Topical Freeze: Tina's Burritos with Jamelle Bouie

"Topical Freeze: Tina's Burritos with Jamelle Bouie" is Episode 251 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Topical Freeze: Tina's Burritos with Jamelle Bouie" was released on May 14, 2020.

## Synopsis

As **Topical Freeze** continues, writer Jamelle Bouie (*The New York Times*, *CBS News*) returns to the pod for a locked down evaluation of the #1 frozen burrito brand, Tina's Burritos. The crew get salty about Pop-Tarts in a new edition of Cereal.

## Nick's intro

Like Oliver Evans, the inventor of the refrigerator, or Percy Spencer, the inventor of the microwave, you probably don't know the name of Clarence Birdseye. But the taxidermist by trade with an ornithological/optical-orifice for a name is another man whose kitchen innovation forever changed the way people eat.

After a stint working for the United States Department of Agriculture, Birdseye was transferred to Labrador, a frigid half-province of Canada, and while stationed there, an Inuit native to the region taught him the process of freezing fish at sub-zero temperatures under massive blocks of ice. Birdseye noticed the rapid chill technique, as opposed to the slower process in use in the States, led to fewer and smaller ice crystals which less muted the fish's flavor upon reheating.

So in the 1920s, Birdseye shifted careers to the kitchen, using Inuit cultural knowledge as an inspiration for a scalable technology he called his quick-freeze machine, and the process became known commonly as flash-freezing.

Flash-freezing gradually became industry standard for its ability to preserve a fresh taste in a frozen product - at first, vegetables, then meats, and, in time, fully prepared meals for home reheating.

In the 1980s, as flash-frozen food had become as American as McDonald's Apple Pie, and as domestic demands for Mexican food grew in the States, a frozen-burrito company opened in Los Angeles, making their own tortillas in house before filling them with starch and protein and flash-freezing the assembled wrap.

Today, as sales have reportedly made it the #1 brand in the "Brrr-ito" sector, you'll find this budget-friendly Angeleno original in your grocer's freezer aisle, not far from a brand of frozen vegetables called, in honor of the inventor of the quick-freeze machine, Birdseye.

This week on *Doughboys*, our month of frozen-food reviews, *Doughboys* **Topical Freeze** continues with Tina's Burritos.

## Fork rating

* Beef & Bean
* Beef & Bean/Green Chili
* Red Hot Beef
* Beef & Bean Chimichanga
* Tina'a Cantina Egg, Bacon & Cheddar Cheese
* Tina's Chimi Steak & Cheddar Cheese
 Mike Mitchell
* Beef & Bean/Green Chili
* Red Hot Beef
* Beef & Bean Chimichanga
* Beef & Bean Sriracha
 Jamelle Bouie
* Bean & Cheese
* Red Hot Beef

**Spoonman's Bite of the Night** goes the Beef & Been Burrito. Mitch also gives Tina's a **Late Night Bite Award** for being fun to eat late at night.

## Cereal / Snack or Wack

In Cereal, The Doughboys try different varieties of cereal, one bowl at a time. In Snack or Wack, The Doughboys have a snack and decide if it is 'good' or 'bad.'

However, in this episode, they have, not a cereal, but two new flavors of Pop-Tarts: Pretzel Chocolate and Pretzel Cinnamon Sugar. Nick was able to try both flavors, Jamelle just had the Cinnamon Sugar. They rate them Snack or Wack.

Nick was confused by them, preferring the Chocolate, but not liking either. Jamelle did not think they were pretzel-y enough.

(Mitch was not able to try find these, but he would make up for it and try them during this episode. He liked them and considered them a Snack.)

 Jamelle Bouie

## Spoonman's Treat or Skeet

In Snack or Wack, The Doughboys have a snack and decide if it is 'good' or 'bad.' During the pandemic lockdown, Mitch would do a solo version he called Treat or Skeet.

Since Mitch was not able to locate the Pretzel Pop-Tarts, he got his own snack: a Salty & Sweet Snickers.

Mitch wanted it to be saltier, but generally seemed to enjoy the candy bar. He called it a Snack, but notes it is not better than a regular Snickers.

## Quotes

**Mitch**: That's not right! An old lady, when she puts a pie on a windowsill, she should live in fear that it's gonna get snatched. That's what I think!

## The Feedbag

I am concerned about other things he doesn't know. What can I do to help him to learn very basic food facts?

## Related Episodes

* 251. **Tina's Burritos**
* 252. Ore-ida
* 253. Marie Callendar's Meals
* 251. **Tina's Burritos**
* 280. Domino's 2
* 332. QDOBA
* DD. Cereal
* 403. Ledo Pizza

## Photos (via @doughboyspod)

Tina's BurritosTina's BurritosBeef & Bean ChimichangaEgg, Bacon & Cheddar Cheese Breakfast BurritoRed Hot Beef BurritoBean & Cheese Burrito