Cosmic Wings with Jana Schmieding

"Cosmic Wings with Jana Schmieding" is Episode 299 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Cosmic Wings with Jana Schmieding" was released on May 6, 2021.

## Synopsis

Jana Schmieding (*Rutherford Falls*, *Woman of Size*) joins the 'boys to talk cats and school lunches before a review of virtual restaurant Cosmic Wings. Plus, another editions of Family Food.

## Nick's intro

T.J. Applebee's Rx for Edibles & Elixirs: this chunky name, which sounds like an old-time pharmacy or maybe a modern marijuana dispensary, was chosen by restaurateurs Bill and T.J. Palmer when they opened their Atlanta-area bar and grill in 1980. The concept was sold and turned into a franchise just three years later and, in a Sean Parker-esque bound of branding simplification, by 1986, the name was just Applebee's. (It's cleaner.)

By 2007, the chain had 1500 locations and went international in more ways than one: opening locations overseas and merging with the International House of Pancakes, IHOP, to form Dine Brands, the world's largest full-service restaurant company.

But Dine Brands' twin brands were hit hard by the COVID pandemic, breaking their dine-in focused business models as massive dining rooms and parking lots went vacant and staff were either furloughed or forced to reorient as take-out only on the fly. IHOP even had to take the unprecedented step of cancelling National Pancake Day.

Then, in February of 2021, as outdoor dining and some indoor dining had returned in much of the country to scattered success, Dine Brands finally jumped aboard the ghost-kitchen bandwagon, partnering with Frito-Lay and Uber Eats for a concept seemingly crafted by edgelord chefs, chicken wings covered with Cheeto dust.

Prepared in 1300 Applebee's kitchens, the ghost concept by all accounts seems to have succeeded, with many delivery orders from app-scrolling customers unaware of any connection to the parent brand.

But just three months after launch, as much of the country is vaccinated and dine-in restrictions are loosened or abolished, can Applebee's to-go-only ghost gimmick sustain?

As *Restaurant Business* reporter Jonathan Mayes writes, "many of these restaurants have excess kitchen capacity; they need extra income that a virtual brand can provide." But what happens when life returns to normal?

This week on *Doughboys*, Cosmic Wings.

## Fork rating

* Fried Cheetos Cheese Bites - Flamin' Hot
* Onion Rings
* Waffle Fries
* Sauces
 Mike Mitchell
* Traditional Wings (Sweet Asian Chili)
* Traditional Wings with Cheetos Flamin' Hot Wing Sauce
* Boneless Wings (Classic Hot Buffalo)
* Boneless Wings with Original Cheetos Wing Sauce
* Boneless Wings with Cheetos Flamin' Hot Wing Sauce
* Fried Cheetos Cheese Bites - Original
* Waffle Fries
* Onion Rings
* Sauces
* Chocolate Chunk Cookie
 Jana Schmieding
* Traditional Wings (Classic Hot Buffalo)
* Fried Cheetos Cheese Bites - Original
* Waffle Fries

**Spoonman's Bite of the Night** went to the Classic Hot Buffalo Boneless Wings.

With these scores, Cosmic Wings joins the Broken Plate Club!

## Family Food

In Family Food, Nick finds a food-related survey, and Mitch and the guest guess the results.

For today's episode, Nick has a list of America's favorite vegetables, via a veggietracker.com poll.

The top-6 answers are on the board. They alternate picks. Three strikes and you lose.

Mitch wins, but they continue to guess after Jana had her three strikes.

 Broccoli (XX)
 Green Pepper (XXX)

The remainder of the list Green Bean (#6), Tomato (#4), and Corn (#1).

## Quotes

**Mitch**: WHAT?!

**Jana**: DORITLE!

**Nick**: We want Doritle.

## The Feedbag

We've assigned naming rights to three of the chickens and have given one the distinguished name of Queso.
That leaves one chicken left and we'd like to honor the birds, and The Doughboys, by asking you to name the final chicken.

## Photos

Fried Cheetos Cheese Bites - Flamin' HotFried Cheetos Cheese Bite - Flamin' HotFried Cheetos Cheese Bites - OriginalFried Cheetos Cheese Bite - OriginalOnion RingsWaffle FriesSaucesSweet Asian Chili Traditional WingsTraditional Wings with Cheetos Flamin' Hot Wing SauceClassic Hot Buffalo Boneless WingsBoneless Wings with Cheetos Flamin' Hot Wing SauceOnion RingsWaffle FriesFried Cheetos Cheese Bites - OriginalOtis Spunkmeyer Chocolate Chunk Cookie