Okay, so I have the fondue pot. I just need an outlet, an hour for the chocolate to melt, uh, a serving spoon, and dude, do you guys have those those like big stick things? >> We just asked you to bring napkins. He does this every time. >> This is a hot dog is a sandwich. >> Ketchup is a smoothie. >> Yeah, I put ice in my cereal. So what? >> That makes no sense. >> A hot dog is a sandwich. >> A hot dog is a sandwich. >> What? >> Welcome to our podcast, A Hot Dog is a Sandwich, the show we break down the world’s biggest food debates. I’m your host Josh Sharer and today we have award-winning actress and filmmaker Brie Larson and chef food writer and the founder of Ruin Table Courtney McBroom. They’re co-authors of Party People, a cookbook for creative celebrations and also amateur hot dog ontologists. So, we need to address the elephant in the room here that we have all not only debated whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich. And I know you two are still very divided on that, but we’ve also participated in a democratic exercise um around a pool on whether or not a hot dog is a sandwich. Where do you two stand? >> I firmly believe that a hot dog is its own thing. And I know hot dog is a sandwich. By definition, a hot dog is a sandwich. So, I don’t even know why people are even having this conversation. >> I’m talking about >> it’s it’s like the definition of a sandwich is something that is in between two slices of bread. >> Can someone pull up a dictionary and tell me if that’s true or not? >> Hold on. Hold on. Now we’re we’re getting we everyone pause. Take a deep breath. You two love each other. You’re creative collaborators, your friends. You know, >> are we going to make sit in a fight? But like I’m honestly sweating and I’m like not >> I’m taking off the jacket conversation. >> I’m taking off the jacket to reveal the official a hot dog is a sandwich political slogan t-shirt because I’m also on this side. >> Thank you. >> But if we’re talking about dictionaries, we get into what’s called prescriptivism versus descriptivism. Does a dictionary define what something is or does a dictionary describe what a mass populace has already decided something is? The term literally is a great example of descriptivism versus prescriptivism. The definition of the word literally has actually changed because people use the term literally so figuratively so often. >> Wrong. >> So now, well, is it wrong or is it just a changing definition? So the term sandwich I think we have there. I think you both have great points. >> I’ve ultimately decided that >> the question comes down to are humans animals, >> right? >> What do you think? Are humans animals? Yes. Well, well, here’s my question to you. What’s an animal? >> The dictionary. No, but I mean, we um you have to sort of ask yourself like why do we define something? You know, >> well, that’s the tr that is that is true. Why do we need to define something? I mean, >> I think that you’re fair enough, you know, and and fair enough. But >> fair enough. >> And here’s what I would say about why we need to define something. >> Because it’s great fun. because what the hell else are we going to do with our time? But we would constantly just be like, “Can you hand me that thingamajig?” >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And you’d be like, “What? A sandwich?” And you’d be like, “Yes, it’s a sandwich.” And then I would hand you a hot dog. >> It’s just sick. >> There’s also legal reasons like >> are animals. I think humans are a type of animal. Much in the same way that I believe that a hot dog is a type of a sandwich, even though a hot dog is also very much its own thing. And I would argue humans are their own things, too. >> 100. I I 100% agree. But then they’re >> Do you think Okay, I have a question for you both. Do you think a hot dog has consciousness? >> Wow. Are hot dogs conscious? >> Because many people would say that’s what kind of divides humans and animals is like we have consciousness, etc., etc. So, sorry. Is the question evolve from is a hot dog a sandwich to is a hot dog human? Because >> we’re drawing a weird triangle right now. I think basically what I would like to introduce to you all today is the theory that perhaps hot dogs are actually >> the snap of the casing is actually the hot dog screaming in pain as it goes into your mouth. >> Yeah. >> Wait, Josh, tell me what what brought you to this conclusion that a hot dog is a sandwich? What was the turning point for you? Like this is like I feel like you’re getting like it’s like when did you become a creationist? >> Well, no, a little bit. And I think you can build a sort of creationist lens out of this all. But to me, I think it’s almost anti-reationism. I think a hot dog being a sandwich is actually like more pure Darwinian evolution. And it goes into the animals or humans thing. Um, a hot dog was simply called a sandwich when it came out. They called it a Frankfforter sandwich or even a Coney Island sandwich because at least in American English, we use the term sandwich to describe a food that is portable and that is generally held in bread that you can likely eat on the go. And then there’s actually legal reason to define things as such. If you say have an um anti- uh if you have like a non-compete clause with vendors that are moving into a mall, this happened in Minnesota where a Panera Bread moved in and said you’re not allowed to bring in any sandwich competitors. And then a Quudoba moved in and they were serving burritos and Panera sued them all saying a burrito is a sandwich because it functions the same as a quick serve item. >> So if you’re >> Yeah. >> Um they decided that a burrito is not a sandwich in that case. >> And I agree with that. I agree with that too. And here’s where my other issue is. Is Panera a sandwich shop? >> Well, no, but only with questions and zero answers. I’m just curious. >> Wait, wait, if I can get to the creationism thing really quick. Yeah, Panera mostly sells soup and lemonade that kills people. Um, >> yeah, >> but uh the creationism thing, I’ve since softened on my stance about a hot dog being a sandwich in the same way that I’ve softened on being that really ardent atheist who was really mad about people who believed in God when I was 15 because I was a scared teenager who needed to be right. So now I think when people talk about a hot dog being its own thing as opposed to a sandwich, I think it’s the same way people talk about humans being their own thing aside from the animal kingdom. Because there is something special about being human that separates us from animals. If if somebody sees me at the hometown defay, they say, “Josh, stop eating like an animal.” despite the fact that we are part of the kingdom animeia you know and if you look at this especially through maybe even a creationistic lens if you look at the book of Genesis God granted man dominion over animal you know so I think >> God created me God created hot dog created >> like yes and I think humans want to feel special because otherwise it’s a tremendously frightening existence in this universe and I think we want hot dogs to feel special as well because we have so many emotions tied to them >> and they are hot Listen, I think you guys both know how special I think hot dogs are. I do not think them as a sandwich makes them any less special. I know that they’re special. I know that they are deserve their own place in this world, the separate place. But again, I als I think of it almost like genus and species like hot dogs are hot dogs of sandwich species. Or maybe it’s genus. I don’t remember which one’s bigger. Genus is this little like at the top right of the pyramid. Does evolution make us more special or does it make us less special? You know, the fact that we weren’t divinely created or the fact that against all odds we did evolve from apes to create consciousness. Both are beautiful in their own ways. >> Guys, I thought we were talking about whether or not like it’s like cousin to the club sandwich and now it’s like it’s actually turned into thing. It’s like now you’re making me think that hot dogs are just like sandwich tadpoles. Like hot dogs are the become the club sandwich frog. And I’m confused and I’m I’m delighted. You’ve also you created a whole other thing where they you don’t want them to be their own thing because they’re part of like a big family. And now I’m like am I isolating the hot dog? Am I part of like this hot dogs are like sad because if they’re conscious then they’re sad that they’re not part of like an entire sandwich family and like >> well I think who am I to keep them from their people? I think we can all agree that hot dogs are conscious though, right? >> 100%. That’s the thing. Listen, if if we if life is a simulation, then hot dogs can certainly be conscious. Um, thank you for letting me get that off my chest because I I genuinely have been waiting to say that for years to sort of update my own beliefs. >> No, it was really beautiful. >> It’s a good philosophy. Really opened my eyes. Seriously. >> Okay. >> It’s been a long I’ve been educated like that. >> I appreciate that. If you have anything to educate me on, please. >> No, I certainly don’t. >> I’veanded long enough. Um, I think there actually is a thing you can educate me on. Good segue, Josh. Boom. You two just published a cookbook called Party People, and you are expert party throwers. So, the thing we’re talking about today is one, how to throw a good party, but then two, if you are a guest and you are bringing food to a party, how do you not ruin it? And you have already seen my style of what I bring to a party because um you consumed it. Um I I if you can tell people what I brought to the annual hot dog fest, I think that would be illustrative of the point. It was a hot dog martini. It was a hot Yeah. Hot dog washed vodka. I believe you did a vodka martini. >> That’s correct. Yes. >> Yeah. It was a hot dog washed vodka chilled glass served up with an olive twist. >> It was and a pickle, right? It was a pickle twist. >> So, it was um it was it was a it was a pickle, a pickled chili, uh an actual hot dog round, and then a cherry tomato dusted in celery salt. Right. >> How could I actual hot? >> Yeah, there was a tiny >> It was good. It tasted like a hot dog. >> It was It was delicious. I wouldn’t have thought of it, but it was incredibly delicious. And that’s what you brought to our That was the fourth annual hot dog. >> Yeah. What will you bring to the fifth annual? We’re really going to do it up next year, just FYI. Are you already thinking about it? >> Well, now I certainly am, but I I don’t I don’t know if I can keep um oneupping myself. So, I think maybe next year I’m just gonna bring cans of Hormill chili, >> you know? I think that might be >> Yeah. No, that’s great. If you could bring a bag of ice while you’re at it, we’d love that. And maybe some extra pot. >> Absolutely. But no, like like for real, if you are showing up to a potluck, what is your general strategy? And also, how would you grade my strategy of bringing um maybe the most insane drink that has never existed in the history of this planet? >> I loved your strategy. >> Yeah. A+ Yeah. because you leaned into the theme and this is something we’ve been talking with people about a lot on this tour is like people are really afraid of a theme or a dress code and hot dog fest has become its own dress code because people dress in like hot dog paraphernalia but also the theme is we’re rallying around hot dogs so there’s lots of conversation it gives people it’s a big bucket of people from all kinds of different walks of life some of my friends some of my parents’ friends my sister’s friends some friends of friends of friends and so it creates this bond where people have a container to say if you’re like randomly standing next to somebody that you don’t know you go like oh what was your first hot dog you know I don’t know what’s your favorite type of hot dog >> you were walking into a party where you like we were walking into a party where you knew us but there was at least 50 other people you didn’t know and you came in with basically a neon sign being like I got something to talk about >> you basically brought fire to the party yeah >> and So, it was, I think, an incredible and as you know, you were it was our first time ever voting on MVP of the party and you did receive that award. >> Thank you so much. >> Yeah, it was a strong entrance and I think that’s an incredible way to be a guest especially. It’s like, okay, I don’t know anybody I can like try and fade in the background or I can really just be like, I’m here. You want to know me? And everyone did. You made hot dog martinis and then you laid in the pool. Yeah. And also that was you’re like the only one in the pool in the pool just floating around >> if there’s a pool um laying in it. And and also um I I’m a big fan of eating pool water soaked chips. Not like fully soaked like chilic but a little bit of pool water on the hand. And so I I did um yeah have a bowl of chips to myself that I was eating with deliberately wet pool hands. >> So I don’t know if I don’t know if the details of the performance completely went noticed. >> What is it about the pool water that you like? Is the chlorine chlorine flavor takes him right back just like it >> in talking about you know food and memories and conversation and connection. It takes me back to like throwing you know I grew up in like a rent controlled apartment complex where the biggest perk that especially if any friends with more means came over was we had like a big pool that had a clubhouse. You know that we’d occasionally get kicked out by the apartment complex security cuz we were rowdy little kids. But that like feeling of eating chips with pool hands to me it just it creates a lot of memories. You know what I mean? >> It makes sense to me. Makes perfect sense to me. Same. I feel like Wait, did we answer your question before? It was what what to what not to bring to a part potluck. >> Yeah. What what would have been the worst thing to bring to Except for a closed off habitat. Yeah. To a hot dog party. >> I think like any any like raw fish. Like I’m not trying to bring like >> I was literally about to be like a bad attitude. >> Yeah. Imagine both of them. >> Yeah. Like anything that like is you know me, I always bring my raw fish and a bad attitude. But like specifically a potluck because if you think about potlucks, it’s like okay, you’re bringing a dish and it’s like sitting out more or less. M >> don’t just don’t bring like like a sashimi plate I think unless you’re like can back it up with like enough ice to keep it cool you know cuz that’s my thoughts I like where you’re going with this that you’re thinking that like a potluck is like everyone’s doing a self- sustained thing and it’s kind of like the bit that you did where you were like oh I need this I need that is like that is not my fave I am supportive of people who show up like we’ve all been there you know where you’re like trying to go the extra mile for the party. You definitely want to go to the party, but >> boys and girls, it’s falling apart. You know, the wheels are coming right off of this wagon. And so, you show up and you’re like, “Oh my god, the thing’s filled in the car. I need this. I need that. I need another container for it.” Like, that happens. >> However, do your best to have your together in the pot. I mean, >> everywhere else in life, I’m like, let’s let’s just be free. But like if this is a potluck, the idea is that we’re alleviating that everything is on the host and on the house to handle and that everybody’s bringing something that’s part of the larger hole. >> Yeah. At some point you are then adding a burden to the person throwing the party, right? And that >> you literally said, “Help me relieve this burden. I’m having a potluck.” Which is why what you brought was so good, too, because it was entirely self-contained. >> You know what I mean? >> Yeah. Until you drank it, and then you weren’t >> Oh, no. not self-contained at all. >> I I don’t know if you remember the other thing that I brought. I don’t mean to keep talking about myself, but I think this is a really interesting snapshot of like how I treat potlucks cuz I brought the dirty hot dog water martini, but then I also made a backup batch cocktail because I was so afraid that people were like, >> “What the hell is wrong with you?” >> What did you make? Did you make a jungle bird? >> I did make a jungle bird. >> Yeah, cuz that’s like my one of my favorite drinks. >> I didn’t get to taste that. I don’t think I knew you brought it. >> Yeah, I know. I remember it exactly that you were like scared that the that you went came out too strong with your hot dog martini >> hot dog festival and so you also were like if this doesn’t work out I have a something to fall back on which you know that’s nice. I appreciated it cuz I love a jungle bird. You know you didn’t need to fall back on it and the jungle bird was very much appreciated by me. My biggest regret in life is I didn’t get to taste that jungle bird. Oh shoot. Guess we’re going to have to have a party again. It’s going to be my backup cocktail exclusively for the rest of my life. Anything I make, I’m like, “And at least here’s liquor that I know tastes good that you can enjoy.” >> Hey, can you tell me what’s in a Jungle Bird actually? Cuz I don’t even know. I mean, it’s rum. >> Yeah. So, it’s typically like a dark rum, like a black strap rum, and then it’s pineapple juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and kari is the thing that like really makes it a jungle bird. >> That’s what I was wondering. I was like, “What is that’s the red part? That’s not too far off from our party people punch.” No, it’s not. I mean, there’s a little bit there’s some more ingredients in the Party People punch, but you know, again, they’re of the same family. >> Yeah. >> Oh, and I’ve drank plenty of the Party People punch. Um, which is the homemade fruit punch with added fruit punch to increase the amount of fruit punch fruit punch. >> It’s fruit flavored fruit punch. >> It’s true. I’ve never thought about it that way. It’s like you make a fruit bush and then you add fruit punch. >> It’s almost like adding condensed milk to your milk, which is delicious. Then you get like a late chase cake. In all of your years of hosting parties, and I love how much you sort of like almost write about academic theory behind like partying in the importance of community and gathering in the book, have you ever had any just like horrible disasters at a party? >> Yes. Yes. It’s a good one though. Um, I used to host a dinner party every month at my house when I was like in my early 20s and I remember going to a liquor store and being like, I need to get a bottle or something, having people over and the guy at the liquor store was like, I know what you can get, but I don’t know if you can handle it. And I was like, what do you mean? He was like, if you buy this bottle, it’s going to get weird tonight. And I was like, >> was it for loca? What was it? >> It was straga. What is that? >> Have you ever heard of? >> No. >> It’s a highlighter yellow like leour. >> It’s like lemon cello for a loco basically. It’s like >> super sugary and super high alcohol content >> and boy oh boy did that party get crazy. It was like multiple people puking into the same toilet. No, >> it was like a best guy friend of mine like basically professing his love for me and being like, “Oh no, it’s all getting weird. Everything’s getting weird.” And the guy at the liquor store told me that it would. And you know what? I had another party like many months later and I opened a bottle of it and it also got weird because I was like, “Surely that was just a coincidence.” So, I will say that one of my hot party tips specifically for your podcast is unless you want it to get really weird and real, don’t have Straga at the party. >> Or maybe definitely. >> Yeah, it’s your choice. But I’m just saying it will be weird. >> It will be weird. It will be weird. I think my biggest party fail is actually in the book is the one time it was my friend Leslie’s. It was her bachelorette party. We all went to Ohigh and we were like grilling and doing stuff. This was years and years and years ago. And um we were getting hammered and I put a bunch of zucchini down on the grill and then we proceeded to just get shitfaced. And um the next morning I wake up and I’m like and I like and I think we’re going to grill burgers for lunch too. I open the grill and like there were the zucchini just like on the grill. They’d been there all night. They had turned into completely into like charcoal briquettes. Um, and thank God like we didn’t burn the house down, but >> y >> I was like, “Wow, I shouldn’t be grilling after having that much alcohol that I would just We all just forgot.” >> Yeah. Don’t cook and drink that much alcohol. >> No. >> It’s kind of It’s kind of my biggest passion and hobby though is cooking. And now, now that I know I can introduce Straga into my life and make that really weird. >> Oh boy. Oh boy. I can’t wait. Bring it to the next hot dog fest. >> Yeah. Straga next hot dog fest. Let’s do it. >> Oh, we’re going to do we’re going to do like like a a mustard based straga cocktail and it’s going to be good. >> I like it. >> Isn’t straga like So when you said straga, I thought of Stragaona, the children’s book. And doesn’t that mean it’s not >> It’s like the witch I think. >> Yeah, the witch. So is the bottle like the means like the witch? >> Yeah. >> Whoa. Yeah. >> Oh, we should drink that for Halloween. It’s >> I’m scared, but I’ll try. I think I I was kind of thinking back to like my own weird drinking cooking disasters, but I think they all end up being a story, which is the thing that like you kind of want out of a party, but I recently did um me and all my best friends from college, we keep in touch basically through a fantasy football league. And so every year we do a fantasy football draft party where we get an Airbnb in some kind of inclusively not fancy location. So instead of going to Vegas, we’ll go to Reno, Nevada. We we do that. And so we went to Pismo Beach up on the central coast and we got an Airbnb. And you know, typically it kind of falls on me to cook and we’ll just get, you know, 12 pounds of pork roast and ribs and and figure it out. Um, but my buddy Nico showed up with uh 10 lbs of rabbit meat that he fabricated himself. >> Wow. And >> wait, what do you mean fabricated? Um, so he he raises rabbits >> and he uh >> rabbits are very they’re very environmentally friendly and they they breed and if we all ate rabbit meat instead of beef and pork, the the world would be better off. >> I’m wearing bunnies on my dress. >> I know. I know. Which gets me to my next point. Know your audience and don’t upset people. Um, do you have >> I know rabbit tastes great, but it makes me sad to eat it. >> Yeah, it does taste good. And also he had 100 quail eggs cuz he raises quailes as well. >> And so for a lot of people quail eggs are tremendously difficult to actually cook with because they’re so tiny you got to peel them. >> But instead um we had a sort of idea that I was going to make a Vietnamese braised um quail egg and pork belly dish and then make a prehispanic rabbit dish called mishote de kjo. And then all of we all got >> as we do, we all, you know, 10 dudes got drunk uh by about 11 a.m. and we created an assembly line of people hard boiling and peeling quail eggs and then people deboning rabbit meat and we all had a great time. So it’s like one person’s burden of bringing 100 quail eggs, know your audience cuz we had the best time. >> I I really like that a lot. I mean the this is like not as interesting as what you just said, but we have friends that do like a LKA party every year and it’s like >> a tamalei party too. >> Yeah, but the LKA party is the tumali party. They make the tumalies. We just arrive and enjoy tamali’s like the lotka party is big buckets everywhere and you peel potatoes. That’s fun. >> And it’s an all day party where people come through and they’re constantly making lotas and you’re constantly like everyone’s helping cook and it’s just like this group activity and it’s so fun. And that’s just a great example of like the thing that you think is like not what you’re supposed to do as the host, which is like you have everything perfect is really stopping a lot of people from having fun and just like enjoying. There’s something the lobka party really like hits for me because it something feels very ancient about like just peeling potatoes with like people and like just talking talking and drinking and peeling potatoes feels like >> so part of like deep in our culture and like maybe somewhere deep down too like dudes were like boiling and peeling quail eggs like I don’t know. >> Yeah. and deoning rabbits. >> Like deoning rabbits makes more sense. Like but I’m like maybe there were like you know the men of of yore that were peeling quail eggs. >> The men of yore >> for for sport. >> Yeah. No sport peeling quail eggs. I’ve read about that. >> You know what else I love as an interactive party is um like getting a bag of oysters, throwing them down like on ice on a table and like throwing a bunch of shuckers around and people are just like shucking their own oysters. >> Cool. That’s cool. It’s fun. you’re inventing new parties on the daily, but it kind of goes back to what you said of people are afraid to have a theme for their party and they’re afraid to like have a dress code. But I think you’re so right that people crave direction. They crave an activity. They crave um you know like restriction. If somebody asked me just like hey make a good dish or make a good drink, >> I wouldn’t know what to make. I would just be stuck if but if somebody says hey it has to be like hot dog themed um and it has you know that is then like really fun because then you can play with it. I completely agree. >> Yeah, having a box to work within creates the best stuff. Like people always say, think outside of the box, but I say create a big box and make someone who generally thinks outside of the box think inside the box of things. >> Oh, that’s always say that. She’s always saying >> you have merch that says that. I’ve seen your t-shirt that says all of that. >> He says it to me all the time. >> Yeah. Yeah. It’s in very small print on the t-shirt. It’s almost like the optometrist test where like you can’t read the lines, but you do say that >> that’s what a host is. You know, we think it’s like that the host is the one in charge of everything, but really what they are is they’re setting that the table like they are creating the container for people to enjoy the bouncing around in the the box. the box. Of course, the box as Courtney has been talking about the box and has always been talking about um >> that and so that can be anything that doesn’t that can be a potluck. Um we talk a lot in the book about like asking for help or um making like I really believe in like making a budget and like let the box let the box be the budget. >> Let the budget be the box. Yeah. whatever it is. Like there’s so many different ways to think about like, okay, what’s the container for all of this? And then like it helps you make all of your decisions. And when it’s the two of us, for example, it also helps us with our own decision tree of how we’re doing this party together is like we have the same goal in mind. And like we know we know what we’re doing. Like we know what what kind of party we’re having. And that helps you so much because you also know how to create that environment so that when the guest comes in, they can just immediately participate in that. Like you didn’t have to walk into hot dog fest to know how to participate at hot dog fest. >> No, you’re absolutely right. >> It’s very clear. >> It’s clear. >> This you like you two and party people has genuinely been so inspirational to me for hosting parties cuz me and my wife love to entertain. But we’re also coming out of that era in our lives where a party was just like we’re all going to get hammered and just you know people are going to talk about each other and that’s the main you know the main activity >> and like that sucks. And now I’m at the point where I’m like, I want fun and whimsy and I want direction. I want people to feel like they’re part of a specific world. So that rules. >> Thank you. We think so, too. Yeah. And I think that’s part of what the book is too is it’s like there’s so many different ways. Like a party could just be you and you and your wife watching a show or like going on a date night or like you and a friend or you dance party by yourself or like it’s four people. It’s a sit down dinner. It’s it’s enjoying a show together. Like it doesn’t all have to be like the fanciest thing or the biggest lift in the world. It’s just about gathering >> ultimately. It’s about making sure that like phones away and you hang out. >> Yeah. And that kind that intention, right? That’s like what drives it. >> Yeah. >> Um we’re coming up on holiday season big entertaining opportunities for people. If you two are invited to a friend’s giving, say that doesn’t necessarily have a theme, what are you going to bring? What’s your dish? >> Well, I know what I’m gonna do. Go for it. Go ahead. I almost always every year make lasagna like my special like making the pasta from scratch. It’s like 20 layers of like really thin bashimal. The lessons in chemistry lasagna is based on this lasagna. >> It’s >> and so that’s for sure what I’m bringing. And you slice it and then you kind of sear it on one side and you like see all the layers. This lasagna is heavenly. I wish that friend’s giving you make that for me because I want to eat that. Um, I’m going to make a family recipe, which is um my grandma’s uh potato casserole. >> And I got to talk with her about what it what’s in it cuz I haven’t actually made it. I’ve just enjoyed it. But it’s I definitely know that it’s frozen frozen hash browns are the potato and then it’s like >> I’m sure there’s like a cream of mushroom soup in there and like >> cheese and then there’s like the French onions on top. Mhm. >> It’s so good. It’s so good. >> I love a casserole. >> Yeah. I’ leave it to us to both pick like casserolely things because that’s >> that’s the best that’s >> the height that’s the height of food in my opinion. I agree. >> I’m bringing napkins. >> Oh, as you should. You know what? I like that. >> You cook a lot for Finally. We’ve been asking for napkins for so long. Finally, >> we finally brought them. Speaking of casserles, now it’s time to find out what other wacky ideas are rattling out there in the universe. And time for a segment we call opinions are like casserles. Everyone’s got one and they smell like onions. Now for the chorus. >> Onions are like casserles and casserles are like onions and onions are like your opinions. >> But why does everyone have a casserole? We will never know. Why do people smell like Why do pinions smell like onions? That’s kind of a silly thing to say. >> This is what happens when you don’t have adequate rehearsal time. You know, we’re all on different time signatures, different keys. That’s We’ll We’ll get there with practice. >> It’s jazz, baby. It’s jazz. Are like jazz. >> Let’s get to that first opinion. >> Hey, Josh and Nicole. Uh, recently I went to It’s Graham from Georgia. And recently I went to a family reunion and one of the like food options there was some canned pear with some mayonnaise, >> no >> cheese and one them little red cherries on top of it. And I was wondering what the hell was that and why would anyone want to eat that? >> I was wondering what the hell >> I’ve heard of this. This is an actual dish. I can’t remember what it’s called but it’s a thing. It’s a thing that people make a lot. >> But I’m shocked because this to me feels like this everything he said I was like yes and it’s encased in Jell-O. But he didn’t say that. >> This is a Jell-O situation. >> It is. But this time there’s no Jell-O. >> Well, so which came first? Did someone remove the Jell-O from this? >> No, there was never Jell-O in it. >> I think this predates jelly. It’s >> No, I’m saying this was first and then someone jelloified it. >> Oh, yes. Yeah, correct. And like kind of for I noticed Courtney, you and I like both perked up when we heard it because we’re as like longtime career food sickos. This is a thing. It’s called southern pear salad. >> Don’t know what’s southern about it except for the mayonnaise and the and the cheese. Um but yeah, this was like the fact that we have so many fruits available to eat right now is like so new in modern history. And so any time that like say canned fruit company came out with a new product that was like, “Hey, we canned pears now.” Now, when it’s 1928, here’s how to eat a canned pear. Uh, put mayonnaise, cheese, and cherries on it and put it on lettuce. >> Yeah. >> Of all the things to do with a canned pear, you know, of all the things, like why? Because people loved mayonnaise. Remember when we went to London and we ordered Taco Bell and they sent us mayonnaise instead of hot sauce? >> No, that’s true. That’s true. >> That’s awesome. Yeah, those are not mayonnaise. Maybe the mayonnaise is like the jell-o. It’s like the base of it. So, are we saying in the what the hell is that? I just want to clarify to this man. >> Um, I think this is a salad. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> I think this is classified as a salad. >> It’s like a tuna salad salad kind of thing, but it’s a pear salad. >> Like a Waldorf. Think of it as a Waldorf salad cuz but instead of apple, it’s canned pear. >> It’s also kind of a wedge in in architecture. It’s kind of a wedge and that you have to you have to slice it and you get to choose your own bites of you know how much mayonnaise and cheese do you do you want on that bite of pear which is never a sentence I’ve said >> I wish you said this man was here to we could have a conversation it wasn’t just a voicemail because I want to know like eat it >> you buy it you want you know what I bet it’s good I bet there’s a reason why it’s found and it’s still being made I bet it’s good >> I bet it’s awesome >> bite I wouldn’t have a bite I’d leave that y’all. >> All right, next voicemail, Jamie. >> Hi, Josh, Maggie, Nicole. This is Amber from Buffalo, New York. Um, my food opinion is that potatoes are overrated. >> I’ve never liked potatoes and everybody always seems to really like them, but I’m just not a fan like in any form. And secondly, I always think this every time I listen to you guys podcast, Nicole sounds just like the girl from the Bee Movie, and I cannot get over it. All right, thanks guys. Welcome to the podcast. Bye. >> Nicole is currently on maternity leave, but we can call her. Uh, she has a sweet newborn baby, but we can call her to get her to make sure she sounds like the >> be Yeah, I want to make sure I understand the be movie voice situation, but it’s okay. Um, I got to go back and watch Be Movie so I can figure this out for certain. I am really taken aback by this take. >> I am concerned for this woman. Um, what do you mean? In all of your travels, in all of your life, you never found a single potato preparation that worked for you. I feel that the world has failed them. >> And I’m scared. >> Yeah. And potatoes are my favorite food. >> Yeah. Potatoes. Bri says this like I’ve heard Bree say this many times. He’s not just saying that. Potatoes of all kinds. Every form of potato. That’s Bree’s favorite food. So, >> wow. >> If that’s like when people go like, “Oh, you only can have one food.” I’m like potato. Like just potato category potato. >> So, I don’t I’m just really confused. Maybe I’m not the right person to speak on this hot because I’m like so deeply in like immaculate potato culture that like I actually can’t I can’t look in this direction. No, I agree with but I agree with you though. Like how can you not like any form of potato unless you have a potato allergy? But I would but like how do you not like >> a single there’s like not like potatoes are one of the most versatile foods in the world that can be made into so many different things with so many different other ingredients added to them. How do you how like I want to know what this person likes then? Like what is what is her favorite pear salad? >> Yeah, pear salad. >> I I’m I’m I’m not doing this just to be devil’s advocate. I think I may understand where she’s coming from a little bit in the sense I know. No, hear me out. This is crazy. Um >> be careful. >> I feel like dude, please do not rescend my hot dog. I feel like as MVP I um I have like an automatic admission to the next one no matter what Harrison about to say 100%. But like I I think we are overexposed to a lot of potato preparations when we’re young. Like I grew up eating so much bad mashed potatoes and bad tater tots from a school lunch line. And so I think when you’re kind of overexposed and especially as you try and find like quote unquote more interesting foods like for me I I almost never cook with potatoes at home which is crazy unless I’m making a dish that you know like um what’s the the the Peruvian walk tossed. Why am I blanking on this right now? >> Papa sala or something. Um, but if for me like I would rather have like a palenta than a mashed potato in almost any in almost any form. >> I don’t like I don’t love palenta. >> You don’t like palenta? >> Palenta is oatmeal. >> I like grits. Basically I don’t like grits and palenta are basically the same thing. But for some reason I think grits palenta always seems too thick and like like for some reason grits are like a fried palenta. But we’re getting too far away from the potato and and like I hear you and I I do get that because >> potatoes are culturally like just like a sustenance food. Like they are for like keeping us alive and not necessarily being the best the bestly prepared the mostly prepared food. So I hear you on that. I just find it like really hard to believe that like never in your life in all the French fries in the world of all the different ways you could have a fry for example. >> That that’s where I want to press a little harder because I feel like the French fry there’s like you didn’t try like a crisscross fry. You haven’t tried curly fry, a thick like steak fry. What about a twice baked potato? What about like I mean a baked just a reg a once baked potato? >> Yeah. Yeah. Just a simply once baked potato. I don’t know. I’m just like it feels hard to to just be like I think they’re overrated is is like just I almost need we need to go to another one because this one’s like too that one’s like >> I need to hear another person talk about something cuz I’m like that broke my brain and like I want to send like my condolences and like the whole potato community like my heart goes out to that woman and like please like we are here for you and we’d love to welcome you in like I wish that this was not just a conversation. >> Yeah. Can we reach out to us? DM us on Party People and let’s like Can we have a conversation? Can we like potato? Yeah. Can we like figure this out? Because >> that was the most threatening we’ll make you a potato I’ve ever heard. >> We’ll make you a potato. >> All right. Next opinion. They’re upset. They’re upset. >> I’m set. >> Risoto is porridge for snobs. >> Damn straight. Damn straight. Yeah. You know what? And from the girl who just said palenta’s oatmeal, I hear you. And it doesn’t mean I I like risotto. >> I like risoto, too. >> I like porridge. I can be a snob sometimes. >> What if you think about kanji, though, which is kind of like >> I think of as a It’s definitely a porridge, but I also think of as like a Chinese risoto. >> It is. But I think if you were I think we’re um especially with like David Chang and the 2010s and Roy Choy in LA, I think we’re sort of shifting a lot of this narrative, but like risoto is seen as like a very fancy dish with a lot of mythology behind it, right? Anyone makes risoto on top chef, people go, “Oh, they can’t make risotto the whole time.” Yeah. Whereas not seen that way. >> Exactly. >> What I’m saying is that they are basically the same. And so I agree that risoto is porridge, but I don’t think it’s necessarily >> I think people think it’s snobby, but I don’t think it should be. I think it’s a simple easy food and it should be seen as >> I think I think people who make risoto well are snobs. >> Yeah. I think they think that to do something honestly like the entire rice cooking community like I’m like you know something I don’t understand. Like I’m like I’m making rice roll roll and rolling the dice. I’m I’m making rice. I’m praying. Like there are people out there who are like rice, no problem. Got it. You know, and I appreciate them. And I also feel like there’s like a little like hoidy toy in being good at that. >> Well, I think that um I disagree. >> Wow. >> I think that people I think that people who really know how to cook rice know how actually easy it is to do, especially like a rice porridge type of thing. >> So, do you think insecure about rice? >> No, no, no. I think No. I just like a really good steamed rice is so hard to make. But when you’re talking about rice porridge like a risoto or a condandy or something like that, it’s actually really easy to make. And I think people >> who don’t know well I think people who make it are and they’re being snobby about it are are um being fake and weird and like trying to get by with something that’s not Oh, people think this is hard, but I just made it. I know it’s not, but I can be like I can be big guy on campus. >> Yeah. Yeah. the risoto. Exactly. Exactly. No, I I like that >> and I agree. Batman was right >> with the risoto. There’s been like a historic overvaluation of a lot of Western European foods, you know. Um and so I think like where they’re coming from might be shaded in that. And as far as rice cookery goes, so many rice is the most commonly eaten food around the entire world. Like they’ve been growing it and eating it natively in the southern United States for a long time. They’ve been growing it and eating it natively in West Africa. I grew up around a lot of Persian food. Persian rice cookery with like the long grain basmati rice is really interesting because you basically cook it until like 85% done in a giant pot of water like pasta and then you strain it >> and then you put it back into a pot to kind of half finish steaming and that’s what makes Persian rice like so fluffy and the grains don’t cling together. And so there’s just so many different ways if you look at like aros com pooo or something like where it’s like you know a dish that’s effectively kind of like finished in the oven or almost halfway to kind of a paella. There’s so many ways to cook rice and I think people get hung up on what the perfect rice is as opposed to what a delicious rice is. >> Yeah, agree. Again, bringing the people together. >> We really are. >> Yeah. >> All right, we got in the rice. Let’s let’s let’s just enjoy it. >> We got time for one more. >> Let’s do it. Last one. It’s got to be a good one. If if either Bri or Courtney get upset, we have to go to another one. >> Hello, mythical friends. Um, I wanted to give you guys my opinion. Sorry, this is Cat from Orange County. >> Hey, G. >> Um, I wanted to give you guys my uh food opinion. So, I know you have discussed at length the musical, I’m sorry, >> culinary masterpieces of Mormon cuisine such as funeral potatoes and the dirty soda. But have you ever heard of the Mormon ambrosia salad? So essentially what it is >> first >> it’s going to be a container of your cool whips, a container of cottage cheese, obviously the small curd the better. And then a package of green jell-o powder. And then you mix that up. And then you’re going to drain a can of pineapple chunks. And you’re gonna throw the pineapple chunks in your goopy cottage cheesy whippy green salad. And that is the most quintessential Mormon salad out there. It’s their version of the ambro salad. And it reminds me of childhood. Anyways, enjoy >> enjoy >> enjoy enjoy. Well, I come from a lineage of Mormons and I can attest to this. The Ambrosia salad is alive and well. >> And I would like to add to this if if she’s listening, and I hope that she is. Is she aware of the candlestick salad? >> That is something to see. >> Oh, I am not, >> Bri. Now I’m upset. That kind of that kind of ruined my whole day. You thumb >> It’s just a banana dessert. It’s just a banana dessert with a cherry on top. >> You thumbmed your You thumbmed your nose. I saw you thumb your nose at the pear salad from earlier. And you show me this. >> You show me this. >> That is such a good point. I That is such a good This is its own thing, guys. Much like a hot. It is. Is this a Mormon, too? unclear. Yeah, I think it’s more men andite actually. But but anyway, yes, the ambrosia salad is for real. Did Did either of you know about the ambrosia salad? >> More into culture. >> I didn’t know about that version. My grandma made a version that she called five cup salad, which is a cup of marshmallows, a cup of coconut, a cup of sour cream, a cup of mandarin, canned mandarin oranges, and a cup of light brown sugar. >> That would also >> five cup salad. >> Five cup salad. That’s cute. And it’s good. And it’s very much similar. I think similar vibes. >> Yeah. >> I I grew up on Ambrosia because my family is from the kind of like Menanite region of like Lancaster County, Lehigh Valley area. And so I grew up eating ambrosia salad just kind of thinking it as like white vaguely Midwestern Silvin people cooking like church cookbook type stuff. >> Um yeah. >> What’s crazy though is I was talking to a Filipino friend and they were like I was at actually a potluck of theirs and they had ambrosia and they’re like, “Oh, this is my favorite Filipino dish.” And I’m like, >> interesting. >> Was it different in any way or was it like the exact same ingredients? >> I mean, everybody Ambrosia salad, everybody kind of makes it a little bit differently with different canned fruits and marshmallows and sour creams and whatever, but it was like very I recognized it as Ambrosia salad. And so I think the Mormon, like the Mormon kind of claiming of Ambrosia, the kind of Midwest Presbyterian church cookbook, the Filipino, it’s all just sort of like gathered around this uh idea of like bunch of prepackaged ingredients which would have been popular in any of those, you know, kind of cultures. Um, combined with a love of gathering. And I think that’s sort of beautiful. >> Yeah. I I think you’re so on to something there. And it’s like everyone kind of takes it as their own because you at some point you’ve just grown up with it. It’s not like ambrosia salad. There’s a there’s a starting point to ambrosia salad. You know, it’s not the same thing as like a boiled potato, which it’s like that could go back much than an ambrosia salad. >> But I love that different cultures have taken it as being like their own thing. >> And part of why it’s survived is like it’s it is kind of like church food. It’s the thing where it’s like you have a gathering and it like sits out all day and it can it can hold because it’s not really >> perishable in any way. >> Yeah. It’s kind of interesting too because I just thought of this like no one’s making ambrosia salad for themselves. Like they’re not just like making ambrosia salad dinner for two like you make that you make that to bring to a potluck. You make that for big large gatherings. >> No one just like putting that on a Thursday night dinner. It really reminds me of like school gathering, church gathering, like >> watching football even. Like there’s something about like it’s like getting together for something. >> Y’all need to throw an old school like 1920s slightly pre-epression era church cookbook party. I think that’s where we’re going. >> Trust me, we these are things we talk about and consider all the time. We’re like, do we want to do a whole book of recipes that’s like, and then you open this can and dump it in, and then you open another can and dump it in. Like, not know, but >> these are things we think about. >> Yeah. >> I mean, I I’ll do full cosplay, too. I’ll be like the, you know, kind of out of town sexy preacher who’s coming in with like new slightly more liberal ideas. Still incredibly regressive as seen through a modern show. >> I’ll be like, “Women should be able to wear pants only on Fridays, you know?” >> Yeah. And we’ll whisper Uh, Bri, Courtney, y’all are incredibly awesome. The book is awesome. Congrats on finally being Pub Day. Uh, you got anything else to plug? >> No, please buy our book. Yeah, just please buy our book. >> Just please buy our book. >> We worked really hard on it. We’re incredibly proud of it. Um, and really excited to have people experience it and to hear about the gatherings that they’re throwing and hopefully get some party ideas. Maybe we can maybe you can open up >> um your hotline. >> Yeah, for some party ideas. We come back on and be like good at good party or bad. Yes, we throw that or no, we wouldn’t. >> Canned pear salad party. I think we’re doing it. >> I’m in pear salad. Well, I was thinking and you would be the perfect person to invite over for this of doing like a chopped party. >> Oh, that’d be fun. And a canned pear would be a fun one in a chopped basket. >> Give me a 100 quail eggs and I’m down. >> That’s what I need. >> A deal. >> Deal. Okay. It was great talking with you. >> Likewise. Likewise. I’ll see you. Bye >> bye. >> And on that note, thank you for listening to a hot dog as a sandwich. We got new audio only episodes every Wednesday and a video version here on YouTube on Sunday. If you want to be featured on Opinions or Lake Casserles, give us a ring and leave a quick message at 1833 Dog Pod 1. And for more mythical catching, check out our other videos. We launch them heck man every week all the time. Go check it out over on YouTube. We’ll see youall next time. >> Bless you. A good exclamation point on it. We all got to eat and we know you’re dying to get your hands on a last meal’s apron and pin.