"Xi'an Famous Foods with Mike Hanford & Paul Rust (LIVE)" is an episode of the premium content podcast, Doughboys Double, hosted by Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger. "Xi'an Famous Foods with Mike Hanford & Paul Rust (LIVE)" was released on September 24, 2019.
🔓 This episode was later unlocked for free on to the main Doughboys feed on January 1, 2020.
"Tomorrow on the Double...(with @paulrust and @MikeHanford)" - @doughboyspod
Synopsis[]
We're joined live in NYC by Mike Hanford (The Birthday Boys, The Sloppy Boys) and Paul Rust (Netflix's Love, Don't Stop or We'll Die) to review a family owned chain serving western Chinese cuisine: Xi'an Famous Foods. Plus, a live edition of the Snack Stack.
Recorded live at the Gramercy Theatre in NYC on September 6, 2019.
Nick's intro[]
'Not spicy = not as good': a personal message from CEO Jason Wang.
the flyer
This is the text heading of a flyer prominently displayed in the lobby of a Chinese chain that's taken over New York City in the past decade and a half.
Founded by Wang and his father in 2005 in a tiny basement storefront in a Queens shopping mall, the restaurant quickly built a loyal following of both Chinese immigrants and born-and-bred New Yorkers with its hook: the cuisine of a city in the Wang's native Shaanxi Province, located in northwestern China. That city's food is described by the corporate website as "combining Chinese and Middle Eastern flavors" and often incorporates lamb as a protein - a pretty unique profile in the Chinese food-saturated Big Apple.
After opening, the restaurant steadily averaged building a new location every year, eventually growing its footprint to fifteen outlets across the Five Boroughs. Its delectable - and affordable - fare has led to glowing profiles by food celebrities like Andrew Zimmern and the late Anthony Bourdain, and even a visit by Bobby Flay, who would be ill-equipped to take on wunderkind chef Wang in his show Beat Bobby Flay.
And as noted by Wang himself in his impassioned warning, those with mild-mannered palettes need not apply. Its house chili oil made from thirty different spices generates heat levels that are, if not searing, at least sizzling.
And so, fourteen years after a two-employee father/son restaurant opened in the basement of a shopping mall, the entire city of New York has developed an obsession with the food of a city in China.
This week on Doughboys: Xi'an Famous Foods.
The Soup Nazi's intro[]
Larry Thomas, The Soup Nazi
| “ | Nick, welcome to New York City. But no soup for you! But if you want, I have a delicious hot salad for you. And as for Mitch, no hot salad for you! Spoon Nation for life. | ” |
Fork rating[]
| guest / host | ordered | rating |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Wiger |
|
5 forks |
| Mike Mitchell |
|
5 forks |
| Mike Hanford |
|
3.8 forks |
| Paul Rust |
|
4.5 forks |
| Nick, Mitch, and Mike shared |
|
Snack Stack[]
In this segment, audience members before the show bring snacks to Yusong and Emma, which would be accumulated into a big pile. (They put out a call on Twitter before the show.)
The Doughboys then end up with a giant Snack Stack, but only pick a couple of things from it to try during the show.
| guest / host | Nongshim Banana Kick | The Whole Shabang Original Popcorn | Terrell's Potato Chips | New York Style Everything Bagel Crisps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Wiger | Wack | Snack | Snack | Snack |
| Mike Mitchell | Wack | Snack | Snack | Snack |
| Mike Hanford | - | Snack | Snack | Snack |
| Paul Rust | - | - | - | - |
Roast Spoonman[]
| “ | Caramelo Anthony | ” |
–Rob A. | ||
Quotes[]
| “ | "Chew Pork Plate of Rinds" | ” |
–Nick Wiger arriving at his version of "New York State of Mind" | ||
| “ | Boys, let's get silly. | ” |
–Nick Wiger as Mike & Paul entered the show | ||
| “ | I've never had warm nuts before. | ” |
–Mike Mitchell | ||
| “ | Do I bleed beans? | ” |
–Mike Mitchell | ||
| “ | OK, Mitch, we better kiss so we don't send this audience home with blue balls. | ” |
–Nick Wiger | ||
#hashtags[]
- #Mac&Chief vs. #BossarellaSticks
The Feedbag[]
| “ | I had surgery two weeks ago on my stomach. I can only eat soft foods for four weeks. If you guys had to eat soft foods for four weeks, what would you eat? | ” |
–Andrew Buhlmeyer | ||
| “ | Mozzarella sticks or mac & cheese balls? | ” |
–Erica | ||
| “ | The East Coast is being hit by Hurricane Dorian this weekend. What are your favorite storm foods to stock up on? | ” |
–Jeff McGoogan | ||
Related Episodes[]
Photos[]
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