Chili's Too with Eva Anderson

"Chili's Too with Eva Anderson" is Episode 200 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Chili's Too with Eva Anderson" was released on April 25, 2019.

## Synopsis

For the 200th episode of *Doughboys*, we're joined by our first ever guest Eva Anderson (*You're The Worst*, *Briarpatch*) to review Chili's Too, a specialized version of the first chain restaurant we reviewed. Plus a TBT segment from the *Doughboys* archives.

## Nick's intro

On August 9, 1974, shortly after noon, Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office to become the 38th President of the United States. Ford had replaced Spiro Agnew as Vice President after Agnew resigned over corruption charges, and would now replace Richard Nixon, who of course resigned over Watergate. The stench of scandal sank trust in government to a nadir, exacerbated by Ford's decision to pardon Nixon just a month later.

But American patriotism would soon see a resurgence, thanks to a coincidence of time - the approach of the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America's Bicentennial.

In April of 1975, the U.S. government kicked off a cross-country journey of a steam locomotive tugging twenty-five cars exhibiting artifacts from Americana, like the original Bill of Rights, Joe Frazier's boxing trunks, and a moonrock. It was named, with characteristic on-the-nose nationalism, The American Freedom Train.

And as the train gradually traversed all 48 contiguous states on through the nation's official 200th birthday the next year, it would make a stop in Dallas, Texas, not far from another American institution that began its journey in 1975: a bar and grill in the shell of a former post office founded by Larry Lavine.

The concept was based on Lavine's love of that Texas tradition, the chili cook-off, although the restaurant's nominal dish would step aside for its real hook, a simplified version of Tex-Mex cuisine. As the restaurant expanded in the '80s, it unveiled its two signature menu items: fajitas served on a sizzling platter that swiveled heads in the dining room, and baby back ribs, later immortalized in an earworm of a jingle sung by boy band, NSYNC.

In the '90s, the chain realized it needed to downsize its sprawling dining rooms and encyclopedic menus to accommodate cozier locales like college campuses and airports. And, so, a sequel of sorts was born - that same restaurant, but smaller, affixed with "Too." Though the "Too" branding has been removed in recent years, these smaller, limited outlets still remain, offering dine-in and to-go fare for hungry students and harried travelers.

And, today, on this podcast's own bicentennial, we return to the very first chain restaurant we ever reviewed... too.

This week on the 200th episode of *Doughboys*: Chili's Too.

## Fork rating

The very first episode of *Doughboys* was a review of of Chili's with Eva Anderson. Nick and Eva gave it 3 forks and Mitch 4. (They say in this episode that they all gave it 3.)

For this 200th episode, The Doughboys took a flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, where they spent many hours in the airport, including a visit to the Chili's Too.

* El Presidente Margarita
* Coffee
* Cup of the Original Chili
* Southern Smokehouse Burger
	+ Steamed Broccoli
 Mike Mitchell
* El Nino Margarita
* Just Bacon Burger
	+ French Fries
 Eva Anderson
* shot of whiskey
* Shrimp Fajitas
 shared
	+ Awesome Blossom Petals
	+ Crispy Cheddar Bites
	+ Big Mouth Bites
* Boneless Wings
* Molten Chocolate Cake

To-Go Window
* Southwestern Eggrolls
* Strawberry Blueberry Parfait To Go

## An Unsatisfied Yelper

In this segment, as he did in the first episode, Nick reads some angry Yelp reviews for different chains, and The Doughboys discuss.

For this episode, all reviews are of the Chili's in the Las Vegas Airport.

On the flight in first class to go pick up my Embraer Phenom 300 jet that was in the service center, they had zero food. Not even peanuts or pretzels. Geez! Wonder why US Air will go bankrupt just like American Airlines recently did.

## Snack or Wack

In Snack or Wack, The Doughboys have a snack and decide if it is 'good' or 'bad.'

To honor the 200th episode, Eva baked some treats and surprised Nick and Mitch with her own Snack or Wack segment. She made both Butterscotch Blondies and Key Lime Bars.

The Doughboys can't be bought and were brutally honest, despite Eva being such a great friend.

 Mike Mitchell

## Lessons Learned from *The Doughboys*

* The forks matter.
* The world is cold.
* Climate keeps changin'.
* Drain your standing water.

## Quotes

**Nick:** Probably. I think we peaked there.

**Nick:** That's right. I knew we were going to eat very heavy for lunch, so I was like, I'll have myself a salad for breakfast. Start the day off right.
**Mitch:** And I think that you poured milk on it.
**Eva:** Do you put milk on salad?
**Mitch:** It's in a bowl with milk on it!

## #hashtags

* #OppositeGoldilocks
* #TasteBest vs. #WasteTest

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