Food News & New Food

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.

Jordan and Max are joined by Beautiful Ben to discuss two recent meals. First up is the Virgil Village izakaya where the boys talk tons of grilled sauced meats, the real hospitality bubbles, and pounds of soft serve that has all made its way into Jordan's ro-ro. The second restaurant tale brings the boys to Calabasas for every food influencer's favorite sushi, where the setting and bites are reviewed, leading to a broader discussion on modern day food critics and their influence. Plus, an L.A. wings discussion, Jordan suprises the fellas with his dedication to the craft, the old man who hated O.J., the old woman who hated Stella, mixing wasabi and soy sauce, Bill Addison and Max are finally aligned, Jordan saw Springsteen, and a "Can Shapiro Actually Cook" sequel update.

Jordan is joined by his dad Dave, Shapiro, and Peckerman to review a steak dinner they all shared at the newest Beverly Hills beef haunt. The bread, shrimp, salad, steaks, sides, and desserts are all covered as they umtimately decide if this is the traditional steakhouse experience Los Angeles has been missing. Plus, a potato side dish discussion and how to pronounce au gratin, chilled forks, Big Wave loved Josh in Openheimer, Josh had a note for Christopher Nolan, gobbling the bone, and Jordan has a bone to pick with one of the fellas.

Jordan and Max talk a sequel to the Can Shapiro Actually Cook? episode, Bubbles isn't so alone anymore, the perfect date night order at Stella, and two new restaurants the boys are excited about: Kushiba on Sunset for fried Japanese sticks and wagyu corned beef, and Leopardo on La Brea for all the wood-fired excellence from ex-Saison and Angler master Josh Skenes. Plus, the ass-stained palace, Taco Bell’s new slow roasted chicken, The Bear did not cast Max as a food critic, Jordan talks shrimp necks, and what we all should have learned from Henry Winkler.

The Hollywood legend is a food lover, so Jordan joins Henry and his daughter Zoe to talk all the Winkler food love, including a 40 year relationship with Matsuhisa, how to scramble eggs the Henry way, the icon's favorite chocolate chip cookie, and a lifelong Wonder Bread love affair. Plus, a Cindy Crawford off-the-menu rice dish, the day after Thanksgiving sandwich, Henry's bagel making stuns Jordan, the infamous Winkler Dessert Table, and a Robert DeNiro story that spans four decades. Henry's new book, Being Henry: The Fonz...And Beyond is a New York TImes Best Seller, and available everywhere books are sold, including right here.