Opening The Benjamin Hollywood

Ben Hundreds and Kate Burr join Jordan and Max to discuss opening their first restaurant, where the cocktail and burger game is already the talk of the town. Plus, Jordan wants to recreate Rodney Dangerfield's appetizer sandwich with The Benjamin's menu, Max gets angry, Kate and Ben talk the steps it took to open, those chips, that whipped cream, Ben's soundtrack, lessons learned, fried capers, and the dream team that came together on Melrose and Formosa.

A tasting menu of 14 courses straight out of the Oxalis Palace and the mind of Bubbles Shapiro are experienced by a jury of his peers to decide for the final time if Max can actually cook. Ben Hundreds joins Jordan to review the night that started with an aged welcome drink, leading the fellas into buttery broth talk, the perfect potato dish, olive and prawn appreciation, a journey of seafood, the nods to Gjelina, Saison, and Kato, lots of butter, a ballsy chicken dish, absolutely no bread, a nine-year-old sauce, some insane ice cream moves, lots of Saint James Iced Tea love, and an epilogue you may want to miss. Plus, the episode opens with Father's Day chubby tales of a Persian buffet, the movie theater surpise bite, and two Din Tai Fung discoveries.

Jordan returned to Pizzeria Mozza for the first time in forever to figure out why it's not as popular as it once was, and it was all hot hunks of olive oil dripping bread, Max having thoughts on Nancy’s chopped, those meatballs, a truffle cheese vs. truffle oil discussion, the welcomed proteins, Jordan attempts to learn Italian, the only miss of the night, and no notes for Nance on the new dessert. Plus, Chace Crawford could have really done Max a solid, the VH1 days and possible future, Father's Day plans, and a first look inside The Benjamin, where the fellas talk the pains of opening a restaurant by highlighting a killer dish coming to you soon.

Jordan and Max answer audience submitted questions ranging from crushed vs. rock ice, all sorts of prime rib all over the country, how much Bubbles is really drinking, a curation of old Air Jordan episodes, The World's 50 Best Restaurants, deep dish pizza, and a recent Kato review. Plus, the worst pasta shape, Summer sushi fish, worst bites at Max's favorite restaurants, more taco crawl talk, Mario Carbone's restaurant dress code opinion, and the fellas are going to figure out how to eat some contraband.

Food writer Bill Esparza joins Jordan and Max to review their recent voyage across Los Angeles and beyond, exploring (possibly too) many great tacos across the city. There was lots of lamb, plenty of goat, enough prawns to keep Jordan happy, the pig everyone needed, a king in the beef world, all sorts of tortillas, stewed meats, and a surprise guest Jordan did not want to see. Plus, Bill's bite strategy saved Max, apparently mezcal is for sipping, the taco that put Jordan over the edge, and an out of body experience in Hancock Park.   The Stops: Barbacoa Estilo Hidalgo Gish Bac Mariscos Los Corchos Birrieria Nochistlan Zac Asadero Chikali Tacos La Carreta Los Sabrosos Al Horno Del Mar Ostioneria 

Jordan reviews a recent trip to Las Vegas, where he found the hotel, spa, and peking duck of his desert dreams at the Fontainebleau. Plus, Max sampled a $500k bottle of wine while Jordan doesn't understand a $400 bottle of wine, new dishes at Dunsmoor, the return of Oxalis meal planning is spiraling out of control, and Angler is kinda back with Leopardo, where the fellas give a first look of the pizza, meats, cocktails, and all the Angler feels that are most definitely not at the Beverly Center.

The hottest foodie travel destination is reviewed and debated by Shapiro and Ben Hundreds, who both recently returned from gorging themselves in the capital of Mexico. The fellas talk their eating tales, including favorite bites and misses from Maximo, Contramar, Pujol, Em, and all the tacos they chewed down. Plus, air travel, hotel, and museum tips, the state of Mexico City air conditioning (or lack thereof), Ben and his Coke Lites, Max and his carajillos, all the celebrated bars, a bakery scene not to be ignored, and an extremely serious quiz to see who really knows something about this south of the border cuisine.

Jordan and Max discuss a massive change occuring in the LA restaurant scene and how it will manifest in future California meals, including the fate of automatic gratuity and that horrific additional tip line, and a possible silver lining for diners. Then, Max reviews two restaurants he recently visited for the first time, Jordan talks some very special deep fried bites, and menu creation for "Can Shapiro Actually Cook 2" incorporating Saint James has commenced. Plus, young Jordan eating horror stories, charging for lettuce wraps, fries vs. loaded fries, Roy Choi tacos, and an upcoming Mexico City episode spoiler alert.

Jordan, Max, and Jon talk the most authentic East Coast pizzeria on the West Coast, which is just a zip away, and it's all godly galamad, two types of fried shrimp, a sausage pizza like no other, and the "white people taco night" pie shocks them all. Plus, Jordan begs the fellas for their Ozempy needles after a very chubby day, Max will LEARN to cook more romantically, Travis Lett's MTN is re-opening in Venice, Slab is closing in Pasadena, and Buscemi reviews one of the most exclusive dining destinations in the country. 

Audience questions are answered by Jordan and Max, supplying the food knowledge you need, from tipping etiquette to personal maritni recipes, celebratory birthday destinations, and more trash sushi talk. Plus, Mideast Tacos, lunching in the 818, waiting in line for food, Beautiful loves Tito's, open faced bagels, 90's music, Addison advice, the L.A. bread scene, frozen pizza, more on KB, an if Shapiro can actually cook status update, and a review of Eater L.A.'s recent essential restaurants list.