IKEA's Meatballs Aren't Actually Even Swedish feat. Chris Grace
Release Date: 01/08/2025
Golden Corral: The Ribs Were Trash, the Chicken Slapped, and There's a Party Room!
"Fine" Dining
š½ļø This Place Sure Had a Lot of Food Items Score a 1-out-of-10 š« This week, we return to Golden Corral - this time, to eat. Joined by comedian and podcast host Ben Cassil (@bencassil), I finally test the buffet itself, from rock-hard bread to surprisingly okay tacos. We found joy in the strawberry shortcake Fanta ICEE and the sheer chaos of none of the food being accurately labeled. Also, someone talked to their mom on speakerphoneā¦from the toilet. This one had layers. š Ribs That Made Us Regret Everything š Chicken Fried Chicken That (Kinda) Slapped š Bread So Hard You...
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Golden Corral Has Won the Buffet Wars
"Fine" Dining
š„© Golden Corralās 100-Year Plan & Dumpster Drama šļø This week, we dive into the sprawling buffet empire that is Golden Corral. From hygiene scandals to military youth camps, this chain has been through it all and somehow, itās still opening new locations. Joining me is Ben Cassil, host of Live from the Big Apple, to help unravel the chainās bizarre history, including its long-standing relationship with the troops, a giant brawl over steak, and a game of hide-and-seek with their meat because of an impending health inspection. Plus, Ben pitches a Discworld-themed...
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Trying Jollibee for the First Time
"Fine" Dining
š Better Than Chiliās? We Finally Taste Jollibee š This week, we're putting Jollibee through the Chiliās Test. From sweet pies that taste like vacation to spaghetti that... didnāt, we finally try the food and decide whether this beloved Filipino chain lives up to its reputation. With special guest Jason Patrick Galit (JPG) guiding the way, we get the full experience, even if we have to be Sweaty Little Boys in the process. Itās juicy fried chicken, a peach mango hand pie that has haunted my dreams (in a good way though), and one very loud iPad kid. š Fried Chicken Thatās...
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Jollibee Is a Filipino Treasure
"Fine" Dining
š Jollibee Is a Filipino Treasure š This week, we dive into the sweet, crunchy, culturally iconic legacy of Jollibee, the Filipino fast food chain with a bee mascot, a cult following, and a spaghetti recipe that would confuse most Americans. But to millions of Filipinos, itās more than just a restaurantāitās home. Joining me is Jason Patrick Galit (JPG) from InterMyth, who grew up with Jollibee and has the love to prove it. From his first spaghetti to a fried chicken hand towel, this episode is deeply personal as he offers a lot of amazing insights into Jollibee's cultural...
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Nathanās Famous: One Glorious Glizzy Soars Above the Rest of the Menu
"Fine" Dining
š Nathanās Famous: One Glorious Glizzy Soars Above the Rest of the Menu š We went to the original Nathanās Famous in Coney Island to find out: is this historic wiener mecca actually good, or are we just chasing a bump from a bygone era? Comedian Marty Cunnie returns as my hot dog soulmate to break down every last bite ā from snappy glizzies to horrifying frog legs that still haunt my digestive system. We did not eat 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, but our bodies definitely thought we did. š The Coney Island Shandy (Beer + Lemonade = Perfection) š„µ Nathan's Is Serving Boyfriend D***...
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Nathanās Famous: How Joey Chestnut Made a Fake Contest a National Obsession
"Fine" Dining
š Nathanās Famous: The Hot Dog Empire with a Big Secret š This week, we dive mouth-first into the greasy, glorious history of Nathanās Famous, the iconic hot dog brand that gave us Al Caponeās favorite beach snack, a gluttonous holiday tradition, and the most American sporting event of all time: the Nathanās Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. From shady police bribes to feeding royalty to Joey Chestnutās triumphant return after an Impossible controversy, this episode covers over a century of beef, buns, and barfing-for-glory. Joining me is comedian Marty Cunnie (who...
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Gusās World Famous Fried Chicken: The Most Consistent Chain Iāve Tried
"Fine" Dining
š Gusās World Famous Fried Chicken: Nothing Was Bad?! š We went to Gusās World Famous Fried Chickenāand literally nothing made it into the āNot Goodā category. Nothing! Comedian and improviser Dave Theune (St. Denis Medical, NBC/Peacock) joins me to talk about his first foray into eating dark meat, crispy fried okra, spicy batter, and the kind of service that borders on too attentive (but we loved it). The waiter even coaxed out my Star Wars hot take. Is Gusās better than Chiliās? Thatās the question. But when a fried pickle almost takes me out in the opening minutes,...
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Gusās World Famous Fried Chicken: From Humble Shack to National Champ
"Fine" Dining
š Gusās World Famous Fried Chicken (Part 1): Gus's Parents, the Superfan, and Chicken Championships š Before Gusās was world famous, it was just spicy chicken sold out the back of a bar in the segregated South. But that secret recipe grew into a Southern staple, complete with 40+ locations, a chicken-loving superfan turned CEO, and even a rogue rooster who hangs out outside one of their Memphis spots. In this episode, Iām joined by improvisor, actor, and all-around delight Dave Theune (NBCās St. Denis Medical) to go deep on the wild rise of Gusās World Famous Fried Chicken, the...
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"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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- I'm joined by Chris Grace from NBC's Superstore to tackle the largest furniture retailer in the world IKEA and their fabled Swedish Bistro which happens to be the 6th-largest food chain internationally!
- "Coffee and a biscuit" was where it all began in Sweden
- Despite being what they're known for, the Swedish Meatball (which isn't even actually Swedish) didn't hit the menu until the 80s, almost 30 years after open
- There were plans for a viking themed restaurant originally!
- A nightmare green hot dog and food made of mealworms??
- A Yelper writes with whimsy and then drops it before the end and Chris thinks it's hacky
- "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 (I closed the year with my Patreon exclusive episode covering rude-service-on-purpose restaurant chain Dick's Last Resort after driving to Las Vegas with friend and season 1 cheese correspondent Steven Zurita), 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!
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Next week on "Fine" Dining: IKEA Swedish Bistro Review [Part Two]! Chris Grace returns to chat about the meatballs, the plethora of desserts, and his love of cafeterias as we break down the Good, the Not Good, and the Just There of IKEA. Ever work at IKEA? Send your stories to [email protected].