Honeybee Burger with Mort Burke

"Honeybee Burger with Mort Burke" is Episode 392 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Nick Wiger and Mike Mitchell. "Honeybee Burger with Mort Burke" was released on April 6, 2023.

## Synopsis

Mort Burke aka Fork Burp (*Mythic Quest, Drunk History, Spiritually Filthy*) joins the 'boys to talk St. Louis eats, late-night munchies, and 80s pop culture before a review of Honeybee Burger. Plus, another edition of Food Court.

## Nick's intro

Jerry Seinfeld’s eponymous sitcom is considered by many critics the apex of its form: the *Sopranos* of multi-cams. So in 2007, a decade after the series finale, when Seinfeld finally returned to narrative comedy, many were surprised his chosen project was to co-write and star in an animated film about a bee.

*Bee Movie* — a pun as sweet as sweet, sweet honey — told the story of Barry B. Benson, a litigious bee who dreams of fucking a human lady. In a 2007 interview with *Rotten Tomatoes*, Seinfeld answered the question everyone was asking, “why?” simply with, quote, “I just wanted to do something different.” Upon release, *Bee Movie* proved a mild hit, though far from the pop-culture sensation of its Dreamworks Animation stablemate, *Shrek*; let alone the sitcom Seinfeld. But it did provide another data point in our shifting cultural relationship with that black and yellow insect we love — and love to hate — the bee.

For much of history, mankind has loathed its fearsome stinger, while coveting its precious honey. But as climate change and growing waves of extinction pulled our delicate ecosystem into focus, the centrality of bees in pollination transformed their public image. And it was this noble, selfless, hunted and exploited bee, whose hives must be preserved for life to sustain on earth, that inspired both *Bee Movie* and a vegan burger concept founded in 2019 by Wall Street financier turned animal-rights advocate Adam Weiss, who named his fledgling restaurant chain after the winged wasp relative. As quoted in a *Fast Casual* profile by Pat Shea, Weiss said, quote, “I can't help but appreciate their importance as pollinators and how they naturally go about their business helping crops grow and beautifying our planet.” And like Seinfeld, Weiss’s pro-bee advocacy is couched in humor, with cheeky marketing and menu names meant to provide an opening to vegan-curious omnivores.

Today, Seinfeld is reuniting with his fellow *Bee Movie* screenwriters Spike Feresten and Barry Marder for the upcoming Netflix film *Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story*. And as for Weiss’s plant-based burger chain, with a popular location in Los Angeles and a sister store soon to open in the Big Apple, this emerging player is creating its share… of buzz.

This week on *Doughboys*… Honeybee Burger.

## Mort rating

* Classic Frots
* Sweet Potato Frots
* Side of Mac n' Cheese
* The Blossom Shake
 Mike Mitchell
* The Queen Bee
* The Chick-a-Bee - Buffalo Style
* Classic Frots
* Side of Mac n' Cheese
* The Choco Bee Shake
 Fork Burp
* Classic Frots
* Hash Browns

Nick ordered Honeybee with Matt Apodaca, who gave it 3.5 forks. His score was not canon, though, and Honeybee joined the Golden Plate Club!

[To note, as both Nick and Mitch feared, the same week this episode dropped, Honeybee Burger announced it was closing their concept for the time being. -ed.]

## Food Court 👨‍⚖️

Food Court consists of Nick Wiger acting as presiding judge over a series of food-related debates. In the past, if Mitch and the guest disagree in the debate, Nick cast the deciding vote; but now, they are acting as a three-way tribunal to make a decision.

## Favorite Things

 Mike Mitchell
 Mort Burke

## Quotes

**Nick**: It's a maple tree's leaf. You know maple syrup? That comes from trees and those trees have leaves.
**Mort**: You know what a tree is?

## The Feedbag

 Mike Mitchell

## Photos

The Queen BeeThe Chick-a-Bee - Buffalo StyleClassic FrotsSide of Mac n' CheeseThe Choco Bee ShakeDiet Coke