Guy Fieri's Flavortown Kitchen with Eva Anderson

"Guy Fieri's Flavortown Kitchen with Eva Anderson" is Episode 300 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Guy Fieri's Flavortown Kitchen with Eva Anderson" was released on May 13, 2021.

## Synopsis

Our first ever guest Eva Anderson (*Briarpatch*, *Dispatches From Elsewhere*) joins the 'boys for their 300th episode and reviews Guy Fieri's Flavortown Kitchen. Plus, the return of Unsatisfied Yelper.

## Nick's intro

"*I kind of feel like Happy Gilmore. He's a hockey player that plays golf. I'm a cook that also does TV.*"

This was celebrity chef Guy Fieri, as quoted by *CBS News* earlier this year. The pierced, tatted, goateed, bleach blonde, West Coast native who prepares self-described "off the hook" California cuisine indeed has kitchen bonafides, operating crowd-pleaser NorCal hot spots, Tex Wasabi's and Johnny Garlic's, en route to winning season 2 of *The Next Food Network Star* and skyrocketing to fame.

Like *Happy Gilmore*'s Adam Sandler, Fieri has come to be beloved by the masses and mocked by elites, though the media-savvy chef has smartly leaned into his own gimmick. Fieri hosts an array of Food Network series, most notably the cable channel's crown jewel, *Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives*, where the host cruises into a beloved local eatery and chops it up with the front and back of the house before leaving a literal mark on the place: a stenciled "Guy Ate Here" logo on the eatery's walls. As a 2016 *Thrillist* article notes, restaurants profiled on "*Triple D*" subsequently benefit from a permanent 200% increase in business.

Fieri's dedication to the restaurant industry's working class extends beyond merely platforming them on cable. A charitable man, as the COVID pandemic shuttered eateries nationwide, Fieri partnered with the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund and raised $21.5 million; largely directly distributed to furloughed restaurant workers as $500 grants.

But as the brick-and-mortar restaurant industry continues to struggle, Fieri's own empire is evolving, opening a ghost kitchen concept in 23 states in February of 2021. The menu sees the rock-star chef playing his hits, featuring Fieri fare like his Mac N Cheese Burger, formerly outrageous, and now chainstream.

And so as Guy's media and charity support brick-and-mortar restaurant workers, by giving his name and likeness to a ghost kitchen, he may simultaneously usher in a new era of food service, as Adam Sandler's Netflix deal did for cinema.

This week on the 300th episode of *Doughboys*, Guy Fieri's Flavortown Kitchen.

## Fork rating

Not the same chain, but the Doughboys did review Guy Fieri's American Kitchen in New York City back in 2017. They didn't love it, as Nick rated it 2 forks and Mitch 2.5. (They've also taken a look at Guy's TV show.)

* Flavortown Fries
* Fried Pickles
* Mac Daddy Mac N Cheese
* Cheesecake Challenge
* Buffalo Wings [Natalie's order]
* Real Cheezy Burger [Natalie's order]
 Mike Mitchell
* The Crazy Cuban Sandwich
* Bacon Mac N Cheese Burger
* Italian Stallion Salad
* Jalapeño Pig Poppers
* S-M-Cheesesteak Egg Rolls
* Flavortown Fries
* Fried Pickles & Ranch
* Choco Whiskey Cheesecake
 Eva Anderson
* Queso Dip with Tortillas
* Flavortown Fries
* Cheesecake Challenge

**Spoonman's Bite of the Night** went to the Choco Whiskey Cheesecake (which is not cheesecake, just cake).

## Unsatisfied Yelper

As they like to do on special episodes, Nick finds some angry Yelp reviews to read out loud.

Today, Nick pulls up some one-star reviews of the Guy Fieri's Kitchen at the Burbank Airport.

For this episode, Eva and Mitch rate each review as Useful, Funny, or Cool.

## Quotes

**Nick**: What are we gonna do? I'm gonna drive you around and show you things?
**Mitch**: Yea!
**Eva**: "That's where I got my first pube."

**Nick**: I also took the Cheesecake Challenge. I failed and bailed.
**Mitch**: Everyone failed and bailed?!

## The Feedbag

When she was describing the Dutch restaurant FEBO which features croquettes behind little doors, Nick remarked that a chain so inhuman should have made its way to America by now.
In fact, it has already come and gone with a restaurant called The Automat. When it opened its doors in 1912, the New York City Automat was a sensation with diners lining up to buy slices of pie and other pre-made meals out of little glass doors. The Automat was also known as one of the cheapest dining options in town.
In 1960, famously stingy comedian Jack Benny threw a party for the New York elite at The Automat as a publicity stunt. He handed out rolls of nickels and told his guests to 'have a good time'.
As America's focus shifted to fast food, The Automats gradually shut down, the last one closing in 1991. Most of the New York locations were converted to Burger Kings, but oh what a remarkable moment in fast food history!
Lovin' the show!
Your pal, Eva

Honestly, I was touched that she trusted me enough to do that in front of me.
Have you ever had to ask someone not to watch or judge what you are about to do to your meal? What are your food behaviors so shameful you have to preface them with a warning?

## Photos

Mac Daddy Mac N CheeseBuffalo WingsMorgan's Veggie BurgerFlavortown FriesFried PicklesS-M-Cheesesteak Egg RollsCheesecake ChallengeJalapeño Pig PoppersThe Crazy Cuban Sandwich and Potato SticksPickled Fries and RanchBacon Mac N Cheese BurgerItalian Stallion SaladThe Crazy Cuban SandwichChoco Whiskey Cheesecake