Buca di Beppo with Drew McWeeny

"Buca di Beppo with Drew McWeeny" is Episode 84 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Buca di Beppo with Drew McWeeny" was released on January 12, 2017.

## Synopsis

Film writer Drew McWeeny from *80s All Over* and formerly of *HitFix* and *Ain't It Cool News* joins the 'boys for a family style taste of Italian chain Buca di Beppo. The 'boys discuss movie snacks and food films. Plus, a special listener submission of The Wiger Challenge.

[*Note: this episode is part of The Spoonister Six, for which Mitch booked all the guests.* -ed.]

## Nick's intro

Joe's Basement: No, it's not the unreleased sequel to *Joe's Apartment*, the 1996 Jerry O'Connell cockroach/buddy comedy. It's the rough English translation of the name of one of the biggest Italian-American restaurant chains, which began in the basement of an apartment building in Minneapolis in 1993.

While predecessor and competitor, The Olive Garden, states in their slogan "when you're here, you're family," this eatery makes family part of their core business concept, serving its dishes in giant communal portions intended for sharing.

Italian-American food has a long-standing relationship with Italian-American cinema. In Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci's *Big Night*, Italian food is itself a character. Films *The Godfather*, *Lady and the Tramp*, *The Freshman*, and *Spaceballs* include Italian food in memorable sequences.

Recently, the original prestige TV series, David Chase's *The Sopranos*, featured the obsessive eating of mobster Tony Soprano, the virtuosic home-cookery of neglected housewife Carmela Soprano, and the on-going travails of tortured beta-male chef, Artie Bucco, whose restaurant Vesuvio was repeatedly exploited by its mafia clientele. The show even included, as a cast member, the real-life owner of Italian restaurant Rao's, Frank Pellegrino, who played FBI chief Frank Cubitoso.

And of course, there's *Goodfellas*, Martin Scorsese's 1990 mob movie where mafiosos refuse to pay huge restaurant tabs, prepare gourmet dishes in prison, and stop off between a murder and a corpse disposal for a home-cooked Italian meal. The film also includes a brutal scene in which, after a minor insult during a poker game, Joe Pesci's Tommy angrily guns down the teenaged Spider, played by a young Michael Imperioli - later, Christopher on *The Sopranos*. The poker scenes take place in a basement.

Today, the second most notable lower level into an Italian-American culture, Joe's Basement, the basement of Giuseppe, nickname Beppo.

This week on *Doughboys*: Buca di Beppo.

## Fork rating

 Mike Mitchell
 Drew McWeeny
 shared
* Spicy Chicken Rigatoni (Nero style)
* Pizza Bianca
* Italian Broccoli Romano
* Italian Creme Cake

## The Wiger Challenge

In The Wiger Challenge, Nick presents Mitch and the guest with a mystery drink and they guess the brand and flavor. The winner is the one who comes closest.

For this episode, though, the drink was submitted by a listener named Mitch, in a McDonald's bag with the words 'mystery drink' written on it. Both Mitch and Drew noted the bubble-gum scent, and its strange cherry-medicine taste. Nick clues them that it does not 'need refrigeration.'

The mystery drink was Genuine Faygo Rock & Rye Cream Soda, for which Faygo won't share what the flavor is exactly ("A dreamy vanilla cream soda with just a kick of something that may or not be cherry. We're not at liberty to disclose the ingredients actually" is the description on their website).

## Favorite Films of 2016

The Doughboys briefly discuss some of their favorite movies of 2016. Nick doesn't say his favorites.

Drew also mentions *20th Century Women*. Mitch also mentions *Midnight Special*.

Nick also asks for favorite food movies. Drew says *Big Night*, *Tampopo*, and *Chef*. Nick likes *Ratatouille,* while Mitch mentions *Spaceballs* and *GoodFellas.*

## Quotes

**Nick**: ...in our last moments, hand over hand, holding each other on the beach as a raptor charges. We see a big flash of white. It's possible.

## #hashtags

* #KetchUpYours
* #DownUnderEatings
* #HeatSeeker

## The Feedbag

I've found that when I go through a heartbreak, I have no appetite, which is strange because normally I turn to food as a comfort kind of thing when I'm sad.
My question for you guys is, then, when you go through something like this, do you lose your appetite or turn to food as a form of escapism?

 Mike Mitchell
 Drew McWeeny

## Restaurants

 Buca di Beppo
 Miceli's

## Drops and Themes

 Patrick Page "A Freak Like Me Needs Company"

## Related Episodes

* 84. Buca di Beppo
* DD44. *The Last Jedi*
* DD. *The Social Network*
* 84. Buca di Beppo
* DD3. Chicken Fight: Fat Chance Kitchen 3
* 100. Nugget Power Hour
* 142. Ike's
* DD. Hero's Journey: Sub-Optimal: Fat Chance Kitchen

## Photos (via @doughboyspod)

Mini MeatballsSpicy Chicken RigatoniPizza BiancoItalian Creme Cake