QDOBA with Jamelle Bouie

"QDOBA with Jamelle Bouie" is Episode 332 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "QDOBA with Jamelle Bouie" was released on January 13, 2022.

## Synopsis

Jamelle Bouie (*The New York Times*, *Unclear and Present Danger*) joins the 'boys to discuss Disney+ and homemade pies before a review of QDOBA. Plus, a cereal mascot edition of Slop Quiz during Snack or Wack.

## Nick's intro

"*Bay Area residents tend to have peculiar ideas about burritos, which they regard as monstrous things wrapped in tinfoil and filled with what would seem to be the contents of an entire margarita-mill dinner.*"

This was from a 2009 column by the late, great *LA Times* food critic, Jonathan Gold, discussing the bulky, calorically-dense burritos that originated in San Francisco's Mission District. A historically Latino neighborhood that is today thoroughly gentrified by tech assholes, the Mission District birthed the Mission-style Burrito in the 1960s, with two restaurants claiming credit for its conception; Taqueria La Cumbre and El Faro disputing the territory like Pat and Geno's over Philly cheesesteak.

Regardless of its actual inventor, the Mission-style burrito would go national in the 1990s, thanks to two Denver-founded chain restaurants that appropriated the concept of a made-to-order hulking calorie log: Chipotle, founded in 1993, and Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill, founded in 1995 and renamed to its current brand in 1999.

The latter company has lived its lifetime in rival Chipotle's shadow, reflected in its sales, footprint, relevance, and even in its corporate overseers. While McDonald's once owned and later flipped Chipotle, the company formerly known as Zuma was owned and flipped by the less-esteemed Jack in the Box. As of 2018, it is owned by Apollo Global Management, a private equity fund that also owns AMC, Chuck E. Cheese's, Hostess, the University of Phoenix, Yahoo!, and private military contractor Constellis (formerly known as Blackwater). Also, its founder was linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

How's that for a late capitalist dystopia?

But as for the former Zuma, though it will likely always be runner-up to its Denver neighbor, Chipotle, it's still a success story with over 750 locations: another Mile-High Mexican brand built on the back of a borrowed Bay Area burrito.

This week on *Doughboys*, QDOBA.

## Fork rating

	+ Warm Whole Wheat Tortilla
	+ Seasoned Brown Rice
	+ Black Beans
	+ Hand-Crafted Guacamole
	+ Jalapeno Verde Sauce
	+ Salsa Verde
* Plant-Based Impossible Taco
	+ Crispy Corn Tortilla
	+ Hand-Crafted Guacamole
	+ Shredded 3-Cheese Blend
	+ Shredded Romaine Lettuce
	+ Pico de Gallo
* Queso Diablo & Chips
* Chocolate Chunk Cookie
* Impossible Meat Bowl [Natalie's order]
 Mike Mitchell
* Grilled Adobo Chicken Burrito
	+ Warm Flour Tortilla
	+ Cilantro Lime Rice
	+ Half Black and Half Pinto Beans
	+ Shredded 3-Cheese Blend
	+ Sour Cream
	+ Cilantro
	+ Chile Crema
	+ Pico de Gallo
	+ Salsa Verde
* Side of Salsa
* Side of Guacamole
* 3-Cheese Queso & Chips
* Chocolate Brownie
 Jamelle Bouie
* Street Style Pulled Pork Tacos
* (unspecified protein) Bowl
	+ Cilantro Lime Rice
	+ Pinto Beans
	+ Shredded Romaine Lettuce
	+ "other stuff"
	+ Chile Corn Salsa
* 3-Cheese Queso & Chips

## Slop Quiz: Cereal Bowl / Snack or Wack

In an unprecedented blending of segments, there is a Snack or Wack segment happening during the Slop Quiz.

In Slop Quiz, Nick presents a food-related exam (pop quiz) and Mitch and the guest compete for superiority.

For this episode, the theme is cereal mascots. Nick offers a cereal mascot, and they have to guess name the cereal.

Mitch wins this week's Slop Quiz!

In Snack or Wack, the Doughboys try a snack item and decide if it is 'good' or 'bad.'

For this episode, Jamelle had mailed some Virginia Peanuts from Virginia Diner to both Nick and Mitch. There were three flavors: Butter Toasted, Salted, and Honey Roasted. Mitch received his at his door during the episode, so he cracks them open and does a Snack or Wack.

Salted Virginia PeanutsHoney Roasted Virginia PeanutsButter Toasted Peanuts

## The Feedbag

 Mike Mitchell
 Jamelle Bouie

## Photos

Impossible TacoVeggie BurritoImpossible Meat BowlQueso DiabloChocolate Chunk CookieStreet Style Pulled Pork TacosGrilled Adobo Chicken BurritoSides of Salsa and Guacamole3-Cheese Queso