In The Weeds with Ben Randall
417 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 53 ratingsI began cooking when I was 14 years old and I never looked back. Enjoy the pirate ship.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Episode 193: No Shirt, No Shoes, No Mask, GTFO
July 19, 2020 14:45 - 1 hour - 151 MB"I wear the mask to protect my loved ones." -Batman Wear a mask when you go out. Be like Batman. Also, today we talk upcoming guests, kitchen redesigns and Sbarro, somehow.
Episode 192: Disney or DisNot?
July 13, 2020 14:51 - 1 hour - 146 MBHeya kids! Today we're talking about Disney reopening in the COVID world, Goya hitching their wagon to a turd, Alinea's intensely high-falutin' "art" mocking the global pandemic, and of course, we tie it to Corner Gas.
Episode 191:Cold Coffee & Gentle Humps
July 05, 2020 03:51 - 1 hour - 143 MBIt's the 4th of July, so of course we're talking about food spokespeople, robot delivery services and cold-brew coffee!
Episode 190: GermHub
June 28, 2020 23:16 - 1 hour - 164 MBStill no good news, kids! Today we talk restaurants reopening amidst COVID-19, pizza of varying qualities, the supposed meat shortage and why Rian Johnson shouldn't be the chef/owner of a restaurant.
Episode 189: Mr. Pickle Has A Mann Problem
June 16, 2020 15:40 - 1 hour - 136 MBYou guys. Bosses. Restaurant owners. While it has never really been a good time to be racist, now is REALLY NOT A GOOD TIME. Also, Chipotle continues to poison people, bakers are uniting against racism and Ben becomes obsessed with beans.
Episode 188: That Waffle House Reuben
June 09, 2020 13:44 - 1 hour - 159 MBIt is really tough to be funny and run a light, silly show about the restaurant industry in June of 2020. So we aren't really trying. Today we're talking systemic racism in restaurants, what happens when restaurant owners open their big stupid racist mouths on social media, why Bon Apetit is likely to see a huge management staffing shift, and geckos.
Here's The Thing: Episode 2 Smarter Than Our Programming
June 03, 2020 11:53 - 23 minutes - 32.2 MBBlack Lives Matter. I cannot do much, but here is what I am going to do. Donate Here: https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/home/#about https://www.naacpldf.org/support/other-ways-to-give/ https://action.aclu.org/give/donate-to-aclu-multistep
Episode 187: Listen to the Experts
May 24, 2020 14:18 - 157 MBGood morning America. Today we're talking about flooding in Michigan, flooding in restaurants, chip salad, culinary whitewashing and deeply flawed kitchen 'tips & tricks'. It's getting wild out there. Spoilers, don't trust everything on the internet. (You can trust us.) https://www.facebook.com/intheweedswithbenrandall/?__xts__[0]=68.ARBAxVsnxHsGG34SVyFNxEF28m0ToIcfEPiWNEVp3Q8WqCy6HDsGav6IiNSuN1xVs2sVG3XjPy4-MQQNtN2S_gfficcjDeRTcJv_pmh1oPjP6q8Q_lDn4nlzgTPb1F7Ly3cM7h2DzE7cf_6_chXRaRZCZKE...
Episode 186: Cheddartini
May 19, 2020 03:43 - 127 MBNothing's good in the world right now, so we decided to distract you by running down the 'favorite cocktails from each state', as reported to us by someone who nuzzled up to some Google Analytics. So, America, as the shelter-in-place days grind on, what are YOU drinking?
Episode 185: White Mediocrity & Murder Trucks
May 12, 2020 12:10 - 112 MBToday we're wading into the obviously racist twitter beef between Alison "Off-White" Roman and Chrissy Teigen, we talk fancy grilled cheese, homemeade Cheetos and why aren't there mobile slaughterhouses?
Episode 184: Couldn't Caren Less
May 05, 2020 11:02 - 175 MBJust in time for your morning commute to nowhere, New Episode! Today we're talking Chuck E Cheese's identity crisis, being accosted by 'girl' scouts and a bread article written by a Karen who is so white, her name may as well be Caren White. Don't you buy that flour; Caren's gonna getcha.
Episode 183: Can't Stop Won't Stop Baking
April 27, 2020 12:20 - 153 MBWe continue to contribute to the nationwide flour & yeast shortage tonight, baking all sorts of incredible and inadvisable things. Also, let's talk some more about Grubhub's terrible policies toward restaurants and look out Georgia.
Episode 182: Infield Chatter
April 22, 2020 01:45 - 87 MBLike so many of you, I am locked out of my kitchen. I miss my home, I miss my profession, I miss my staff. So here's a band-aid. This will not fix your problems. This will not fill your dining rooms. This will not reopen your doors. But this is 50 straight minutes of kitchen line noise. You're welcome.
Episode 181: Cinnamon Roll Hubcap
April 14, 2020 01:12 - 151 MBThe shelter-en-place baking continues! Steve & Ben make gigantic cinnamon rolls, against their better judgement. Tonight we discuss CSAs, food truck theme songs and why didn't Open Table switch to setting up curbside reservations for grocery stores?
Episode 180: Freezer Demons
April 05, 2020 19:56 - 125 MBToday, in an attempt to retain some sense of normalcy, Steve & Ben talk personal grooming, where to find a quiet spot in a restaurant and kitchen pet peeves!
Episode 179: It's Hard To Do Distance Eating
March 30, 2020 10:53 - 144 MBToday we discuss the future of restaurants In The Time Of Coronavirus, Yelp pulls some solid bullshit and is Guy Fieri the hero we deserve?
Episode 178: Shelter En Place
March 23, 2020 13:16 - 131 MBSo we're in the thick of self-isolation and sheltering in place and the restaurant world is in chaos. What can we do, what is being done and where do we go from here? Spoilers, there are no good answers.
Episode 177: War Corn World Tour
March 15, 2020 02:08 - 129 MBOk, fine. We'll talk about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its effect on us, on the hospitality industry, etc. Also, Pringles are the mind killer, and we invent yet ANOTHER imaginary band.
Episode 176: The Kirklings
March 02, 2020 01:58 - 124 MBOh, man, this is the big one. Kirk vs. Picard. Now, before you give up on us nerds, keep in mind that we have been challenged by a listener to decide who is a better captain, so we put both crews into kitchen roles to figure out who would be the better Executive Chef. Also, we continue to rag on 'influencers', try to engineer a pizza pop-tart and we discuss when a hamburger stops being a hamburger.
Episode 175: The 10 Or So Commandments
February 25, 2020 22:53 - 172 MBIn our ongoing quest to improve EVERYONE'S dining experience, here is our attempt to draft a 10 Commandments For Diners. Be a better customer, get better customer service. It's simple.
Just The Tip Episode 14: Grocery Store Scam
February 22, 2020 16:12 - 15.3 MBY'all know I hate grocery stores. Here's another reason why.
Episode 174: The Other Skaarsgard
February 18, 2020 03:39 - 105 MBTonight, kids, we're pitching holiday food movies! Also, we're constantly injured.
Episode 173: The Other Attachment Is A Dick
February 02, 2020 23:06 - 108 MBIn this episode we discuss Ken Friedman the Coward, robots in the kitchen, New York's banning of cashless restaurants and a new heartwarming restaurant Christmas special for everyone.
Episode 172: I Love Onions
January 22, 2020 01:45 - 111 MBTonight we talk rare food allergies, Ken Friedman's employee and customer abuse case settlement, music about food and Michigan roads. Because of course we do.
Episode 171: InstaPot Brownies
January 04, 2020 15:24 - 91.9 MBWelcome back, and welcome to 2020! Today we talk restaurant closings, predictions for 2020 food trends, the Cheez Whiz spectrum and we look into why customer politeness has become an endangered species. Also, we forget to introduce ourselves at the beginning of the show!
Episode 170: Cancel Karen
December 21, 2019 15:05 - 120 MBJust in time for Christmas, we talk about NOTHING holiday related. Today we're talking about hiring restaurant staff, people bitching just to bitch and gigantic Twixes. Also, we've interviewed Ali Gonzales from https://sustainableculinarysolutions.com/, a chef/consultant with 30 years restaurant experience.
Episode 169: Toddler Dorito Store
December 05, 2019 02:12 - 98.5 MBTonight we're talking Thanksgiving, Canadian hyperlocal desserts and Papa John Schnatter's descent into madness.
Episode 168: Bread Raisins
November 23, 2019 16:26 - 80.5 MBToday we talk Cheesecake Factory, Indiana Judges vs White Castle and why Naperville Illinois is having a really bad month.
Episode 167: Don't Dash
November 15, 2019 03:51 - 76.1 MBSo that sandwich you just ordered on your phone & had delivered to you? It's probably cold, the fries are a sticky mess, and it's more expensive than if you just went to the shop. Also, the drivers get paid jack, and the restaurants get skimmed too. This third-party delivery system is a goddamn mess. Until we get robots. The robots will save us.
Episode 166: Fast Feud
October 25, 2019 01:49 - 103 MBOh, man you guys. Tonight we're talking customer service, unions, the Chicago Public Schools teachers strike, apple heists and high-ass robots. It's a ride.
Episode 165: Hiring & Firing & Knifing
September 30, 2019 20:47 - 94.3 MBYou win some, you lose some, and sometimes you have to fire a lazyass. If you're applying for a restaurant job, we lay out tricks & tips here! Also, an apple-free Apple Festival and Ben goes to a childhood nostalgia hotdog restaurant.
Episode 164: Chef Aaron of Ravage Deli
September 22, 2019 02:25 - 60.3 MBIt ain't what you know; it's who you know, and I've been very lucky in my career to know Aaron Stahlman, co-owner of Ravage Deli in Baltimore. Aaron & I went to culinary school together, and to date, he's living the dream. He and his wife own and operate a very exciting all-scratch deli 2 miles from their house north of Baltimore, where they basically do whatever they want. Trouble with doing whatever you want is that you have to also do it all yourself. Well, let's have Aaron tell you a...
Episode 163: Ellipses & Nonsense
September 04, 2019 00:41 - 99.9 MBSteve's back in studio! We talk White Castle, food delivery companies and how NOT to write a wine list.
Episode 162: Yelp Into The Void
August 25, 2019 15:53 - 116 MBYelp is bad in every direction, and trying to examine data from Yelp is even worse. So let's do that! What's the most affordable, best restaurant in your state? Probably NOT what Yelp says it is!
Episode 161: Midnight Smoke, The Hydration Officer
August 17, 2019 13:18 - 58.9 MBWe have another guest! Today we're talking to Midnight Smoke about New York wine, food in the armed services and high-end chocolate.
Episode 160: Finom Part 2: What's Your Specialty?
August 12, 2019 00:45 - 84.7 MBWe're back for more with Rafael Esparza of Finom coffee. This is the second part of our longform discussion, and again, this guy is a treasure.
Episode 159: Finom Part 1 "Our Cooks Are Our Kids"
August 05, 2019 02:45 - 105 MBTonight I sit down and chat with Rafael Esparza of Finom Coffee. We talk...well, everything. This guy is a FOUNTAIN. That's why this is Part One.
Episode 158: Not Ready For My Yeti
July 31, 2019 18:16 - 95.6 MBToday we talk restaurant closings, tax law 'difficulties' and how to boot a racist customer. Also, what are the considerations when hiring a yeti, and what's the difference between a funnel cake and an elephant ear/beaver tail?
Episode 157: Undigested Quint
July 24, 2019 21:56 - 128 MBKids! Tonight we talk National Park concessions naming rights, the new generation spacefood and the best desserts from YOUR neck of the woods!
Episode 156: A Little More Grit Than Tang
July 14, 2019 14:52 - 105 MBWe're back from vacation, folks! Today we talk A&W, more new-home kitchen concerns, KFC's new Cheeto Chicken Sandwich, what is up with PBR & Ben self-identifies as a flour sorcerer.
Episode 155: The Pain Ya Feel
June 24, 2019 21:10 - 82.4 MBToday we talk Vitamix, homebuying and flour recalls. We have more fun than you'd expect.
Episode 154: Keep It Salty
June 20, 2019 14:52 - 74.6 MBToday we head down to the Hatchery and talk to Johanna Thompson of Pixie Dust Salts about small business entrepreneurship, food social justice and cleaning tiny bottles. Find all of Johanna's lovely salts at https://www.etsy.com/shop/PixieDustSalts, or follow her on Instagram for updates about her farmer's market appearances around Chicago!
Episode 153: Garden of Assholes
June 02, 2019 17:02 - 29.9 MBLook, sometimes you've just gotta step up & say something.
Episode 152: The Big Chill Too
May 20, 2019 17:00 - 69.4 MBTonight Steve & Ben are trash talking 'influencers' (who can go thrown themselves into the sun), pitching a movie or two and having a devil of a time coming up with Kevin Kline's name. Spoilers, it's Kevin Kline.
Episode 151: I'm Gonna Eat That Porkchop
May 15, 2019 21:55 - 71.4 MBWe're back! Tonight we're talking old-timey drive-in restaurants, being close to your food and having your food be really close to you. Find us on facebook, or @intheweedswbr on twitter!
Episode 150: The Fear of Butterfingers
April 25, 2019 20:44 - 103 MBWhat food are you afraid of? It either has a name, or we'll name it for you! Also, we discover Confectionary News.com, peanuts will kill you even if you don't have an allergy, and do you want Skynestle? Because that's how you get Skynestle.
Episode 149: The Great Avocado War
April 18, 2019 02:27 - 80.5 MBEver wonder what it sounds like to forget to turn on your fancy microphone and accidentally record with the crappy onboard computer mic? Unrelated: we talk tonight about the Great British Baking Show (again), trade wars and brands who have withstood seemingly catastrophic scandals.
Episode 148: Great Zombie Baking Show
April 04, 2019 00:55 - 98.6 MBSteve's back from London! Tonight we talk British food, both through the lens of Steve's trip over there and Ben's lens of having super watched the Great British Baking Show.
Episode 147: Corned Beef & Savage
March 17, 2019 19:03 - 101 MBKids, it's St Patrick's Day & everybody's googling weird-ass pies. It's craziness out there.