Gray's Papaya with Zach Cherry, Mike Hanford, & Tami Sagher

"Gray's Papaya with Zach Cherry, Mike Hanford, & Tami Sagher (live)" is Episode 404 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Nick Wiger and Mike Mitchell. "Gray's Papaya with Zach Cherry, Mike Hanford, & Tami Sagher (live)" was released on June 29, 2023.

## Synopsis

Zach Cherry, Mike Hanford, and Tami Sagher join the 'boys LIVE in NYC to discuss pizza rat, flavored condoms, and *Shallow Hal* before a review of Gray's Papaya.

*Recorded live at the Palladium Times Square on June 9, 2023.*

## "Classic" Nick's intro

April 19, 1993 was a defining day in the history of TV.

It marked the launch of a new basic-cable channel called the Television Food Network. Viewed through the prism of today's fragmented micro-targeted pop culture landscape, it seems unremarkable, but back in '93, the TV Food Network was mocked and derided as a sign of television's dissent into absurdity.

Originally, its programming was targeted at elite gourmands and presented by hosts like *Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous*' Robin Leach, *Gourmet Magazine* editor David Rosengarten, and Donna Hanover, the then-wife of disgraced and discredited former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

But as the channel evolved, it discovered a recipe for bigger ratings, scoring its first mainstream hit via New Orleans chef Emeril Lagasse, a natural on camera with his outsized personality, running list of catchphrases, and a tendency to punctuate seasoning with an outburst of "BAM!" The new Food Network, having dropped "TV" from its name, started its programming on down-home fare presented by everymen and women, amassing a stable of celebrity chefs, including Bobby Flay, Rachael Ray, and the now-shunned Paula Dean.

Then in 2005, Food Network launched its reality competition show, *The Next Food Network Star*, and its season two winner would transform the channel: a Bay Area chef with bleach-blonde hair styled in Bart Simpson spikes, with the piercings, tattoo sleeves, and flames emblazoned on the shirt of a karaoke DJ - Guy Ferry, who'd legally changed his last name to its Italian spelling, Fieri.

This dead ringer for the singer of Smashmouth smashed the expectations of a chef, the Sammy Hagar of the kitchen, Hulk Hogan in a chef's coat, a Chuggalo.

And he would become not just the next star, but the biggest star in Food Network's history, famous for both tasting and preparing over-the-top American food that often seemed to be conceived on a dare.

Before hitting the airwaves, Fieri had already had two restaurants: Italian-concept Johnny Garlic's and Tex Wasabi's, a barbecue sushi joint (yes, you heard that right!). But his hit shows, led by the travel-focused *Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives*, elevated his profile to expand his empire and franchises on to cruise ships and the Vegas Strip. And in 2012, he opened his flagship restaurant in Times Square.

While embraced by tourists, it's been shunned by elitists, most famously in a scathing New York Times review where critic Pete Wells, the kind of snobbish gourmet who Food Network cast away in favor of regular guys like Guy, described one cocktail as "nuclear waste that tasted like some combination of radiator fluid and formaldehyde." Fieri brushed aside the viral teardown, responding "I'm doing the type of food America loves and I'm doing it the right way."

But is it really the type of food America loves? Is it actually "money"? "Gangsta"? "Off the hook"? Will it truly make one exclaim "Shut the front door!" or "Holy stromboli, Batman!"?

This week on *Doughboys*, we've flown across country and landed in Flavortown, USA. It's Guy's American Grill & Bar.

And this week on Doughboys, live from New York City, Gray's Papaya!

[Classic intro is from this episode. Support the WGA.]

## Fork rating

* Frank (add chili, add cheese)
* Frank with mustard and onion
* Pina Colada Tropical Drink

Frank (add cheese)
Coconut Champagne
 Mike Mitchell
* Frank (add chili, add cheese)
* Frank with onions and sauerkraut
* Frank with ketchup, mustard, relish, onions
* Pineapple Juice

Orange Drink
 Zach Cherry
* a veggie dog he grilled at home
* Papaya Tropical Drink
* Pina Colada Tropical Drink
 Mike Hanford
* Frank (add cheese) with onions
* Frank (add chili) with sauerkraut
* Papaya Tropical Drink
 Tami Sagher
* Papaya Tropical Drink

With these scores, Gray's Papaya joins the Golden Plate Club!

## Let Me Be Frank

Toast bun, don't it look pretty
Suckin' on a dog like you're suckin' on a titty
Pork and beef sausages and long bread
Rollin' on a roller grill, must've been relish

One bite, it's a different world
Swap dog bites with a girl
Munch on, munch on, and chomp all night
Despite the farts, it'll be alright
That taste when the casing has snapped
Later that day, you'll for sure have to nap
As it simmers in the city
Like you're suckin' on a titty*

Frying all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hot dog
Frying all the time
You ain't never been a burger
And you ain't no lunch of mine

They said you a sandwich
Well, that was just a lie
Yea, they said you a sandwich
Well, that was just a lie
You're just a bun around a wiener
So you sure don't qualify*

All the same that cook sausage
Some of those that pork process
You're all the same that cook sausage
Some of those that pork process
All the same that cook sausage
Some of those that pork process
All the same that cook sausage
Yum!
Grilling in the name of!
Grilling in the name of!
Now you chew what they told ya
Now you chew what they told ya
Now you chew what they told ya
Now you chew what they told ya
Now you're dogs on a roll
Now you chew what they told ya
Now you chew what they told ya!
Frank you! I won't do what you tell me
Frank you! I won't do what you tell me
Frank you! I won't do what you tell me
Frank you! I won't do what you tell me
Frank you! I won't do what you tell me
Frank you! I won't do what you tell me
Frank you! I won't do what you tell me
Frank you! I won't do what you tell me
FRANKENFURTERS!*

* Ahh! Ohh!
* In the amazing book, *Moby Frank, Moby Frank* - in the amazing book, *Moby Frank*... Frank! Open the door!
* **Hello, hi. I'm from Chew Live Church. Oh my god, what are you doing?**
* Read this to me!
* **What?**
* Please, just read it!
* **What? What is this?**
* Just read it, read it, read any of it!
* **"In the amazing book, *Moby Frank*, by Herman Melgrill, the author recounts his story of being at lunch. In the first part of his book, the author calling himself Dishmael is in a small seaside cafe and he's sharing a hot dog with a man named Queedog." Why am I reading this?**
* Uhhh! Just read it. Keep reading it!
* **"And I felt saddest of all when I read the boring chapters that were only descriptions of hot dogs because I knew the author was just trying to save us from his old sad meal just for a little while."**
* Now I can die happy. I'm going to heaven!
* **Bye bye, The Dog, I love you.**

In this segment, Mitch searches Google for 'hot dog' (and Nick uses Bing), as they discover the latest news about hot dogs. They then discuss!

First up, Nick finds this article about the health benefits (or otherwise) of hot dogs.

Mitch then turns up a story about Elizabeth Holmes and the food she'll eat in prison (including hot dogs).

Nick has a piece about a hot-dog festival in Fort Worth where they'll have mustard beer.

They close with this article about *Consumer Reports* hot-dog rankings, this one about corn dogs, and one ranking veggie dogs.

## Quotes

**Nick**: You're getting son-cucked!

**Zach**: Love a corn dog.
**Nick**: Hell yeah.
**Zach**: And that settles that.

**Tami**: In a mirror?

## The Feedbag

 Mike Mitchell
* Pepper
 Zach Cherry
 Mike Hanford
 Tami Sagher
* Waffles

 Mike Mitchell
 Zach Cherry
 Tami Sagher

 Mike Mitchell
 Zach Cherry
 Tami Sagher

 Mike Mitchell
 Zach Cherry
 Mike Hanford

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* 404. Gray's Papaya
* 405. Tasty Burger
* DD. Oops! All Segments!
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* DD38. Mash-Off
* DD. Cool, Cool Mountain
* 194. Mouth of the Border: Semifinals 1
* BC6. Dinner Rolls
* 207. Ben & Jerry's
* DD. Xi'an Famous Foods
* 228. White Castle
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* 263. Wendy's (breakfast)
* DD. Mash-Off 3: Rise of the Mashines
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* THON21. Doughathon 2021
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* DD. Mash-Off 4: The Dream Mashter
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* 400. Good Humor
* 404. Gray's Papaya
* 405. Tasty Burger
* DD. BOWL: Toilet Bowl Region
* 403. Ledo Pizza
* 404. Gray's Papaya

## Photos

Zach and his pocket dog at Gray'sLet Him Be FrankFrank (add chili, add cheese) and Frank with mustard and onionsFrank (add chili) with sauerkraut and Frank (add cheese) with onionsGray's bun with sauerkraut and relish, add veggie dog from homeFrank (add cheese) with onionsTropical Drinks