IKEA with Dave Thomason

"IKEA with Dave Thomason" is Episode 105 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "IKEA with Dave Thomason" was released on May 25, 2017.

## Synopsis

Comedian and *@midnight* writer Dave Thomason joins the Doughboys and breaks his vegan diet to sample the food of Swedish furniture megastore IKEA. Do Dave, Mitch, and Wiger respond favorably to its ultra budget friendly Nordic delights? Plus, the most competitive Pie in This Guy yet, and a truly harrowing email from the Feedbag.

## Nick's intro

"The White Death": that was the nickname the Red Army gave to Finnish sniper Simo Häyhä, who, with 259 confirmed kills against the Soviets, remains the deadliest marksman in military history. During the Winter War of 1939 through '40, Häyhä, standing at just 5'3", was an expert at keeping his position concealed, reportedly holding snow in his mouth to hide his breath.

As World War II spread, Finland would also fight the Continuation War of 1941 through '44 against the Soviets, receiving material support from Nazi Germany during the conflict. This spoke to the confounding alliances of the Nordic States during the Second World War, as Denmark and Norway would be occupied by the Axis, while Iceland and Greenland belonged to the Allies, and Finland's neighbor remained neutral: Sweden, whose complex internal politics made it both a sanctuary for fleeing Jewish refugees and a harbor for a homegrown fascist movement.

One of those Swedish fascists was a teenager named Ingvar Kamprad, an active member of far-right leader Per Engdahl's New Swedish Movement. Contemporaneous with the War and his fascist involvement, a 17-year old Kamprad used the financial gift from his parents to open a business, first selling staple goods and expanding after the War to offer what would build his empire, furniture. Over the decades, Kamprad expanded worldwide, constructing an array of budget-friendly home-furnishing stores with theme-park interiors in both size and aesthetic, become one of the world's richest men in the process.

While Kamprad has publicly disavowed his past fascist affiliation, his right-wing politics remain obvious in his business' labyrinthine corporate structure specifically designed to evade taxes, and oddly paralleling the maze-like floorplans of his stores.

And at the end of the stores' winding paths of furniture?

A dining area which serves Swedish favorites, as well as local fare attuned to the taste of its market, at stunningly cheap prices.

But does the food of this furniture megalith stand on its own merits? Or does it collapse like a clumsily assembled Bromf\* bookshelf?

This week on *Doughboys*: IKEA.

(*\*I searched but was unable to locate an IKEA product called 'Bromf'. -ed.*)

## Fork rating

* Swedish Apple Cake
* Short Ribs
	+ Mashed Potatoes
	+ Green Beans
* Swedish Meatballs
* Salad w/ Caesar dressing
* Nordic Raspberry Water
* slice of Cheese Pizza
 Mike Mitchell
* Marinated Salmon Wrap
* Nordic Raspberry Water
* slice of Cheese Pizza
 Dave Thomason
* Chocolate Conspiracy Cake
* Swedish Meatballs w/ gravy
	+ Mashed Potatoes
	+ Green Beans
	+ Mac & Cheese
* Nordic Lemon Water
* two Hot Dogs

They did all seem to sample each other's dishes. First meals listed are from the IKEA Restaurant; second meals were from the Bistro, IKEA's snack bar.

## Pie In This Guy 🥧

This segment is when Nick presents a mystery pie and a series of clues, and Mitch and the guest try to guess the flavor. To aid their guess they are allowed to phone a friend or smell the pie without seeing it.

Today's mystery pie was a peanut butter cup pie.

## Quotes

**Mitch**: When we walk down the street, seagulls do fly around our heads.

## #hashtags

* #PlainJane vs. #PutOnACondiment (for how you like your hot dogs)
* #TheGreatCouchSearch
* #SpoonmanBackToSchool

## The Feedbag

A good friend of mine had a late '80s or early '90s Escort when we were in high school. We always gave him a hard time about it and he was always a good sport. One night, we were at a friend's house and five of us tried to lift his car. We were able to not only turn it around, but carry it into the front yard at the house. The car is actually pretty light. We were all more on the *Doughboys* spectrum than the *Dumbbells* spectrum.
Depressing fact: six months later, he drove under a school bus and was decapitated in that car.
Anyway, go #BurgerBrigade.

## Restaurants

 Ike's Sandwiches | -
 Fat Sal's | -
 Taste Chicago
 Jon & Vinny's
 Bake n Broil

## Plugs and Themes

 Soundgarden "Spoonman"
 Warrant "Cherry Pie"

## Photos (via @doughboyspod)

Swedish Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes, Green BeansMarinated Salmon WrapShort Ribs with Mashed Potatoes, Green BeansMac & Cheese, Chocolate Conspiracy Cakeslice of Cheese PizzaSwedish Apple Cake and Swedish MeatballsSaladDrycks (Lingonberry and Pear)