21. Chopped Cheese

The boll weevil is an insect that survives almost exclusively on cotton plants. It migrated to the American south from Mexico and, upon its arrival in the 1920s, upended the entire nation's agricultural infrastructure. They left destruction in the wake and depleted the region of its most valuable crop within five years of contact. Farms vanished, families starved, and the earth turned brittle and poisoned. Of this economic and environmental disaster, Dominic Reisig, professor of entomology at North Carolina State University, says, "I cannot think of another insect that's displaced so many people, changed the economy of rural America, and was so environmentally injurious that everybody clearly rallied around and said we have to get rid of it." Horrible stuff. So why does a statue dedicated to the boll weevil stand in the town square of Enterprise, Alabama? Well, the way Enterprise sees it, the boll weevil was a wake-up call. It forced the state to rethink things and, thanks to some help from George Washington Carver, find their salvation in growing peanuts. These events bring us to today, where a different but no less significant moment in the peanut's legacy is taking place. Two handsome raconteurs, one a picky eater, the other not, are sitting down to drink wine and break shell. Will the nut on their plates find a place in their hearts, or will they wish the boll weevil had finished the job? The next chapter in the history of American agriculture is here. Boiled peanuts start now! Jackie and Mario's next sketch show is set for 9 PM on December 1st at the Peoples Improv Theater in NYC. Purchase your tickets here (https://thepit-nyc.com/events/omfg-im-so-embarrassed-a-sketch-show/). New episodes every other Thursday. Theme by Mario Marques (https://www.instagram.com/knip_dyolf/). Follow the show at pickyeaterpod on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/pickyeaterpod/). Everything relating to Mario's band can be found here (https://linktr.ee/thisholyrodeo). Jackie's new podcasts, Please Don't Tell and SportsTalk Now, can be found here (https://linktr.ee/jackiemckenna).

Soups on! Tomato, chicken noodle, lentil, lobster bisque, and minestrone, to be precise! But while these warm bowls of broth for some may evoke beloved memories of missing school or watching Seinfeld, Mario and Jackie have no such attachments. They can't stand the stuff! But facing food-focused fears is this show's purpose, and nothing says autumn quite like hot, steaming bowls of liquid sustenance. So the boys put on their bibs, un-slotted their spoons, and broke down these dishes from...well...SOUP to nuts! So are these meals chicken soup for the soul? Or will Jackie and Mario gladly hear the phrase, "No soup for you!"  Jackie and Mario's next sketch show is set for 9 PM on November 3rd at the Peoples Improv Theater in NYC. Purchase your tickets here (https://thepit-nyc.com/events/omfg-im-so-embarrassed-a-sketch-show/). New episodes every other Thursday. Theme by Mario Marques (https://www.instagram.com/knip_dyolf/). Follow the show at pickyeaterpod on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/pickyeaterpod/). Everything relating to Mario's band can be found here (https://linktr.ee/thisholyrodeo). Jackie's new podcasts, Please Don't Tell and SportsTalk Now, can be found here (https://linktr.ee/jackiemckenna).

Jackie has to be up in 5 hours, and he's got a long day ahead of him, so no witty description to laugh your butt off to this week. You'll get nothing and like it! Except for a brand, spanking new episode, which you will also like. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away at the same time. Jackie and Mario's next sketch show is set for 9 PM on November 3rd at the Peoples Improv Theater in NYC. Purchase your tickets here (https://thepit-nyc.com/events/omfg-im-so-embarrassed-a-sketch-show/). New episodes every other Thursday. Follow the show at pickyeaterpod on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/pickyeaterpod/). Everything relating to Mario's band can be found here (https://linktr.ee/thisholyrodeo). Jackie's new podcasts, Please Don't Tell and SportsTalk Now, can be found here (https://linktr.ee/jackiemckenna).

It's been five episodes, and you know what that means!...Oh. Don't you? Well, every five episodes, Mario and Jackie break from their format while remaining in the culinary world. They've had pizza-eating contests, chicken sandwich duels, and even revisited restaurants where deep, personal traumas occurred. But this week, they are just reviewing a Pixar movie! To quote the TikTok musical, will Remy (the Ratatouille) be the rat of all our dreams? Or do the picky pals channel the dastardly Anton Ego and leave a scathing review that will ruin director/writer Brad Bird? For those unfamiliar, the movie SAYS that a lousy review killed Gusteau! Talk about taking things a little too personally. That being said, only five-star reviews for the podcast, please. WE LOVE YOU!!! Remember, anyone can listen to a podcast.  New episodes every other Thursday. Follow the show at pickyeaterpod on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/pickyeaterpod/). Everything relating to Mario's band, "this HOLY rodeo!", can be found here (https://linktr.ee/thisholyrodeo). Jackie's new podcasts, Please Don't Tell and SportsTalk Now, can be found here (https://linktr.ee/jackiemckenna).

Mario, Mario, Mario. This lunatic, no doubt trying to get back at Jackie for the last episode's surprise drink, brought a secret sausage to the party (apologies to Seth Rogen). But as Porky Pig never said, "that ISN'T all folks." This episode's featured item is Arroz Con Salchichas, a childhood favorite and adult comfort food for Mario. Will Jackie use the opportunity to dunk on something near and dear to his friend, or does this snack join Sushi and Biryani in the hallowed halls of stuff he digs now? We propose these questions. The episode has the answers. Listen and learn some Puerto Rican geography while you're at it. New episodes every other Thursday. Follow the show at pickyeaterpod on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/pickyeaterpod/). Everything relating to Mario's band, "this HOLY rodeo!", can be found here (https://linktr.ee/thisholyrodeo). Listen to Jackie's new podcast, "Please Don't Tell," here (https://linktr.ee/pleasedonttellpod).

In the immortal words of Maurice Pitka, Mike Myers's shameful caricature of an Indian guru, "Give me a pound. Lock it down. Break the pickle. Tickle, tickle." While this episode features no pounding, locking, or tickling, it is about pickles. The boys sample some gherkins for your entertainment and Jackie's immense displeasure. Are these succulently salty sausage-shaped treats like everyone's favorite candy? Sour, sweet, gone! Or is this meal just a briny bummer? Only time and you listening will tell. But don't worry. Jackie has a surprise drink for Mario to try if the pickles don't cut the mustard. Also, THERE'S A NEW THEME SONG! ENJOY!    New episodes every other Thursday.  Follow the show at pickyeaterpod on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/pickyeaterpod/). Everything relating to Mario's band, "this HOLY rodeo!", can be found here (https://linktr.ee/thisholyrodeo).  Listen to Jackie's new podcast, "Please Don't Tell," here (https://linktr.ee/pleasedonttellpod).

It has been two years, six months, and fourteen days since Mario Marques and Jackie McKenna sat down and shared a meal. Well, that's not true. They're friends. But did they eat with microphones during those meals? No way. The pandemic, Jackie's lazy editing, and fear kept this podcast on ice for a long time, but now it's back! Welcome, to the new and improved Picky Eater Podcast! The audio is better. The show is funnier. Mario is in a band, and Jackie goes to therapy. What more could anyone ask of two podcast hosts?! In all seriousness, please enjoy the show, and apologies for the hiatus. PEP 2.0 is a go!  New episodes every other Thursday.  Follow the show at pickyeaterpod on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/pickyeaterpod/). Everything relating to Mario's band, "this HOLY rodeo!", can be found here (https://linktr.ee/thisholyrodeo).  Listen to Jackie's new podcast, "Please Don't Tell," here (https://linktr.ee/pleasedonttellpod). 

New year, new ep, same guys trying food cause one of them was a picky eater for most of their adult life. This week it's that classic story. Boy meets duck, duck meets boy, boy eats duck and gives their opinion on it. In addition to their thoughts on Peking Duck House, Mario and Jackie chat earthquakes, not being allowed to dislike things, and Cici's Pizza. Something for the whole family! [email protected] 

The year was 2016. Mario and Jackie go to Sarita's Mac and Cheese (S'Mac) with new friend, Sarah Hubner. What would follow would be an evening of strong food opinions and tense macaroni consumption. For today's special the Picky Eater Podcast team revisit the scene of the crime. What went wrong? Have their perspectives shifted? Is there such a thing as too much mac and cheese? The answer to that last one is yes, but you'll have to listen to know the rest. Happy Thanksgiving! 

The Picky Peeps return from a long hiatus due to work and general laziness to take on a delicacy from the deep. Joining them this week is Rachel Biddle. Biddle is an oyster lover and does everything in her power to convince the boys of this mollusk's merits. Will she succeed or will Mario and Jackie send this dish 20,000 leagues under the sea?