Eater's Digest

Plastic straws have become the villain we can all cheer against, but how did we get here? Researcher Sam Athey explains why straws are significant in the fight against plastic pollution. Brenna Houck tells us how straws became a media darling. Finally, David Rhodes, the global business director at Aardvark paper Straws, shares what it's like to be at one of the fastest growing companies ever. Hosted by: Amanda Kludt and Daniel Geneen. Sign up for Amanda Kludt’s newsletter here

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has Gabrielle Hamilton broken Ken Friedman out of #metoo jail (00:30)? New York City has banned activated charcoal usage in all foods (6:00). The Museum of Ice Cream has been deemed an environmental hazard by the city of Miami Beach (11:00). Pop Culture editor Greg Morabito caches us up on the 3+ weeks since Anthony Bourdain's passing (14:50). This month in why Yelp sucks (19:00). Sarah Huckabee Sanders was kicked out of a Red Hen restaurant and people went nuts (23:30). Madame Tussaud is opening a Hangover themed bar in Las Vegas (27:20). The World's 50 Best Restaurants is still a terrible list; why do we cover it (32:20)? Hosted by: Amanda Kludt and Daniel Geneen. Sign up for Amanda Kludt’s newsletter here

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Droege, the man in charge of Uber Eats, explains how the service started, how they interface with restaurants, and what they see as the future of the brand. Hosted by: Amanda Kludt and Daniel Geneen. Sign up for Amanda Kludt’s newsletter here

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mad scientist Dave Arnold is FINALLY opening another bar in New York (1:30). After some serious controversy, New Orleans Bartender Neal Bodenheimer has taken over Tales of the Cocktail, the biggest event in the cocktail world (32:00). Finally, big deal Chicago bartender Julia Momose is championing the spirit free cocktail movement and trying to rid the world of the term 'mocktail' (56:00). Hosted by: Amanda Kludt and Daniel Geneen. Sign up for Amanda Kludt’s newsletter here

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

South Carolina's whole hog master, Rodney Scott, wants to bring his barbecue to the entire world. Fresh off a James Beard win (the second ever awarded to a pitmaster), Rodney has just announced his third restaurant in Birmingham and shows no signs of slowing down. Hosted by: Amanda Kludt and Daniel Geneen. Sign up for Amanda Kludt’s newsletter here

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Chang of Momofuku and Ugly Delicious was on stage at the Code Conference for a talk with Amanda and Peter Kafka of Recode Media.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disney is now selling alcohol at all of their restaurants (00:45). Adam Moussa breaks down the Publix Summa Cum Laude cake (4:45). There are now LaCroix bathing suits (10:30). Serena Dai and Monica Burton catch us up on the latest Mario Batali news, including the 60 Minutes investigation (13:00). Mondelez, the company that owns Oreo, has bought NY favorite Tate's Cookies (21:50). Pop Culture editor Greg Morabito calls in to talk Sweetbitter (25:30) and the Chew cancellation (32:00). Just Salad is stomping on NY tradition by ending chopping across all stores and Stefanie Tuder is upset about it (35:00). Was the food at the Royal Wedding too on trend? (39:45) Hosted by: Amanda Kludt and Daniel Geneen. Sign up for Amanda Kludt’s newsletter here and Greg's pop culture newsletter here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Special correspondant Meghan McCarron explains what Tex-Mex is and why it has the reputation it does. Taco journalist Mando Rayo calls in to talk about what it was like growing up in the era of Taco Bell and why it's important to cover Tex-Mex. Hosted by: Amanda Kludt and Daniel Geneen. Sign up for Amanda Kludt’s newsletter here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Sietsema has been covering food in New York since way before food was cool. Today, he's taking us to some of his favorite spots in Queens and explaining how he went from chemist to rock musician to food critic. Hosted by: Amanda Kludt and Daniel Geneen. Sign up for Amanda Kludt’s newsletter here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nigella Lawson dropped by the studio to talk about her new book At My Table, how she got into restaurant criticism, and why if she wasn't working hard she'd just lie down. Hosted by: Amanda Kludt and Daniel Geneen. Sign up for Amanda Kludt’s newsletter here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices