Hooter Bowl 3: The History of the Worst Hotel in Las Vegas feat. Alexander Poncio
Release Date: 02/05/2025
Golden Corral: The Ribs Were Trash, the Chicken Slapped, and There's a Party Room!
"Fine" Dining
🍽️ This Place Sure Had a Lot of Food Items Score a 1-out-of-10 🫠 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 speakerphone…from the toilet. This one had layers. 🍖 Ribs That Made Us Regret Everything 🍗 Chicken Fried Chicken That (Kinda) Slapped 🍞 Bread So Hard You...
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Golden Corral Has Won the Buffet Wars
"Fine" Dining
🥩 Golden Corral’s 100-Year Plan & Dumpster Drama 🗑️ 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, it’s still opening new locations. Joining me is Ben Cassil, host of Live from the Big Apple, to help unravel the chain’s 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
🍑 Better Than Chili’s? We Finally Taste Jollibee 🍗 This week, we're putting Jollibee through the Chili’s Test. From sweet pies that taste like vacation to spaghetti that... didn’t, 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. It’s juicy fried chicken, a peach mango hand pie that has haunted my dreams (in a good way though), and one very loud iPad kid. 🍗 Fried Chicken That’s...
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Jollibee Is a Filipino Treasure
"Fine" Dining
🍗 Jollibee Is a Filipino Treasure 🍗 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, it’s more than just a restaurant—it’s 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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Nathan’s Famous: One Glorious Glizzy Soars Above the Rest of the Menu
"Fine" Dining
🌭 Nathan’s Famous: One Glorious Glizzy Soars Above the Rest of the Menu 🌭 We went to the original Nathan’s 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 — 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. 🍋 The Coney Island Shandy (Beer + Lemonade = Perfection) 🥵 Nathan's Is Serving Boyfriend D***...
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Nathan’s Famous: How Joey Chestnut Made a Fake Contest a National Obsession
"Fine" Dining
🌭 Nathan’s Famous: The Hot Dog Empire with a Big Secret 🌭 This week, we dive mouth-first into the greasy, glorious history of Nathan’s Famous, the iconic hot dog brand that gave us Al Capone’s favorite beach snack, a gluttonous holiday tradition, and the most American sporting event of all time: the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. From shady police bribes to feeding royalty to Joey Chestnut’s 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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Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken: The Most Consistent Chain I’ve Tried
"Fine" Dining
🍗 Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken: Nothing Was Bad?! 🍗 We went to Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken—and literally nothing made it into the “Not Good” 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 Gus’s better than Chili’s? That’s the question. But when a fried pickle almost takes me out in the opening minutes,...
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Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken: From Humble Shack to National Champ
"Fine" Dining
🐔 Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken (Part 1): Gus's Parents, the Superfan, and Chicken Championships 🐔 Before Gus’s 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, I’m joined by improvisor, actor, and all-around delight Dave Theune (NBC’s St. Denis Medical) to go deep on the wild rise of Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, the...
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"Dunkin' & Donuts" feat. Amy Vorpahl
"Fine" Dining
🎲 Dunkin’ & Donuts: The D&D Crossover You Never Knew You Needed 🎲 This week on the "Fine Dining Podcast," we trade the drive-thru for dungeons. After covering a long, bizarre history — from handled donuts and Fred the Baker to the rise of Munchkins and Dunkaccinos — it’s time for part two: an original Dungeons & Dragons one-shot adventure, played in a world where every NPC runs on Dunkin’. 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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Dunkin’: Donuts with Handles, Munchkin Origins, & the Dunkaccino Meme feat. Amy Vorpahl
"Fine" Dining
☕ Dunkin’ Donuts: Handled Donuts, Munchkin Origins & Al Pacino’s Dunkaccino ☕ Dunkin’ may be a coffee giant now, but its journey started with donuts — one in particular with a literal handle. In this week’s episode, I break down the entire rise of the chain formerly known as Dunkin’ 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 Dunkin’ history — including public domain mascots, airport nostalgia, and...
info_outlineHooters Casino Hotel was meant to be a game-changer—bringing its busty brand of mediocrity to the Las Vegas Strip. Instead, it became one of the biggest disasters in Vegas history. A casino so bad, it made Circus Circus look classy. So... what went wrong?
For my third annual Hooter Bowl Spectacular, I had to go big. So I spent 19 hours trapped inside the Hooters Casino Hotel (now OYO), enduring its busted elevators, depressing ambiance, and suspiciously sticky carpets—all for the sake of history.
Along the way, my guest Alexander Poncio and I uncover the shocking history of this cursed Las Vegas casino—including its mob ties, multiple bankruptcy scandals, and an abandoned attempt in the 1980s to become Vegas' first LGBTQ-friendly resort.
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