Eataly with Griffin Newman and David Sims

"Eataly with Griffin Newman and David Sims " is Episode 376 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Nick Wiger and Mike Mitchell. "Eataly with Griffin Newman and David Sims" was released on November 17, 2022.

## Synopsis

Griffin Newman and David Sims of *Blank Check* join the 'boys to discuss Disney's *Disenchanted*, being recognized in public, and train encounters before a review of Eataly. Plus, the boys try Pandora Flakes in Cereal: A Segment Told One Bowl at a Time.

## Nick's intro

While Jared Fogle is the affable, living mascot turned reviled pervert pariah of fast food, Mario Batali may be the same for fine dining. A ginger Santa with the balding ponytail of a KIϟϟ roadie, Batali came to fame in the '90s New York dining scene with a series of smash sit-down Italian concepts created with partner Joe Bastianich. Batali’s rapid rise thrust him into the early-Aughts wave of telegenic celebrity chefs alongside Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay, Tom Colicchio, and the late Anthony Bourdain, and the spherical Crocs enthusiast went on to land a Food Network series, a coveted slot as an Iron Chef, and his own lines of food and cookware, slinging sauces and saucepans branded with his likeness.

For many, Batali was the face of Italian-American cuisine, more so than even luminaries like Chef Boyardee, Mama Celeste, and Tony the Pizza Chef. And so, in 2010, when an Italian food hall followed in the footsteps of countless prior Italians and moved to New York City, Batali and Bastianich’s group seemed like a natural fit. The partnership was fruitful at first; the duo’s massive, upscale grocery store/food court was as well-trafficked in the Big Apple as an Apple Store, and in short order the brand expanded nationally.

But in 2017, just as the Los Angeles outlet of the chain was set to open, Batali was hit with a series of egregious sexual-assault allegations that resulted in his near immediate exile from not just the restaurant business, but from public life altogether. Criminal charges and massive settlements followed — nothing new for Batali, who’d once paid five and a quarter million dollars to settle allegations of tip theft from his own wait staff. Today, like Fogel, Batali’s presence has been retconned out of the corporate history of the Italian megamart, and the once A-list chef has been forced to ride his Vespa scooter into oblivion.

And while this thieving, predatory 3D-render of Comic Book Guy caused a marinara stain of shame on the food-hall chain he helped establish with Bastianich, it continues to thrive among moneyed big-city elites.

This week on *Doughboys*… Eataly.

## Fork rating

* Pesce Spada Capperi E Limone
 Mike Mitchell
* Italian Gin and Tonic
* Limoncelli E Digestivi
 Griffin Newman
* Bistecca Di Manzo
* Limoncelli E Digestivi
 David Sims
* Burrata
* Insalata Autunnale Con Farro
* Calamari
* Ravioli Di Zucca
* Casarecce Con Ragù Di Funghi
* Tiramisù Classico
 Nick, Mitch, Griffin shared
* Fiori Di Zucca
* Battuta Di Tonno
* Pizza Con Melanzane E Provola
* Scialatielli Allo Scoglio
* Tagliolini Al Tartufo Blanco
* Delizia De Limone
* Babà Al Taglio
* Torta Caprese
* Tiramisu Al Limoncello

Nick, Mitch, and Griffin went to the Capri restaurant in the Eataly in Los Angeles. David went with a friend to SERRA by Birreria, which is one of the restaurants in the NYC Flatiron Eataly. (Though should be noted, their respective menus are pretty similar, though Capri has more lemony California touches.)

**Spoonman's Bite of the Night** went to the Bistecca Di Manzo.

With these scores, Eataly joins the Golden Plate Club!

## Cereal

In Cereal, the Doughboys try different varieties of cereal, one bowl at a time.

Today with the *Blank Check* podcast, they try the *Avatar*-branded Kellogg's Frosted Flakes called Pandora Flakes.

The four of them seem pretty split on the taste (might be Griffin's favorite cereal ever; David and Mitch didn't like it), but all agree that Tony the Tiger should be blue on the box too.

## The Feedbag

 Mike Mitchell
 Griffin Newman

## Photos

Burrata, Swordfish, Clams and Mussels, Truffle PastaEggplant Pizza, Tuna, Steak, DessertsGriffin NewmanEataly urinal with a lemonDavid and Emma on screen for the record