Rockdoughberfest: Rock & Brews with Zoe Jarman

"Rockdoughberfest: Rock & Brews with Zoe Jarman" is Episode 25 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Rockdoughberfest: Rock & Brews with Zoe Jarman" was released on October 29, 2015.

## Synopsis

**Rockdoughberfest 2015** concludes, as writer and actress Zoe Jarman (*Workaholics*, *The Mindy Project*) sits in with the ‘boys to review new-ish chain Rock & Brews, from the cofounders of KISS. And, a Halloween candy edition of Flavor of the Week.

## Nick's intro

In 1972, two members of the band Wicked Lester, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, recruited a drummer named Peter Criss from an ad in a local rag. The next year, after adding guitarist Ace Frehley, the ensemble decided to liven up their act by dawning make-up and costumes and also changing their name to KIϟϟ.

Over the next four decades, KIϟϟ became more of a brand than a band, softening into a nakedly corporate venture with movies, merchandise, video games, rollercoaster rides, and an arena-football team. Then in 2010, an impromptu brainstorming session Simmons and Stanley convened with friend and restaurateur Michael Zislis, as well as Hard Rock Cafe alums Dave and Del Furano, led to them breaking ground on a chain restaurant of their own in El Segundo, California.

Out of character for KIϟϟ, the concept downplays the clown make-up, blood-spitting, and pseudo-Satanic imagery of the touring act, in favor of a casual, laidback pseudo-gastropub feel that follows the guidelines established by its rock-restaurant forbearers. In a 2012 *Rolling Stone* story on the chain's debut, reporter Ian Cohen profiles an expansion-minded Simmons who claims, "we'll have fifty in under two years and my goal is 500 in five years."

Three years since its founding, the chain hasn't met Simmons' wildly optimistic projections or attracted the devoted following of his and Stanley's psycho-circus act. But they do have twelve locations across the continental US, Hawaii, and Mexico and they've become another valuable territory in the KIϟϟ brand's sprawling empire.

This week on *Doughboys*, the conclusion of **Rockdoughberfest 2015**, with Rock & Brews.

## Fork rating

* Garlic Parm Fries
* Pulled Pork Pizza (regular crust)
* Metal Mule [Natalie's order]
* Tequila Sunrise Fire-Grilled Spice-Rubbed Steak Salad [Natalie's order]
 Mike Mitchell
* Buffalo Shrimp
* Garlic Parm Fries
* The Yellow Submarine Sandwich
	+ Pasta Salad
* Strawberry Fields [whoever went with Mitch's order]
 Zoe Jarman
* Buffalo Shrimp
* Red Hot Chili
* IPA [Zoe's husband's order]
* Ultimate Burger [Zoe's husband's order]

In this episode, Mitch also drops his ratings for all of the other three **Rockdoughberfest** restaurants (Cabo Wabo Cantina, Margaritaville, Hard Rock Cafe).

## Flavor of the Week 🎃🍬

In this segment, The Doughboys try different varieties of one brand.

However, in this episode, they focus on Halloween candy, and not any one brand. (It's an early version of Season's Eatings.)

Zoe's ratings are purely on the aesthetic appeal of the candy; she did not sample any because of an "upcoming dentist appointment."

They try Milk Chocolate Marshmallow Pumpkin Peeps, Pumpkin Patch Orange Pop Rocks, White Chocolate Candy Corn M&Ms, and Snickers Pumpkin.

 Mike Mitchell
 Zoe Jarman
 Dustin Marshall

Milk Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Pumpkin PeepsPumpkin Patch Pop RocksSnickers PumpkinWhite Chocolate Candy Corn M&M's

## The Feedbag

* Evan Kleiman (KCRW *Good Food* segment)
* Leonard Maltin
 Mike Mitchell

## Related Episodes

* 23. Margaritaville
* 24. Hard Rock Cafe
* 25. Rock & Brews
* 25. Rock & Brews (Feedbag Question)
* 61. Bob's Big Boy
* AD2. After Dough with Joe 2
* DD. U Talkin' DMB 2 Me? Deep Tracks Only!
* THON21. Doughathon 2021