Hungry Howies with Joe Kwaczala

"Hungry Howie's with Joe Kwaczala" is Episode 417 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Nick Wiger and Mike Mitchell. "Hungry Howie's with Joe Kwaczala" was released on September 28, 2023.

## Synopsis

Joe Kwaczala (*Funny Songs & Sketches*) joins the 'boys to talk Pittsburgh eats, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and pizza before reviewing Hungry Howie's. Plus, another edition of The Wiger Challenge.

## Nick's intro

148 days: that’s the length of the just-concluded WGA strike that ended in massive gains for workers who write movies and TV shows. With SAG-AFTRA still on the picket lines, the hope is that the studios will resume negotiations with the actors’ union and agree to their fair demands for a living wage and workplace protections.

But amidst this Hollywood shut-down due to studio intransigence, another major industry has gone offline because of corporate greed: the auto industry. UAW, a union that traces its beginnings to carriage and wagon workers organizing in the 1890s, is currently on strike against the so-called "Big Three" automakers.

And as massive labor actions have put the brakes on the defining industries of two major American cities — Los Angeles and Detroit — it just so happens that this LA-based podcast is reviewing a Detroit-area pizza chain.

Founded in 1973 in the Detroit suburb of Taylor, Michigan, the restaurant began franchising a decade later, and by the end of the 1980s, had more than 150 locations. With its towheaded, cherubic mascot and trademarked Flavored Crust pizza, this Motor City pie profferer has built a loyal following in the Rust Belt, and today has north of 500 outlets.

So just how does walking the picket line align with standing in the pizza line? Does this hot labor summer affect our affections for hot honey pepperoni? And in this time of union ascendance nationwide, and in the food-service industry in particular, when will pizza-chain workers organize en masse and receive their fair slice of the saucy, cheesy pie?

This week on *Doughboys*… Hungry Howie's Pizza.

## Fork rating

	+ 1/2 Disco Inferno Crust
	+ 1/2 Butter Crust
* 1/2 Veggie, 1/2 Cheese Pizza
	+ Thin Crust
* 3 Cheeser Bread
* Asian Howie Wings (Well Done)
* Buffalo Boneless Wings
* Pumpkin Spice Howie Bread
* Steak, Cheese & Mushroom Sub [Mitch's order]
* Chicken Bacon Ranch Sub [Casey's order]
 Mike Mitchell
 Joe Kwaczala
	+ 1/2 Sesame Crust
	+ 1/2 Ranch Rust
* Classic Cupped Pepperoni Pizza
	+ 1/2 Cajun Crust
	+ 1/2 Butter Cheese Crust
* Chicken Bacon Ranch Sub
* BBQ Howie Wings
* Buffalo Boneless Wings
* Deep Dish Cheese Bread
* Cinnamon Bread
* Howie Cookie
 Becky Feldman

Joe had a party with twelve friends and ordered quite a few items. Nick, Mitch, and crew also made a big shared order. Becky Feldman was also in studio to record a Double on the same day, and also had some Hungry Howie's. She gave her fork score to Nick; her score *was* used in this episode's averages.

**Spoonman's Bite of the Night** went to the Bee Sting Pizza. Nick's favorite item was the Stuffed Howie Bread. Joe says his party liked the Deep Dish Cheese Bread the best.

## The Wiger Challenge

In the Wiger Challenge, Nick presents Mitch and the guest with a mystery beverage and they try to guess what it is. The closest guess is declared the winner.

Today's mystery drink was a Pibb Xtra that Amelia had brought back from Burning Man. Pibb Xtra calls itself a Spicy Cherry Soda, which made deciding today's winner difficult. Nick gives it to Mitch since the soda is not a Diet.

 Joe Kwaczala

## The Feedbag

* *It's Wiger's Place! Chomp Chomp!*
 Mike Mitchell
* *Come on in... come on out... and do it all again!*
* *Eat till ya' sick*
 Joe Kwaczala

## Photos

Bee Sting Pizza1/2 Cheese, 1/2 Veggie PizzaChicken Bacon Ranch SubBuffalo Boneless Wings and Asian Howie WingsPumpkin Spice Bread and 3 Cheeser Bread