The Capital Grille with Negin Farsad

"The Capital Grille with Negin Farsad" is Episode 327 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "The Capital Grille with Negin Farsad" was released on November 18, 2021.

## Synopsis

Negin Farsad (*Fake The Nation*) joins the 'boys to discuss Insomnia Cookies and Palm Springs before a review of Capital Grille. Plus, a knockoff brand edition of Slop Quiz.

## Nick's intro

"*Enjoy life, eat out more often.*"

This phrase was emblazoned on the menu for The Green Frog Restaurant, a luncheonette founded in Waycross, Georgia in 1938 by a 19-year old entrepreneur named Bill Darden. Offering "service with a hop" and selling a cryptically-named Swamp Boy Breakfast, The Green Frog was a local hit and notably featured an integrated diner (particularly bold for the era in the American South).

And while The Frog didn't grow beyond a single location, its success enabled Darden to first invest in chain restaurants by opening a network of regional Howard Johnson's and, ultimately, to launch his own: a landlocked seafood house opened in 1968 called The Red Lobster Inn. The brand name was simplified, Facebook-style, and Red Lobster became such a sensation that it was purchased by processed-food megalith General Mills within a decade, with Bill Darden still managing the brand. The Darden-stewarded restaurant subsidiary opened The Olive Garden in 1982, doing for Italian fare what Red Lobster did for seafood, and both brands grew nationally and internationally up through Darden's death in 1994. But Darden Restaurants outlived the man himself, spawning other brands such as LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, and Yard House.

And in recent years, Darden has outgrown its more casual roots and graduated into the high-roller, white-tablecloth, fine-dining sector, acquiring and replicating an upscale Austin seafood restaurant called Eddie V's, as well as a steakhouse first opened in 1990 in Providence, Rhode Island. Intended as a revitalization project for the city's depressed downtown, the chop shop was a hit with well-heeled Rhode Islanders, featuring dry aged steaks and the obligatory extensive wine list.

After Darden's acquisition, the concept went national, attempting to "meat compete" with sector stalwarts like Morton's and Ruth's Chris, and while it doesn't yet have the market or mind share of those historic brands, with twenty-eight Eddie V's Prime Seafood outlets and sixty-two locations of the Providence-founded steakhouse, it's fair to call Darden's dalliance with fine dining a success.

And as a business lunch for high-powered finance types, and a special occasion dinner for the rest of us, though it couldn't be more different than The Green Frog, Darden's company's fine-dining steakhouse compels you to "enjoy life, eat out more often."

This week on *Doughboys*, The Capital Grille.

## Fork rating

* Decaf Coffee
* Field Greens Salad
* Seared Sesame Tofu
* Au Gratin Potatoes
* Coconut Cream Pie
* Caesar Salad [David's order]
* Dry Aged NY Strip au Poivre with Courvoisier Cream 14 oz [David's order]
 Mike Mitchell
* Black Tie Margarita
* Field Greens Salad
* Pan-Fried Calamari with Hot Cherry Peppers
* Nueske's Cherrywood Double Cut Smoked Bacon with Tomato Jam
* Porcini Rubbed Bone-In Ribeye with 15-Year Aged Balsamic
* Parmesan Truffle Fries
* Sam's Mashed Potatoes
* Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream
* Blackberry Bourbon Sidecar [Mrs. Mitchell's order]
* Double Oaked & Rye Manhattan [Mrs. Mitchell's order]
* Dry Aged NY Strip au Poivre with Courvoisier Cream 14 oz [Mrs. Mitchell's order]
 Negin Farsad
* Porcini Rubbed Bone-In Ribeye with 15-Year Aged Balsamic
* Sliced Filet Mignon with Cipollini Onions, Wild Mushrooms and Fig Essence
* Lobster Bisque
* Lobster Mac 'N' Cheese
* Creamed Spinach
* Soy Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
* Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake

Nick went to The Capital Grille in downtown LA with past guest, David Phillips (who gave it 4.1 forks; his score was used in final averages), and Mitch went to the same location with Mrs. Mitchell. Negin went to the location at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan.

With these scores, The Capital Grille joins the Golden Plate Club.

## Slop Quiz: Knock It Off

In this segment, Nick has a food-related exam (pop quiz) and Mitch and the guest compete for superiority.

For this episode, the category was knock-off brands.

Nick offers a knock-off brand name, and they have to guess which more famous item it is trying to be.

Negin Farsad wins this week's Slop Quiz!

## Quotes

**Nick and Mitch**: WOW!
**Negin**: Only on this podcast would anyone be impressed by that.

**Nick**: Mitch just picked up his mom.

## The Feedbag

chile relleno
 Mike Mitchell
Oreo
 Negin Farsad
stuffed turkey

## Photos

bread basketbutterField Greens SaladCaesar SaladDry Aged NY Strip au PoivreCourvoisier CreamAu Gratin PotatoesSeared Sesame TofuCoconut Cream PIeDecaf Coffeebread basketbutterField Greens SaladPan-Fried Calamari with Hot Cherry PeppersBelvedere Single Estate MuleBlackberry Bourbon SidecarBlack Tie MargaritaDouble Oaked & Rye ManhattanPorcini Rubbed Bone-In Ribeye with 15-Year Aged BalsamicDry Aged NY Strip au PoivreNueske's Cherrywood Double Cut Smoked Bacon with Tomato JamCourvosier CreamParmesan Truffle FriesSam's Mashed PotatoesChocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream