Burning Questions with Ahmet Zappa - Ep. 23

Father's Day. And that means it's time for Phelps and Strauss to raise a glass (or two) to fathers and fatherhood and the eating and drinking lessons their own dads taught.  Strauss shares the origins of the Jefftovers idea and turns a corned beef sandwich into one of his father's favorite brunch (or anytime) dishes. Phelps introduces us to a simple-yet-insane and amazing combo for baked potatoes. The Jeffs discuss memorable movie and TV dads. And Mary Catherine Finney joins us to battle out the latest round of “Play With Your Food.” The Game: Play With Your Food (Wait -- Dad's in the Kitchen?) For pictures and more from this episode, visit forksontheleft.com Follow us on Twitter (@forks_ontheleft), Instagram (forks_ontheleft) and Facebook. Please rate us and leave us a review on iTunes!

In honor of box-office smash, “Wonder Woman,” we pay tribute to the Wonder Women of Forks on the Left. Our favorite LA bartender, Andi Rene Christenson, joins us to discuss Patty Jenkins' blockbuster (did we cry??), mix up a couple Wonder Woman-inspired cocktails, and take a look  back at few of the Wonder Women who have graced our show in its first six months.  We've got highlights from actress/zombie-kicking badass Kim Dickens, the brave and brilliant Chef Neela Paniz, food-truck hero and Coolhaus co-founder Natasha Case, and The Washington Post’s comfort food aficionado, Karen Attiah.  Then the Battle of the Sexes continues as Forks’ producer Mary Catherine Finney faces off with Phelps for our latest game, a Wonder Woman edition of “Play With Your Food.” For pictures and more from this episode, visit forksontheleft.com Follow us on Twitter (@forks_ontheleft), Instagram (forks_ontheleft) and Facebook. Please rate us and leave us a review on iTunes!

The only thing better than quizzing people who don’t really cook about cooking tools they’ve never really seen...is quizzing them after they’ve already had seven shots of seven different bourbons. Inspired by the fun we had playing "Name That Fruit" with Superfruit, Jeff Strauss is back with a new cooking-inspired guessing game called, "What Kind Of Tool Am I?" where we guess the purpose of a particular culinary instrument based solely on the name. Kitchen tool connoisseur Jeff Strauss hosts the game recorded at the end of last week's episode, and our bourbon-soaked competitors include co-host Jeff Phelps and Endless Noise millennials, Mary Catherine Finney and Grant Cornish. So have a listen and see if these tools can describe these other tools. Guests: Mary Catherine Finney & Grant Cornish of Endless Noise For pictures and more from this episode, visit forksontheleft.com Follow us on Twitter (@forks_ontheleft), Instagram (forks_ontheleft) and Facebook. Please rate us and leave us a review on iTunes!

What could be better than hanging out behind the scenes at Endless Noise studios and getting insider info from the audio engineer and producers who have worked with Superfruit and Pentatonix for the last 5 years? All of that plus a 5 bottle “blind” Bourbon tasting!  (And that’s exactly what we do with Mary Catherine Finney and Grant Cornish who have known the PTX crew longer than almost anybody in showbiz.  Join us!) Guests: Grant Cornish & Mary Catherine Finney For pictures and more from this episode, visit forksontheleft.com Follow us on Twitter (@forks_ontheleft), Instagram (forks_ontheleft) and Facebook. Please rate us and leave us a review on iTunes!

What do you get when you mix singing superstars Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying (of Superfruit & Pentatonix) with 4 incredible fruit-based cocktails? Add a dash of Gaga, your first alcoholic beverage, a game of "Name That Fruit" and the weirdest thing you've ever eaten and shake with a couple of Jeffs...pour over ice and enjoy! Ever dream of sitting down for cocktails and conversation with two of your favorite pop stars?  It might sound something like this. Guests: Superfruit (@ScottHoying & @MitchGrassi) Cocktails:Serrano Pineapple Margarita, Grapefruit Elderflower Mimosa,Kiwi Mojito, Watermelon Basil Vodka Soda (Recipes) Game: Name That Fruit! (Play Along) For pictures and more from this episode, visit forksontheleft.com Follow us on Twitter (@forks_ontheleft), Instagram (forks_ontheleft) and Facebook. Please rate us and leave us a review on iTunes!    

Did you ever dream of starting your own restaurant?  This is one of those stories that dreams and movies are made of — the story of Los Angeles’ own Craig Batiste. Starting with less than $400 and a headful of recipe ideas for “loaded” french fries, Craig and his fiancé Dorothy Morales set out on an adventure that has grown from selling home-cooked fries out of a donut shop parking lot to a thriving young business that is taking Los Angeles and Instagram by storm.     Guest: Mr. Fries Man (@mr_fries_man)   The Fries: Buffalo Chicken (sautéed) with Ranch Garlic Parmesan Shrimp with Bacon Barbecue Chicken Cheese and Bacon Chorizo and Egg Fries   Day Drinking: Allagash White Belgian-Style Wheat Beer -  Allagash Brewing Company, Portland Maine; Pabst Blue Ribbon, Lager, Tall Boy Can, Pabst Brewing Co, San Antonio, TX   For pictures and more from this episode, visit forksontheleft.com Follow us on Twitter (@forks_ontheleft), Instagram (forks_ontheleft) and Facebook. Please rate us and leave us a review on iTunes!

It’s Phelps’ birthday and we celebrate with a festival of 40s - 40 ouncers, 40% alcohol vodka and tequila shots, 40 years worth of celebration and stories. How has Phelps changed in the 40 years since his birth in Kansas City? Has the decade in La La Land ruined him, improved him, or left him essentially the same “recovering frat-guy” he was when he left KU (Go Jayhawks!)? We dig into the food and drink evolution of our beloved co-host and we get to know some of the secrets of his past thanks to drinking buddy, Doug Harper, who has known the guy since the “day-drink” of choice was icy-cold milk. Day Drinking: Budweiser 40oz, Bud Light 40oz, Tequila Ocho Single Estate Tequila Plata 2016 Puerta del Aire, Loft & Bear Vodka For pictures and more from this episode, visit forksontheleft.com Follow us on Twitter (@forks_ontheleft), Instagram (forks_ontheleft) and Facebook. Please rate us and leave us a review on iTunes!

Bay Area big-gun chef, Scott Warner is not only a highly sought-after maestro of the modern restaurant kitchen (The Black Cat, Rose Pistola, Bistro Don Giovanni, Kokkari), he’s also a fantastic musician who graduated with a degree in Guitar from USC’s Music School.  Scott sits in with us to share stories of kitchens and creativity, how he went from dreams of a life in music to fulfilling his creative passions through food and drink — and the role that improvisation plays in both his loves. For pictures and more from this episode, visit forksontheleft.com Follow us on Twitter (@forks_ontheleft), Instagram (forks_ontheleft) and Facebook. Please rate us and leave us a review on iTunes!

Mix 1 part vodka, 1 part Kahlua, 1 part soda, and 10 parts Bob Kushell — writer-producer of 3rd Rock from the Sun, Anger Management, Samantha Who?, The Muppets, American Dad, Malcolm in the Middle — and you get a slightly-drunk, very funny episode covering topics from writers’ room food and self-loathing to writing under the influence.  Also, very special weight-loss secret revealed: “The Show-Runner’s Recovery Diet"   Day Drinking: Absolut Vodka & Kahlua “Mind Erasers”  and Redemption Rye Barrel Proof 6-year old Straight Rye   Guest: @BobKushell   Follow us on Twitter (@forks_ontheleft), Instagram (forks_ontheleft) and Facebook. Please rate us and leave us a review on iTunes!

We've had two fascinating and funny servings of Ahmet Zappa — Healthy and Unhealthy.  Here’s a little more A to the Z kind of love… including what may be the darkest — most “burnt" answer to any burning question ever… you be the judge. Guest: @AhmetZappa Follow us on Twitter (@forks_ontheleft), Instagram (forks_ontheleft) and Facebook. Please rate us and leave us a review on iTunes!