"Fine" Dining – Détails, épisodes et analyse

🥩🔥🍎 chi SPACCA: The Perfect 10 on the Tchotchke of Mediocrity 🍎🔥🥩

This week, I finally crown my very first perfect restaurant: chi SPACCA, the Italian butcher by Nancy Silverton and the best dining experience of my life. On Valentine's Day 2023, I discovered what true excellence tastes like, from cozy, candlelit vibes and flawless service to indulgent bites of steak, marrow, and candied apple pie. It was decadent, joyful, and unforgettable… even if our server's beef & bone marrow pot pie presentation went a little sideways.

🥔 Onion Rings & Mashed Potatoes That Redefine "Sides"
🥩 Beef & Bone Marrow Pot Pie: Messy, Beautiful, Delicious
🥬 Salanova Lettuce Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette = Good for a Salad...
🍖 Bistecca alla Fiorentina: Dry-Aged Steak of the Gods
👩‍🍳 Cozy Vibes and a View of the Chefs at Work
🍎 A Whole Candied Apple Baked Inside a Pie (Yes, Really)
🌹 Valentine's Day 2023: A Meal I'll Never Forget
⭐ Reading Only 5-Star Reviews in Yelp from Strangers
🏆 The First-Ever Perfect 10.00 on the Tchotchke of Mediocrity

💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's the best meal you've ever had in your life?

📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, full Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast
💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4
🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/@finediningpodcast
🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast

Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van

Patreon Subscribers: David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley

Free Patreon Followers: Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, & Aaron Hubbard

👉 NEXT WEEK: We've got to balance the scales, so I'll be going to the worst restaurant I've ever dined at and crowning a 0.00 on the bottom end of the Tchotchke of Mediocrity.

🎩🍟💰 McDonald's Monopoly: History, Scandal, and Astronomically Bad Odds💰🍟🎩

This week, we peel back the golden arches on one of the biggest promotions in fast-food history: McDonald's Monopoly. From the McMillions scandal that rocked the 2000s to the shocking odds that make the Powerball look generous, this episode dives deep into the strange world where fries meet finance. We explore the sweepstakes mechanics, the global variations, and the jaw-dropping aftermath of McDonald's paying out on a possibly fraudulent million-dollar game piece sent to St. Jude's.

🎲 The Wild Origins of McDonald's Monopoly
🕵️‍♂️ The McMillions Scandal That Changed Everything
📉 Why the $10,000 Lowe's Prize Is 9x Harder to Win Than Powerball
🏦 How McDonald's and Hasbro Both Profit from the Partnership
🇨🇦 The Game's Unique Twists in Canada and the UK
📜 Sweepstakes vs. Lottery: What the Law Actually Says
💸 McDonald's Randomly Paying Diners After the Scandal
🍟 The Most Unrealistic Odds You've Ever Heard

💬 COMMENT BELOW: Have you ever won anything more than food from McDonald's Monopoly?

📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, full Yelp segments & more): patreon.com/finediningpodcast
💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4
🎥 Watch full episodes: youtube.com/@finediningpodcast
🔗 All links: linktree.com/finediningpodcast

Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van

Patreon Subscribers: David Ornelas, Kellie Baldwin, Jeremy Horwitz, Herbert Amaya, Simone Davalos, Scott Bennett, Amy Reinhart, Josef Castaneda-Liles, & Travis Langley

Free Patreon Followers: Joe Warszalek, Lauren Cummings, Grace Krainak, Keri Estes, Robert Duran, Patrick Elliott, Michelle Elmer, Dave Plummer, Nicholas Volney, Michael Gerard, Tracy Molino, Phuong Duong, Tyler Robinson, Brandon Gully, Mason Cruz, Michael Milito, Mez, & Aaron Hubbard

👉 NEXT WEEK: I cover chi SPACCA, the Italian butcher by Nancy Silverton — and quite possibly the best meal of my life.

🍕 Gino's East of Chicago: Graffiti, Deep Dish, & Biscuit Crust 🧱

This week, we take a bite out of the legacy of Gino's East of Chicago — a deep dish pizza joint started by cabbies and made famous by its buttery biscuit crust and graffiti-covered walls. With a flavor profile heavy on cornmeal and sausage (sometimes too much sausage), it's one of Chicago's big four pizza spots — but is it the GOAT?

Joining me is actor and comedian Jacquis Neal (Dropout, Last Week Tonight) as we dig into this crusty cornerstone of Chicago culture, debate sausage autonomy, and marvel at how many cab drivers it used to take to buy property.

Plus, Jacquis pitches his dream soul food/Chicago fusion restaurant, and we read some absolutely wild Yelp reviews — one featuring a "phat boi" pizza and another featuring a man's descent into customer service madness.

🏙️ Born from Taxi Drivers with a Building They Didn't Know What to Do With
🧀 Biscuit Techniques & the Quest for Sausage Autonomy
🎨 A Deep Discussion on the Urge to Graffiti Bathrooms
📍 From Mag Mile to LA to Singapore
📦 Frozen Pizzas, Flopped Franchises, & a Surprise Comeback
🍕 Deep Dish vs. Tavern Style vs. NY Slice: The Ultimate Pizza Debate
🎶 A Soul Food Spot with Yacht Rock Vibes (Jacquis's Dream Restaurant)
🌟 Yelp Reviews That Involve Slithering Pizza & An Argument with the "Manager "

💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's your go-to Chicago pizza joint — and how much cheese is too much?

📢 SUPPORT THE SHOW & JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
🎉 Patreon (Bonus episodes, full Yelp segments & more): https://www.patreon.com/finediningpodcast
💬 Discord (Food talk, memes, cursed Yelp): https://discord.gg/6a2YqrtWV4
🎥 Watch full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@finediningpodcast
🔗 All links: https://www.linktree.com/finediningpodcast
🎤 Jacquis on IG: @jacquisneal | Website: jacquisneal.com

Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van

👉 NEXT WEEK: We dig into our actual meal at Gino's East. Did Michael's cheese phobia survive? Or did deep dish change his life forever?

"Fine" Dining is back to weekly releases!

• The Melting Pot is in the midst of a renaissance, with ambitious expansion goals
• Michael details the changes moving into the new season
• Learn about the history of the franchise in Eat Deets (fka Resty Fact Round-Up)
• Guest host Rhyan Schwartz gives Michael someone to eat all the cheese that our host refuses to touch
• Michael rebrands cheese to ch**se
• Harrison Augustine 💸 Arrylius the XIV shares his wealth of knowledge to give The Melting Pot advice on their wall art
• The Melting Pot is sending mixed signals to platonic friends
• A battle between servers has Michael & Rhyan asking What's Going On Over There?
• Panic sets in as the stress involved with timing your meat-cooking is Way Too Much
• The most patriotic 5-star Yelp review ever in this week's Yelp from Strangers
• Stay tuned to the very end...there may or may not be a post-credits scene

Additional Voice Actors: Jessa Day

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose

"Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (October's episode explored Dave's Hot Chicken), 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: Sean Spademan, Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get the 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send in your Melting Pot stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.

Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

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: Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant (Eat Deets)! I'm joined by All Elite Wrestling's "Pretty" Peter Avalon, and for the first part of the episode, I'll be teaching him the history of Gordon Biersch and their claim to have invented garlic fries. Ever work at a Gordon Biersch? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.

Totally Not Sponsored By: Harrison Augustine 💸 Arrylius the XIV

Season 2 starts November 8th!

• TGI Fridays is dark, red, and honestly feels like a murder room. Appropriate for the season
• Michael is joined by friend Sandy Rose to deliver the Resty Fact Round-Up while Garrett goes to town on Michael's bidet. Learn how TGI Fridays original incarnation was drastically different from what we know it as today
• Michael's pineapple son Juicy Jr. dons the mask as Juice-Son Vorhees in a terrifying murder spree homage to the Friday the 13th horror film franchise
• JUB issues an ominous warning
• Frequent dining companion Herbert Amaya goes to check on the suspicious boat on the ceiling while Michael & Garrett speculate What's Going On Over There?
• Garrett breaks the injunction and orders another Cinnabon-branded dessert
• Cheese correspondent Steven Zurita is a big fan of cheese
• The death of a cohost...
• Hear what others are saying about this TGI Fridays location in this week's Yelp from Strangers

Additional Voice Actors: Sandy Rose, Herbert Amaya, Steven Zurita

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

We're on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (coming next week: Dave's Hot Chicken), 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: Sean Spademan, Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get our 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send us your TGI Fridays stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.

Follow us on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Let us know where we should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. We read every one!

Next time on the "Fine" Dining SEASON PREMIERE: The Melting Pot! The surviving host takes guest host Rhyan Schwartz to a cheese fondue restaurant, despite despising cheese! Hear what they have to say in two weeks for the season 2 premiere in two weeks! Ever work at a Melting Pot? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.

Totally Not Sponsored By: JUB

Do grocery store pies taste better in their restaurant of origin? Not by much!

• Marie Callender's Restaurant & Bakery feels like a slice of Michael & Garrett's childhoods, a wood-paneled wonderland that feels like a dentist's office waiting room
• Garrett details the history of the franchise in this week's Resty Fact Round-Up, including a history of "Pie Spies"
• Marie Callender's proves to be a haven of "old"
• The winner of the Septemburger Bracket $500 Giveaway is announced!
• Michael falls asleep in the booth...and Garrett is wondering What's Going On Over There?
• Table talk centers around Garrett's obsession with trashy reality dating shows, inspiring DILF Depot
• Michael's root beer gets bused, then...unbused?
• JUB's is getting in the biz of consulting; he'll teach you that all you need to be the greatest server is constant refills
• Hear what others (including a septagenarian cowboy) have to say about this Marie Callender's location in this week's Yelp from Strangers

Additional Voice Actors: Sandy Rose, Steve Moulton

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

We're on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (September's episode: Septemburger's Semi-Finals & Finals), 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: Sean Spademan, Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get our 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send us your Marie Callender's stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.

Follow us on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Let us know where we should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. We read every one!

Next time on the "Fine" Dining SEASON FINALE: TGI Friday's! Spooky season is upon us as the boys head to TGI Friday's on Friday the 13th! Hear what they have to say in two weeks for the finale episode of season 1! Ever work at a TGI Friday's? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.

Totally Not Sponsored By: JUB

The last quarterfinal match of Septemburger has arrived!

• Johnny Rockets is a genuine-hearted homage to the diners of the 1950s, which Michael would have been all about if this wasn't a "Sports Lounge" location
• Garrett details the history of the franchise in this week's Resty Fact Round-Up
• Septemburger match 4: Umami Burger vs. Johnny Rockets
• The You-Must Bowl has both Michael & Garrett crying, but insisting they're fine
• A CHAIR HEIST!!
• What's Going On with the restaurant's photographer snubbing our Fussy Little Boys?
• JUB's making meat frisbees. You read that right. Where did he go wrong? I blame his parents
• Hear what others have to say about this Johnny Rockets location in this week's Yelp from Strangers

Additional Voice Actors: Sandy Rose, Nick Adams, & Mindy Brown

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

We're on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (August's episode: Burger King), 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: Sean Spademan, Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get our 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send us your Johnny Rockets stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.

Follow us on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Let us know where we should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. We read every one!

Next time on Fine Dining: Marie Callender's! A drastic turn away from burgers, the boys head down to an old-fashioned pie shop. Hear what they have to say in two weeks for the penultimate episode of season 1! Ever work at a Marie Callenders? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.

Totally Not Sponsored By: JUB

Septemburger's #1 seed, Umami Burger is up to bat!

• Michael has an axe to grind after the best burger in Los Angeles changed up their recipe a few years back
• Garrett outlines the rise and fall of Umami Burger in Resty Fact Round-Up, and why they have a shot at regaining respect once again
• Septemburger will pit Umami against Johnny Rockets next week
• What's Going On with Umami feeling like it's still going through the pandemic?
• The service staff definitely noticed they were being reviewed and changed their effort level drastically
• JUB's opening a day care!
• A bunch of people share Michael's disappointment in the recipe change in this week's Yelp from Strangers
• Michael opts to join Garrett for next week's You-Must Bowl punishment in solidarity
  

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

We're on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (August's episode: Burger King), 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: Sean Spademan, Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get our 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send us your Umami Burger stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.

Follow us on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Let us know where we should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. We read every one!

Next time on Fine Dining: Johnny Rockets! Septemburger's winding down with the #8 seed. Can they pull off an upset against Umami Burger? Find out next week! Ever work at a Johnny Rockets? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.

Totally Not Sponsored By: JUB

Septemburger rolls along with the #5 seed, Red Robin!

• Michael & Garrett are not just joined by indie horror film producer John Angeli, but they're outright sponsored by his new movie Terror Firma
• Garrett outlines the surnameless "Sam" who founded Red Robin by annoying the heck out of anyone who would listen with his one Red Robin song
• More of a deep dive on the history of the franchise in Resty Fact Round-Up
• Septemburger match #3: Red Robin vs. Outback Steakhouse
• Forget the burgers, Red Robin's got amazing desserts!
• What's Going On with the black specks in the hot water?
• John breaks the bank by overusing the boys' eagle sound effect budget
• Child assassin?
• JUB's got a way to settle who gets which onion rings, and it's totally not plagiarized
• The longest run-on sentence ever in a restaurant review in this week's Yelp from Strangers
• John gives a brief rundown of his movie Terror Firma after Michael got to attend the premiere
• John tries to stump Michael & Garrett by being the fabled presenter of the Headline Game
  

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

We're on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (August's episode: Burger King), 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: Sean Spademan, Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get our 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send us your Red Robin stories at finediningpodcast@gmail.com.

Follow us on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Let us know where we should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. We read every one!

Next time on Fine Dining: Umami Burger! It's the #1 seed in Septemburger, but can they live up to their own hype? Find out next week! Ever work at an Umami Burger? Send your stories to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.

Totally Not Sponsored By: JUB

It's the burger battle of the year as Septemburger is now upon us!

• The tournament kicks off as the 8 entrants are announced and seeded
• Maybe the most badass theme song ever
• Garrett details the history of the hamburger in Burger Fact Round-Up
• #3 seed Fuddruckers faces off against the #6 seed Applebees
• #2 seed Islands faces off against the #7 seed Bob's Big Boy
• First round scoring for #4 seed Outback Steakhouse ahead of its match-up next week against the #5 seed Red Robin
• JUB will help you generalize your too-niche business plan
• Why's Outback so horned up? What's Going On Over There?

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED THE $500 BRACKET GIVEAWAY! Thanks to all who entered, and best of luck!

Music (including the Septemburger Theme Song): James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

"Fine" Dining Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

We're on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month, 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: Sean Spademan, Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get your 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Follow us on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Let us know where we should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. We read every one!

Next time on Fine Dining: Red Robin! If you have ever worked for Red Robin or have a story to share, send it to finediningpodcast@gmail.com.