We get to interview Sam, who competed on Season 8 of MasterChef! We learn all about the audition process, what it's like to be on the show, and all the dirt on the production process. Support the show by heading to maximumfun.org/join, and by following us on Instagram!By mike cabellon, Ify Nwadiwe, sierra katow, tv chef fantasy league, maximumfun.org

We eat the chicken sandwich that caused chaos upon launch! Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen makes it clear that you're not supposed eat it there. But I powered through with my guest, stand-up comedian Sierra Katow Popeyes goes overboard on the signage in the store, outside the restaurant, and on the door What's Going On Over There with the complete silenc…

The sushi at Houston's is an unexpected masterpiece! Houston's Restaurant aka Hillstone is one of the higher-end experiences I've had for the podcast, and That Was Wild podcast's Adam Macias joined me on his own birthday to dine there with me The art choices in here were bold (arguably Way Too Much) and their light fixtures straight up looked like …

A chain with 15 different names! Houston's Restaurant aka Hillstone aka 13 other things is one of the more upscale chains, and Adam Macias from the That Was Wild podcast joins me to learn interesting facts about this restaurant Houston's will let you BYOB without charging a corkage fee, and they are very proud of this The Secret Menu: Bougier Resta…

Part 2 of Ify's friend Scott's tales from auditioning for MasterChef! Support the show by heading to maximumfun.org/join, and by following us on Instagram.By Ify Nwadiwe, sierra katow, mike cabellon, tv chef fantasy league, maximumfun.org

MasterChef is off this week, so we hear from Ify's friend who auditioned for MasterChef twice. Support the show by heading to maximumfun.org/join, and by following us on Instagram!By Ify Nwadiwe, Sierra Katow, Mike Cabellon, TV Chef Fantasy League, maximumfun.org

The stories from the sandwich launch are wild! I went to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen with stand-up comedian Sierra Katow, but before reviewing the place we have to go over the franchise history The Eat Deets unveil founder Al Copeland's master plan to charge the company a "spice royalty" after he was ousted from leadership The Secret Menu: Villainous…

The chefs cook for the LAFC, and we dive into Rebecka’s blog. You can support the show by visiting maximumfun.org/join, and by following us on Instagram!By mike cabellon, Ify Nwadiwe, sierra katow

A new Worst Restaurant in America is crowned! A restaurant so bad, I don't think my Dad (my guest this week) will ever let me live it down: Shoney's Buffet soups shouldn't have such a thick skin over them that the ladle rests on top...right?? What's Going On Over There with Shoney's thinking they deserve their own food truck? The service team surpr…

The contestants cook aged foods, and we reference both Jennifer Coolidge AND Megan Mullally. You can support the show by visiting maximumfun.org/join, and by following us on Instagram!By mike cabellon, Ify Nwadiwe, sierra katow

Traveled across the country for this! Coming to you from the mountains of North Carolina, I bring you the Eat Deets for Shoney's with my very own Dad Shoney's has undergone a few name changes, including being a part of the Big Boy franchise A brand that once grew to over 1,800 restaurants is dwindling in the post-pandemic restaurant landscape, now …

MasterChef took a week off for the holiday, so Mike & Ify pitch each other ideas for other cooking competition shows. Support the podcast at maximumfun.org/join, and follow us on Instagram!By TV Chef Fantasy League, Ify Nwadiwe, Mike Cabellon

Edible straws? Actress, foodie, and comedian Katie Molinaro joined me for maybe the weirdest meal yet, as we were total fish out of water at the American Girl Cafe I made an impulse buy and got a doll chihuahua named Barker Posey The stalls in the bathrooms have hooks so you can take your doll with you, and that's Way Too Much... The service team h…

The first proper week of competition for MasterChef, and the first of several international episodes for us! Support us at maximumfun.org/join, and follow us on Instagram!By Ify Nwadiwe, sierra katow, mike cabellon

Lunch at a restaurant for dolls!! Comedian and food influencer Katie Molinaro doesn't hesitate to join for a silly dining experience, so we hit up the American Girl Doll Store Boutique & Bistro Katie grew up with a doll she didn't vibe with This week's Secret Menu mini-game: Unfun Children's Toys American Girl was founded by a cancer-surviving text…

Welcome to the post-Top Chef era! After 4 weeks of auditions, we finally have our contestants for this season of MasterChef, and we’re ready to draft our teams. We’re so, so excited to be a part of Maximum Fun. Head to maximumfun.org/join to support the show, and follow us on Instagram!By Mike Cabellon, Sierra Katow, Ify Nwadiwe

It’s the finale! We’re now part of the Maximum Fun family of podcasts. This is our last episode as Top Chef Fantasy League. You can find the first episode of TV Chef Fantasy League – wherein we draft our MasterChef rosters – right after this episode. Head to maximumfun.org/join and select TV Chef Fantasy League to support the show, and follow us on…

I debut a music video about the new frontrunner in Mediocrity! Coming closer to mediocrity than Applebee's (who scored 5.02/10), Cracker Barrel is the life-blood of this week's guest, stand-up comedian Jen Liv The rocking chairs aren't the only thing that swings in this Cracker Barrel Country Store... This week's Secret Menu mini-game: Kinky Restau…

Okay, FINE, we'll go on a cruise. ANNOUNCEMENT: Next week, we are changing both the name AND the artwork for this podcast! When we begin covering MasterChef, we will become TV Chef Fantasy League, so don't be alarmed when that pops up in your feed. Same great hosts, same dum-dum banter. Follow us on Instagram!…

I went to Cracker Barrel with a CB Superfan! Stand-up comedian Jen Liv LOVES Cracker Barrel so much (she's been to over 40 different ones!) that she hopped my car and road tripped with me to go there In this Eat Deets episode, the history of Cracker Barrel includes the franchise's humble beginnings as a gas station restaurant before growing into wh…

*Vin Diesel voice* one last ride (in Wisconsin) Make sure to start watching the audition episodes of MasterChef, because that's what our podcast is covering once Top Chef is done! Follow us on Instagram!By Maximum Fun

"I've got the celebrity!" Comedian and world-class cuddler Chad Opitz is here once again to talk about dining with Shrek (me, having lost a bet) at The Original Pancake House Michael gets a looooot of attention as Shrek and makes some kids' day What's Going On Over There with OPH cooking a baby? The service staff embraced me with open arms Chad ord…

Ify's back! In case you didn't hear, we're moving on to MasterChef when this season of Top Chef is done, so start your talent scouting (aka watching the audition episodes) now! Also, if this episode sounds weird, it’s because at some point while I was editing I got up to do laundry and my dog walked on my keyboard. Some knobs were definitely twiste…

Get in mah swamp! Stand-up comedian Chad Opitz (recurring guest on Doug Benson's podcast "Doug Loves Movies") not only tolerates, but embraces me this week (literally) as I go to The Original Pancake House in full Shrek make-up with him to make good on the bet I lost last week We cover the history of not just this week's restaurant, but the concept…

Plenty more announcements to come, but here's the first big one: We're covering MasterChef next. Start watching this Wednesday and get ready to draft after the auditions are over! Follow us on Instagram!By Maximum Fun

Scale the Great Wall of Chocolate! Andres Simonian (not from Home Economics or Mythic Quest) is back to plunge into our review of P.F. Chang's Michael thinks the atmosphere in a P.F. Chang's is "sexy" Michael tells the tale of the Cumbre Tunnel Massacre shootout that almost claimed his great-grandfather's life Andres makes a high-stakes Shrek-theme…

This week, we're joined by writer Laura Kleinbaum. Grab the kids and check out her show Vida The Vet on Netflix, and leave the kids behind when you watch House of Cleopatra at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer! Follow us on Instagram!By Maximum Fun

It took 55 episodes to do Chinese food! Actor Andres Simonian (one of the Wendy's guys in the Spanish-speaking markets) joins me this week, covering the history and the Yelp reviews for P.F. Chang's The whitewashing of "P.F. Chang's" is uncovered in this week's Eat Deets Andres is called on his lie about getting stuck in "unexpected" traffic Michae…

We're 100% serious: let us be diners on Restaurant Wars. Follow us on Instagram!By Maximum Fun

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, let's review a restaurant as Mexican as our host is: Chipotle!! It's time to chat the Chipotle Mexican Grill dining experience, joined once again by stand-up comedian and Chipotle-lover, Zara Mizrahi What's the actual best restaurant Zara's ever experienced? The "art" on the wall is not art, no matter how badly it wants t…

An extra long episode, mostly because we eat Korean corn dogs live on air (don't worry, I tried to cut out as much of the chewing as possible) The New Yorker: Padma Lakshmi Walks Into A Bar Follow us on Instagram!By Maximum Fun

The debut of a brand new game: The Secret Menu!! Michael hits a place about as Mexican as he is for Cinco de Mayo, Chipotle Mexican Grill with long-time friend and burrito enthusiast, stand-up comedian Zara Mizrahi Chipotle can't shake the stigma of having been owned by McDonald's Learn about the legendary Chipotle burrito coins in Eat Deets Zara w…

Shoutout to Girthmaster! Eater article on chaos cooking Follow us on Instagram!By Maximum Fun

Enter for an all expenses paid trip to your local Applebee's*! Jasper Lewis, biscuit enthusiast, is back to take on IHOP, the International House of Pancakes with Michael A hyper kid listening to metal in the booth next to us is WAY TOO MUCH Michael & Jasper discuss the viral list of places that "women don't want to be taken on a first date" Jasper…

Mike is out of town this week, and he's the one writing this description. He hasn't listened to this episode so it'll be a surprise for all of us! Follow us on Instagram!By Maximum Fun

Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity is BACK! Michael is joined by friend and "woman-of-God" Jasper Lewis to talk all things IHOP, the International House of Pancakes and chain restaurant juggernaut Poor signage/menu descriptions leave Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity a mystery What's Going On Over There with the barren Wikipedia page for IHOP? Learn the history…

Ify was late, don't believe a word he says. Follow us on Instagram!By Maximum Fun

Is the new Costco cookie as good as the churro? Michael is once again joined by Marisa Pinson & Jon Glover from On Brand with Jon & Marisa, and they're back at the Costco Food Court "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to our YouTube to watch this episode! Marisa and Jon confess the ways they've gamed Costco's notoriously indiscriminate retu…

Ify tries the most awarded cheese in American history live on-air, and more! Follow us on Instagram!By Maximum Fun

Learn the history of America's most iconic concession stand! Marisa Pinson & Jon Glover from On Brand with Jon & Marisa join Michael at the Costco Food Court this week and talk all things, from how many hot dogs we could fit in our mouths to the churro that was just replaced by a cookie "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to our YouTube to …

We have our first team challenge of the season, and we herald the arrival of the 16th cheftestant. Follow us on Instagram!By Maximum Fun

Where do Butterburgers rank in the pantheon of fast food burgers? Kellie Baldwin is back to eat Culver's with Michael! And it's official: Culver's will be the #6 seed in the 2024 Septemburger tournament! March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month! Find out more at the National MS Society website, and if you want to go the extra mile, donate here t…

Top Chef season 21 is finally here! We recorded this one when we were all insanely tired. Enjoy. Follow us on Instagram!By Maximum Fun

Hear how this iconic Midwestern treasure came to be! Michael is joined by friend-from-college Kellie Baldwin to try Culver's, the Wisconsin burger chain that popularized the "Butterburger" and frozen custard March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month! Find out more at the National MS Society website, and if you want to go the extra mile, donate he…

Our first episode! We draft our chefs for the season. Follow us on Instagram!By Maximum Fun

Dive into Septemburger 2024's #4 Seed! TV Producer/all-around queen Ashley Robinson returns for part 2, covering the atmosphere/service/food of Texas' pride and joy: Whataburger "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to our YouTube to watch this episode! Whataburger's selling snuggies Ashley is modding her own snuggies, and it's Way Too Much T…

The ban on fast food has been lifted! Michael is joined by long-time friend, TV producer Ashley Robinson, a native Texan who is all aboard the train as it takes its first stop at a fast food joint: Texas' own Whataburger "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to our YouTube to watch this episode! What's Going On Over There with the lady starin…

A review Jimmy Buffett would be proud of! Mom joins one more time to dish on our experience eating at Ch**seburger in Paradise in Honolulu, Hawaii! "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to our YouTube to watch this episode! Vintage decor meets views of the ocean, the beach, and garbage trucks Hawaii is the deepest South A discussion on the wo…

Lots of censored words in this one... Michael's Mom is back and joins him this week to eat at the historic Ch**seburger in Paradise restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii! "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to our YouTube to watch this episode! Mom brought leis because being festive is important Hawaiian Santa Claus! These Eat Deets get spicy as J…

Time to review the PG Hooters! VyVy Nguyen returns to review fast-casual Hooters affiliate Hoots Wings Michael is finally able to give VyVy her gift, now that Harrison has been brought into custody for stealing it last week This Hoots Wings rents a counter off to the side in a Blaze Pizza, the atmosphere is dubious at best Ghost children singing Ol…