Rockdoughberfest: Margaritaville with Mike Carlson

"Rockdoughberfest: Margaritaville with Mike Carlson" is Episode 23 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Rockdoughberfest: Margaritaville with Mike Carlson" was released on October 15, 2015.

## Synopsis

The Doughboys sit down with actor and Jimmy Buffett superfan Mike Carlson (*Conan*, UCB) to discuss the rocker’s flagship restaurant, Margaritaville. And, a new edition of Drank or Stank.

## Nick's intro

Big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer*

So goes an excerpt from "Cheeseburger In Paradise," one of many songs fixated on food and drink by Jimmy Buffett. It's a running theme throughout the catalog of island-inspired country-rock he calls Gulf & Western, and which he expanded into the beginnings of an empire with the opening of his first retail store and restaurant in Key West, Florida, in 1985.

Call him a 'branding innovator,' call him a 'shameless self-promoter.' Either way, Buffett, already a successful recording and touring artist at the time, built a $100 million-a-year business out of his adopted beach lifestyle. His holdings are so vast that he has not one, but three different restaurant chains, in addition to selling retail versions of its spirits, frozen foods, and beer.

And it's not all just deep-fried appetizers and sugary cocktails, he's also just one of just eight authors to have *New York Times* #1 bestsellers on both the fiction and non-fiction lists - a group that includes Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, and Dr. Seuss.

But his largest, most profitable venture, the one that most defines Buffett's personal brand is the tequila-soaked chain of destination restaurants, some with attached co-branded hotels and casinos, which attract his legions of sun-scorched fans who self-identify as Parrotheads.

This week on *Doughboys*, we're wastin' away again in Margaritaville.

## Fork rating

* Bahama Mama
* Signature Fish Sandwich
* Mixed Green Salad
 Mike Mitchell
* 5 O'Clock Somewhere
* Cheeseburger In Paradise
* French Fries
 Mike Carlson
* Key West Chicken Quesadilla

Orlando visit
* Last Mango In Paris
* Cheeseburger In Paradise
 Nick and Mitch shared

* + Mitch lowered his score from 3.5 to 3 forks during the following Hard Rock Cafe episode, and then lowered again to 2.5 forks during the Rock & Brews episode.*.*
* *\*\* Mike Carlson visited both the Orlando and Las Vegas Margaritaville locations. He gave the Orlando location 4.5 forks and the Vegas location 3 forks and chose to "average" the experience out at 4 forks.*
* *Also in this episode, Mitch drops his Cabo Wabo Cantina score from 3.5 to 3 forks.*

## Drank or Stank

In Drank or Stank, the Doughboys try a beverage and rate it either 'Drank' or 'Stank.'

For this episode, they have the Cold Stone Creamery Chocolate Fudge Brownie Milk Shaker.

Print on the bottle states: "*Made with the finest high-quality ingredients Cold Stone Creamery Milk Shakers are packed in convenient on-the-go bottles. Simply chill and shake to enjoy the rich decadent flavors of Cold Stone Creamery. Shake things up and indulge yourself.*" Wiger notes that this information is "not particularly illuminating."

Mitch notes that the beverage smells like a Slimfast shake. They say it is way too rich and compare it to drinking melted ice cream.

 Mike Mitchell
 Mike Carlson

## #hashtags

* #TwerpOrNotTwerp
* #ThisOneGoesOutToTheOneILove + #Feedbag

## The Feedbag

For example, everything at Little Caesar's is hot garbage except the deep dish pepperoni pizza which I could eat for every meal. Keep up the good work! Spoon Nation versus everybody!

 Mike Mitchell
 Mike Carlson

## Related Episodes

* 23. Margaritaville
* 24. Hard Rock Cafe
* 25. Rock & Brews
* DD1. Chicken Fight: Fat Chance Kitchen 1
* DD. TakeOver: Chicago
* DD. Or Nothing
* DD. A Muppets (And Doughboys) Family Christmas
* 373. Blue Bayou
* DD. All Elite Podcasting: Tuesday Night Dynabite