"Dunkin' & Donuts" feat. Amy Vorpahl
"Fine" Dining
š² Dunkinā & Donuts: The D&D Crossover You Never Knew You Needed š² This week on the "Fine Dining Podcast," we trade the drive-thru for dungeons. After covering a long, bizarre history ā from handled donuts and Fred the Baker to the rise of Munchkins and Dunkaccinos ā itās time for part two: an original Dungeons & Dragons one-shot adventure, played in a world where every NPC runs on Dunkinā. Featuring writer, improviser, and TTRPG icon Amy Vorpahl, this special actual-play episode turns our fast-food trip into a fantasy quest. Expect laughs, intrigue, and a surprising...
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Dunkinā: Donuts with Handles, Munchkin Origins, & the Dunkaccino Meme feat. Amy Vorpahl
"Fine" Dining
ā Dunkinā Donuts: Handled Donuts, Munchkin Origins & Al Pacinoās Dunkaccino ā Dunkinā may be a coffee giant now, but its journey started with donuts ā one in particular with a literal handle. In this weekās episode, I break down the entire rise of the chain formerly known as Dunkinā Donuts, from its humble beginnings in Quincy, Massachusetts, to becoming the fast-casual coffee behemoth we know today. Plus, I'm joined by writer and performer Amy Vorpahl to unravel some of the weirdest moments in Dunkinā history ā including public domain mascots, airport nostalgia, and...
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Papa Johns Doesn't Do Pizza Well
"Fine" Dining
š Papa Johns: The Pizza Review That Gave Us Indigestion š We reviewed Papa Johnsā¦ in the lobby. One item at a time. On plastic chairs they dug out from the back. Make no mistake, this branch of Papa Johns rules, but at the end of the day: it's still Papa Johns. After learning the ingredients now arrive in prepackaged plastic bags from an employee literally covered in something the company calls ādust,ā we had to ask the big question: is Papa Johns objectively as good as Chiliās? Joining me is comedian Nick Stargu, whose multimedia stand-up special "" is on YouTube. We talk pizza,...
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Papa Johns: Garlic Dip, CEO Scandals, & the First Bitcoin Pizza
"Fine" Dining
š Papa Johns: Garlic Dip, CEO Scandals, & the First Bitcoin Pizza š From a broom closet in Indiana to viral garlic sauce bath bombs, Papa Johns has had one of the weirdest journeys in chain restaurant history. In this episode, I explore the story of America's youngest major pizza chain ā the sauce that changed the industry, the man who ate 40 pizzas in 30 days, and how a slice of Papa Johns became the first physical purchase made with Bitcoin. Weāre talking about Shaq, lawsuits, racial slurs on conference calls, and a clock made of eagles. Yes, really. Comedian Nick Stargu...
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Chili's IS the Most Mediocre Restaurant in America
"Fine" Dining
š¶ļø Chiliās IS the Most Mediocre Restaurant in America (Part 2) š¶ļø After 100 restaurant reviews, this was it. Chiliās officially earned the perfect 5.00 out of 10, making it the most mediocre restaurant in America ā the ultimate point of comparison for every meal to come. In this episode, Iām joined by returning guest VyVy Nguyen as we review the Encino location in full detail. From booth battles and dry wings to nostalgic chips and a molten dessert that hides its magic in the middle, we break down the exact moment Chiliās became the standard of mid. š The Sliders That...
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Chili's: The Fajita Effect, NSYNC, and the Jingle That Changed Everything
"Fine" Dining
š¶ļø Chiliās: They Started in a Post Office?? š¶ļø Chiliās. For nearly 50 years, itās been slinging margaritas, sizzling skillets, and vibes that are somehow both flirty and corporate. In this episode, actress and podcast 3-timers guest club VyVy Nguyen is back to explore the surprisingly spicy history of this chain restaurant icon with me ā from its post office origins to its entanglement with The Office, N*SYNC, and the internetās horniest Vine. Was Chiliās always this unhinged, just waiting for us to notice? š® The āFajita Effectā: Why One Order Sets the Whole...
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Is Joe's Crab Shack the Best Chain Seafood Restaurant?
"Fine" Dining
š¦ Joeās Crab Shack (Part 2): Heavenly Shrimp, Sloppy Lob, & Dessert Scores 11 out of 10 š¦ After diving into the shady past of Joeās Crab Shack, it was finally time to eat. In this episode, I head to the Disney-adjacent location with friend and podcast voiceover contributor Sandy Rose to see if the crab still holds up. From shockingly great coconut shrimp to a fish filet that straight-up betrayed us, we cover every bite, every bathroom handle, and every sāmore-stained moment in our quest to determine if Joeās is truly the perfectly mediocre restaurant. Is Joeās Crab...
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Joe's Crab Shack: Drunk Toddlers, Racist Decor, & WHO THE HELL IS JOE
"Fine" Dining
Joeās Crab Shack has been serving seafood and sass since 1991 ā but who is Joe? In this weekās episode, I dig deep into the murky origins of this kitschy crustacean-themed chain, uncovering mystery, missteps, and marketing that somehow works. From accidentally boozed-up babies to scandalous decorations and trans fat deception, Joeās has made some serious waves. Plus, Iām joined by longtime friend and podcast voice Sandy Rose to question whether you can truly trust a restaurant that sells shirts saying āIāve Got Crabs.ā Is Joeās just a goofy seafood joint? Or a case study in...
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Panera Bread Is a Pastry Paradise
"Fine" Dining
We finally ate at Panera Bread ā and while the bakery items impressed, the rest of the experience was a chaotic medley of kiosk confusion, bathroom code injustice, and raw onion overload. Iām joined once again by Lyss Johnson (comedian, friend, and former Panera employee) as we break down every detail of our in-person visit to the iconic soup-slinging, salad-stacking chain. Can the cinnamon crunch bagel save this spot from mediocrity? Or is Panera coasting on vibes and vending machine tech? š„Æ The Cinnamon Crunch Bagel That Nearly Ruined Our Lives (In a Good Way) š² Fireside Chili in a...
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Panera Bread: Infinite Refills, Caffeinated Chaos, and Chicken Controversies
"Fine" Dining
šØ Panera Bread: Infinite Refills, Chicken Fights & Lemonade Lawsuits šØ From a humble Missouri bakery to one of the most recognizable fast-casual chains in the country, Panera Bread has been on a wild ride. This week, I dive deep into the breadbasket of chaos that is Paneraās history ā including aggressive ad campaigns, billion-dollar innovations, and a beverage scandal that stirred national headlines. Plus, Iām joined by Lyss Johnson ā comedian and former Panera employee ā to break down what itās really like behind the counter at Americaās favorite soup & salad...
info_outlineRoad trip to Utah!
- What a get! This week, I had the honor of taking Santa Claus himself to the restaurant that makes the absolute most sense to review with Kris Kringle: Arctic Circle. If you don't know it, think Dairy Queen Grill & Chill. They do the dipped cone thing but more importantly, they claim to have invented fry sauce
- Not only do we get the history of this chain and fry sauce itself, but there's a lot of genuinely fascinating Santa Claus lore that I didn't know!
- Is Santa Claus technically a cryptid?
- A Yelper does not appreciate the attitude of the employees after her bun falls apart
- "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to my YouTube to watch this episode!
Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)
Theme Song by: Gabe Alvarez (@spooky.gabe)
Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose
"Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (My November Patreon exclusive episode just dropped on Ivar's Acres of Clams in Seattle, WA and the founder was a MAV-ER-ICK. Author Temple West joins me to chat all about it and how literal bombs on the freeway derailed our plans), extended Yelp from Strangers segments every other week, merch discounts, download access to our music including the 7 singles from our Olive Garden musical, and more!
Patreon Producers: Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas
Get the 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!
Send in your Arctic Circle stories at [email protected].
Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast
Follow Santa by being Good this year
For no particular reason, you can also follow Mark Gray on Instagram @markwgray
Let me know where I should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I read every one!
Next week on "Fine" Dining: Arctic Circle Review [Part Two]! Santa Claus joins me one more time to dissect what was Nice and what was Naughty about this burger chain. We even got in trouble just for spreading holiday cheer, so you don't want to miss this one! Ever work at an Arctic Circle? Send your stories to [email protected].