The late great curmudgeon Kenny Shopsin, Jewish zen master and chef in one, maintained an inviolable code of rules at his bodega turned restaurant, Shopsins. His rules, including no parties greater than four, were set up to maintain order and decorum, while keeping himself from murdering the clientele. In this episode Mecca and I bring a Shopsin sensibility to critiquing the issues with restaurants today, while culling up our most sacred family moments of dining out.

Though entirely singular in its impact, the 2019 Coronavirus has exposed underlying fissures in foundations of the industry that need to be discussed. Will we solve these issues in this episode? No, but we can at least weigh in on the conversation. For more thoughts on the crisis of restaurants and the safety of workers, stay tuned for a forthcoming chat with former restaurant owner Angelo Pinnacchio of Bar Luchador, coming soon on our Patreon page: https://patreon.com/meccabos.

Don't worry, though!! This one won't leave you heavy like basket of carbs that sat too long in the fryer.  We also talk yams, Abe's Chinese redneck family, and taboo hobbies.