Mendocino Farms with Avital Ash

"Mendocino Farms with Avital Ash" is Episode 313 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Mendocino Farms with Avital Ash" was released on August 12, 2021.

## Synopsis

Avital Ash (*Cake*, *Antisocial Distance*) joins the 'boys to discuss kosher eats and Letterboxd before a review of Mendocino Farms. Plus, a McDonald's edition of Jingle All The Way.

## Nick's intro

Skew's Teriyaki: this long-forgotten micro-chain formed the foundation for one of the emerging powers in fast-casual dining. In 2000, Mario Del Pero, the owner of Skew's, attracted a new investor, Ellen Chen, via a mutual friend, and this attraction would soon become personal as the two dated and later married.

Skew's continued chugging along, growing to three Los Angeles-area locations at its height, but the now doubly-partnered Del Pero and Chen thought their bento-box concept was too niche to become a true hit, and so they conceived a new concept centered on two emerging trends: fast-casual and farm-to-table.

Opening their first store in 2005 in Downtown LA, across the street from a Skew's in the husk of a shuttered Starbucks, their new sandwich shop hit a sweet spot between budget hoagies and artisan deli; later described by *Restaurant Business* writer Jonathan Mays as "an upscale Panera Bread without breakfast."

The eatery was a quick hit with the work-lunch crowd and Skew's was sold off as Del Pero and Chen went all-in on the sandwich shop; though the sandwiches are still meant to be the star, in carb-conscious California, entree-sized salads comprise a quarter of their revenue.

Named after a rural county in Northern California to emphasize the company's connection to local agriculture, the chain doesn't actually have any restaurants in said county, but it does now have about 30 locations in major centers of habitation across the Golden State (and now in the Lone Star State).

And as at least superficially healthy eating continues to grow in popularity, it's likely we'll see further expansion of the empire founded by the husband-and-wife team that brought you Skew's.

This week on *Doughboys*, Mendocino Farms.

## Fork rating

* Iced Tea Rose Lemonade
* Mrs. Goldfarb's Unreal Reuben
* Impossibly Good Impossible Burger
* Thai Watermelon & Cucumber Salad
* Spicy Dijon Potato Salad
* Spicy Curried Couscous
* Chocolate Brownie Cookie
 Mike Mitchell
* Prosciutto & Chicken Sandwich
* Mendo's Crispy Chicken Sandwich
* Summer Street Corn with Chicken Sandwich
* The Bistro Steak Sandwich
* The Modern Caesar 2.0 Salad with Chicken
* Basil Pesto Shells
* Thai Watermelon & Cucumber Salad
* Spicy Dijon Potato Salad
* Chocolate Brownie Cookie
* Chocolate Chip Cookie
 Avital Ash
* "Not So Fried" Chicken Sandwich
* Watermelon "Poke" Salad
* Chocolate Brownie Cookie

**Spoonman's Bite of the Night** went to the Summer Street Corn with Chicken Sandwich.

With these scores, Mendocino Farms joins the Golden Plate Club!

## Jingle All The Whey 🎶

In this segment, Nick plays a fast-food jingle is played and Mitch and the guests guess which year it came out.

The closest guess, without going over, wins that question. If you guess it exactly, you get two points (aka. the Arden Myrin Rule).

The theme for this episode was McDonald's jingles.

Avital is the winner! (Mitch is good at this, though.)

## Quotes

**Mitch**: Usually, the opposite of a *Doughboys* experience.

## The Feedbag

 Mike Mitchell
 Avital Ash
 Emma Erdbrink

## Photos

Spicy Curried CouscousThai Watermelon & Cucumber SaladSpicy Dijon Potato SaladImpossibly Good Impossible BurgerMrs. Goldfarb's Unreal ReubenChocolate Brownie CookieThe Modern Caesar 2.0 Salad with ChickenSpicy Dijon Potato SaladThai Watermelon & Cucumber SaladBasil Pesto ShellsSummer Street Corn with Chicken SandwichThe Bistro Steak SandwichMendo's Crispy Chicken Sandwich"Not So Fried" Chicken SandwichProsciutto & Chicken SandwichThe Modern Caesar 2.0 Salad with Chicken (on a pita)Chocolate Brownie CookieChocolate Chip Cookie