food, the make up of the country itself, Serengeti National Park, the crater lodge, the 2011 wild animal escape in Zanesville Ohio, pitch their version of the Zanesville event to Lifetime & Hallmark, Ray tries to get Ben to watch Sean Connery's Medicine Man movie again, a 30 second breakdown of how countries exploit African nations mineral deposits, the Coke Museum, worst traffic city's in the U.S., Atlanta, the Braves new baseball stadium, Mr. Freeze, the guy who died in a beer cooler a few years ago, and the Val Kilmer Michael Douglas classic film "The Ghost and the Darkness" before going through the categories, updating the episode rankings, and previewing tomorrows new Chefs & Guests episode with chef Brett Fife from Ghostwriter Public House in Johnstown Ohio. 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 restaurant review, Ray talks about a surprise delight, Peter Ungar's The Tasting Counter. Ray talks about its location inside Aeronaut Brewing in Somerville Massachussetts, Ungar's culinary career, how The Tasting Counter came to be, expansion to Time Out Market, and recounts his own experience at the chic fine dining eatery. For more on chef Peter Ungar and The Tasting Counter, visit spoonmob.com/peterungar. 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 restaurant review, Ray talks about the latest dine in tasting menu from the Chapman's Eat Market team, which might very well be their best one yet. For more on chef BJ Lieberman and Chapman's Eat Market, visit spoonmob.com/bjlieberman. For all things Spoon Mob, visit spoonmob.com and make sure to follow us on Instagram (@spoonmob), Twitter (@spoonmob1), and Facebook (@spoonmob1).