Foodbeast Katchup

By Foodbeast

What's Foodbeast Katchup about?

With no-holds-barred conversations of all things food, The Foodbeast Katchup aims to find the backstories to your favorite restaurants, food brands, and chefs.

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Foodbeast Katchup episodes:

07.21.2020
#118: Dunkin’ & Del Taco Serving Boba?!
Boba goes mainstream in the U.S. as fast-food chains like Dunkin’ Donuts and Del Taco begin serving bubble tea & popping boba pearls. On today’s episode of The Foodbeast Katchup podcast, we discuss the Boba wave going on in America. Del...
07.07.2020
#117: Will Artificial Intelligence Save Restaurants?
The global pandemic and the resulting restrictions and limitations brought on the restaurant industry — from prohibited dine-in to a forced pivot to delivery and pick-up only service — has brought on unique challenges to small business owners throughout the...
05.22.2020
#116: REST IN PEACE SOUPLANTATION
In the latest episode of Foodbeast's The Katchup Podcast, hosts Elie Ayrouth and Geoff Kutnick, along with managing editor Reach Guinto, wax poetic, and eulogize just how much Souplantation meant to them, while also exploring the immediately unfortunate prospects buffets...
05.07.2020
#115: José Andrés is Re-activating Restaurants To Feed At-Risk Seniors
Famed Chef & Restaurateur José Andrés has positively affected millions through his non-profit World Central Kitchen (WCK). In addition to feeding entire communities devastated by natural or economic disaster in Puerto Rico, Tijuana, Venezuela and beyond, WCK had to pivot...
04.16.2020
#114: $7 Billion & 1.4 Million CA Restaurant Jobs At-Risk
Restaurants are one of the strongest backbones of our community because of how many roles they serve beyond providing sustenance to patrons. They act as a third space for gathering & connecting, they employ tens of millions in the US,...
03.23.2020
#113: Coronavirus Is Worse Than 9/11 For Restaurants
"If 9/11 and the credit crisis were wrapped up into one, this would still be worse." The Coronavirus has created a crisis in the restaurant industry, and while they’re fighting to stay open, others have already shuttered as they are not...
03.06.2020
#112: Building Theme Parks Inside Pizza Parlors w/ John’s Incredible Pizza
John Parlet dared to turn his pizza parlor into an indoor amusement park, and it is still one of the most unique pizza party experiences you’ll ever see. With 50,000 square foot restaurants occupying malls across California, John’s Incredible Pizza houses...
02.20.2020
#111: Hip Hop's French Fry Dealer w/ Mr. Fries Man
Craig Batiste went from dealing fries in parking lots, to opening his own brick and mortar restaurant in Gardena, California. "Mr. Fries Man," as he calls himself, joined the Katchup podcast and talked about how people thought he was dealing...
01.30.2020
#110: WTF Is A Zero-Proof Bar?
Alcohol-free bars are starting to pop up around Southern California and the Katchup crew discusses the new phenomena. These bars create high-quality, well thought-out "mocktails," and give them the same love a cocktail with alcohol would. Joining us is Voice of OC’s...
01.23.2020
Weed Sriracha -- Mr. Peanut's Super Bowl Funeral -- Protein From Thin Air [LITE]
It's been a busy week in food news, and we're hereto Katchup with all of it. First, some pretty big news from Planters, as they decided to kill off their lovable Mr. Peanut mascot after 100+ years. With conspiracy theories, and...
01.16.2020
#109: What Is Whole Animal Butchery?
When you go to a grocery store, you’re usually presented with pre-selected cuts of meats that are popular, and sold in bulk. Because of that, the art of going to a butcher who utilizes the entire animal to its full...
01.09.2020
#108: Becoming a Major Foodie Influencer At Age 50
While taking photos of your food has become a bit of a Millennial's game, 50-year-old Connie Aboubakare has taken advantage of the trend, and made it her career. Through a more mature lens, Connie has not let her age keep her...
01.02.2020
Sneaking Tortillas Into AYCE Korean BBQ [Lite]
Korean BBQ is a unique experience where you get to be the grillmaster while still sitting at a table and conversing with loved ones. It's a fairly perfect dinner that you wouldn't think needs an upgrade, but we found a...
12.26.2019
#107: Holiday Edition: NBA's Secret Eating Habits w/ ESPN's Baxter Holmes
Happy Holidays, Katchup Crew! Hope you're enjoying the last few days of the year, eating as much as possible, and as much basketball as possible. As it is NBA season, we wanted to reshare our favorite episode of the year,...
12.19.2019
Taco Bell Unveils Their Own Vegan Meat [Lite]
Welcome to Katchup Lite! This new shorter format allows us to talk about more timely news and immediately get it out to your lovely little ears. Taco Bell finally revealed that they had been working on a secret, oat-based meat. Their ingredients...
12.12.2019
#106: How Cheesecake Factory Feeds 100M People A Year
The Cheesecake Factory is a go-to restaurant for millions across the globe, and we spoke to the man in charge of making sure they all go home happy with their meal. Chief Culinary Officer Donald Moore has been with Cheesecake Facotry...
12.05.2019
#105: The Future of Drive-Thru is Vegan
The plant-based revolution is starting to make its way to the drive-thru, and Plant Power is one of the leaders in that movement. The San Diego-based restaurant already has two drive-thrus operating, with more on the way. Co-founder Jeffrey Harris joined...
11.27.2019
#104: Origin Story: Salt & Straw Ice Cream [w/ Co-Founder Tyler Malek]
Salt & Straw Ice Cream co-owner and flavor master, Tyler Malek, joins the Foodbeast Katchup podcast to tell the iconic ice cream shop's origin story. Malek takes us through an 8 year journey of what it took to make Salt &...
11.21.2019
#103: Booty O's, Pancakes & Wrestling w/WWE Superstar Xavier Woods
We've all had dreams of becoming a professional wrestler at some point in our lives, and Austin Watson, AKA Austin Creed, AKA Xavier Woods, is actually living out that wild dream. Austin joined The Foodbeast Katchup to talk how food has...
11.14.2019
#102: Camel Meat Or Popeyes, We're All Hypocrites
Popeyes chicken sandwich fever hit yet again, and it was just as insane this time around. People have been shot at, gotten in fights, waited in long lines and created absolute madness for this little fast food sandwich. Just as crazy...
11.07.2019
#101: High At David Copperfield
The Katchup Crew invades Vegas, and with a handful of new edibles, courtesy of Blum Dispensary, they embarked on a magic-filled adventure. Trying to get that full Vegas experience, Elie, Geoff and Izzy made their way to see the great David...
11.01.2019
#100: 2019's Top 10 Fast Food Game Changers Pt. 2
PART 2: It's been a wild 2019, and the innovation coming out of fast food has been game changing. The Foodbeast editorial team came together to discuss the most shocking moves that the likes of Starbucks, Carl's Jr. and even...
10.31.2019
#100: 2019's Top 10 Fast Food Game Changers Pt. 1
It's been a wild 2019, and the innovation coming out of fast food has been game changing. The Foodbeast editorial team came together to discuss the most shocking moves that the likes of Starbucks, Carl's Jr. and even Pieology have...
10.24.2019
#99: The Legend of The Coney Dog
It's often hard to pinpoint the origins of common foods around us, but perhaps the strongest case for the chili cheese dog comes from American Coney Island. This week, Chris Sotiropoulos, co-owner of American Coney Island, tells the story of how...
10.18.2019
#98: Oaxacan Me Crazy: The Mezcal Episode
Mezcal could very well be the next tequila, and Bricia Lopez is leading the charge in that revolution. The "Oaxacan Princess" joined the Katchup Podcast to talk about Mezcal's growth in Los Angeles, and what it means to have a...
10.10.2019
#97: Unlocking The Vegas Food Scene
Las Vegas is a wild, fast, and irreverent city. No one embodies all those traits quite like Drew Belcher, founder of UNLOKT Las Vegas, one of the go-to food sources for locals and visitors alike. In this episode, Belcher penetrates through...
10.03.2019
#96: Meth, Addiction and The Vegas Foodstagram Scene
You never know what someone had to go through to get to where they are, and no story embodies that better than Paul Ryu's AKA @ryusauce. After leaving South Korea on his own at 13, Ryu's life hit a tailspin...
09.26.2019
#95: Origin Story: Wolfgang Puck
Wolfgang Puck is arguably the most recognizable name in the food world, as things we take for granted such as TV cooking demonstrations, open kitchen restaurants, and even California-style fusions, can all be linked back to Puck. He is a...
09.20.2019
#94: Boba Guys Is For The Culture Pt. 2 [w/ co-founder Andrew Chau]
"I just want to stop explaining boba to white people." That is the tongue-and-cheek goal of Andrew Chau, co-founder of Boba Guys as they strive to make boba drinks commonplace in the U.S. Chau and his fellow co-founder Bin Chen have...
09.19.2019
#94: Boba Guys Is For The Culture Pt. 1 [w/ co-founder Andrew Chau]
Boba Guys is pushing to make bubble tea as common as sushi, and in a very rare podcast appearance, co-founder Andrew Chau joined us to share just how they're going to do that. In "episode one" of a two-part series...
09.12.2019
#93: The Most LA of LA Coffee Shops Is Now International [w/ @Alfred]
Alfred Inc. has become a staple in Los Angeles with Instagram-worthy drinks and a coffee/tea shop experience like no other. Founder Josh Zad jumped on the Foodbeast Katchup podcast, shared how it all came to be, and how he transitioned...
09.05.2019
#92: Breaking All The Sushi Rules
Sushi is a very traditional Japanese dish, and we've all known it to look a certain way, taste a certain way, and feel a certain way. Wave Asian Bistro in Mount Dora, Florida, however, is breaking all the sushi rules, taking...
08.29.2019
#91: Prison Food Culture w/ An Ex-Con
If you've ever wondered what it's actually like inside a prison's walls; author, entrepreneur and ex-con Andrew Medal jumped on The Foodbeast Katchup podcast to give us an unflitered look. Fully embracing his checkered past, Medal's new book, "Don't Drop the...
08.22.2019
#90: From Iconic Streetwear To Food Fests w/ Ben Hundreds
The Hundreds is a pioneer in the Los Angeles streetwear game, and co-founder Ben Shenassafar, AKA Ben Hundreds, joins the Katchup to talk about their new Family Style Food Festival, the stories behind The Hundreds past iconic food collabs, and...
08.15.2019
#89: High At: An Underground Cannabis Swap Meet
When Elie got invited to a secretive event by a friend, he was under the impression that it was going to be a dinner. The closer the day came, he had his suspicions, and eventually realized he had just committed...
08.09.2019
#88: The Indian American Love For Taco Bell
Virali Dave recently discovered that her family's affinity with Taco Bell was shared throughout several pockets of the Indian American community.Dave explains her experience growing up as an American Indian immigrant, and how Taco Bell has evolved into a cultural...
08.01.2019
#87: Snoop Dogg Headlining A Noodle Festival
With "Foodbeast Presents: Nood Beach" less than a month away, the guys detail what to expect at the Southern California food and music festival. From Snoop Dogg headlining the music side of things, to unique food experiences such as VIP Lobster...
07.25.2019
#86: LA's All-You-Can-Eat Wing Festival
It's summer festival season, and we talk through the only two So-Cal festivals that matter; Wing Fest, and Nood Beach. Lawrence Longo, founder of the Off The Menu App, eater of 365 Burgers in 2018, and the man behind LA's upcoming...
07.18.2019
#85: Origin Story: Coolhaus Ice Cream
It all started with an engineless postal service truck that was bought off Craigslist in 2008, and has led to an ice cream brand that now is being distributed in over 7,500 grocery stores. Coolhaus ice cream co-founder and CEO Natasha...
07.11.2019
#84: Charging Influencers Double
Having a ton of followers can get you a lot of free stuff if you know how to work it, but one ice cream truck is fighting back against these free handouts. Joe Nicchi, owner of L.A.'s CVT ice cream truck...
07.05.2019
#83: The Hug Life Chose Me
While plant-based ice cream is not necessarily a new concept, there's a southern California ice cream shop that's destined to be the plant-based Baskin Robbins. Hug Life Anti-Dairy Ice Cream is changing the way you look at vegan ice cream, and...
06.27.2019
#82: High On Baseball... And Edibles
After experiencing Medieval Times high as kites, the Katchup crew continued its mission of replicating nostalgic events under the influence of new cannabis-infused snacks. This episode, they guys popped in some edibles and ate their way through Angels Stadium in...
06.20.2019
#81: From Dropout To Serial Restaurateur w/ Andy 'Cool' Nguyen
Afters Ice Cream is arguably one of the hottest ice cream chains in the world, and was actually Andy Nguyen's first foray into the food and restaurant world. Before Nguyen changed the ice cream game and became a serial entrepreneur, he...
06.17.2019
#80: Star Wars Galaxy's Edge: A BREAKdown
Disneyland's much anticipated Star Wars land, a Galaxy's Edge, has finally opened to the public. After visiting twice since opening, The Katchup's Elie Ayrouth, a resident Disneyland Annual Passholder has some very specific feedback on the dedicated Star Wars experience. To...
06.07.2019
#79: Origin Story: House of Blues
Another great week in the world of KATCHING UP with the coolest people in the food game. This week's guest is Michael Grozier, House of Blues employee #1. House of Blues is a rock & blues-themed music chain with Southern food...
05.31.2019
From Jail To Fusion Powerhouse, The Story Of Fatima's Grill
The Katchup episode we spent with Ali Elreda of Fatima's Grill was one of our personal favorites, and one of the most listened to episodes in the catalog. With Fatima's Grill's continued growth, we figured this week would be a good...
05.23.2019
#78: NBA's Secret Eating Habits w/ ESPN's Baxter Holmes
NBA players are often seen as larger than life personas, and inaccessible, but ESPN Senior Writer Baxter Holmes has found a way to unify them with the common fan, through food. Holmes has covered the NBA for nearly a decade, and...
05.16.2019
#77: World's Best Pizza Lands In Hollywood
Italy is the birthplace of pizza, and while many try to replicate the classic Neapolitan style, there's nothing quite like the real thing. Well, now one of the oldest pizza shops in Italy has touched down on U.S. soil for...
05.10.2019
#76: Lao Chef Calls Out Foodbeast
After Foodbeast posted a video highlighting a restaurant and a special menu they called the "Lao Table Feast," a Lao chef spoke up for the underrepresented community and called out the content within the video. Saying that there was not...
05.02.2019
#75: Beyond Meat Goes Public, Vegans Go Mainstream
Vegans were the bud of jokes for years, but with the rise of plant-based meats, and the announcement that vegan powerhouse Beyond Meat is now being publicly traded, no one is laughing anymore. From Del Taco to Burger King, plant-based meats...

What's Foodbeast Katchup about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Foodbeast Katchup episodes:

#118: Dunkin’ & Del Taco Serving Boba?!

#117: Will Artificial Intelligence Save Restaurants?

#116: REST IN PEACE SOUPLANTATION

#115: José Andrés is Re-activating Restaurants To Feed At-Risk Seniors

#114: $7 Billion & 1.4 Million CA Restaurant Jobs At-Risk

#113: Coronavirus Is Worse Than 9/11 For Restaurants

#112: Building Theme Parks Inside Pizza Parlors w/ John’s Incredible Pizza

#111: Hip Hop's French Fry Dealer w/ Mr. Fries Man

#110: WTF Is A Zero-Proof Bar?

Weed Sriracha -- Mr. Peanut's Super Bowl Funeral -- Protein From Thin Air [LITE]

#109: What Is Whole Animal Butchery?

#108: Becoming a Major Foodie Influencer At Age 50

Sneaking Tortillas Into AYCE Korean BBQ [Lite]

#107: Holiday Edition: NBA's Secret Eating Habits w/ ESPN's Baxter Holmes

Taco Bell Unveils Their Own Vegan Meat [Lite]

#106: How Cheesecake Factory Feeds 100M People A Year

#105: The Future of Drive-Thru is Vegan

#104: Origin Story: Salt & Straw Ice Cream [w/ Co-Founder Tyler Malek]

#103: Booty O's, Pancakes & Wrestling w/WWE Superstar Xavier Woods

#102: Camel Meat Or Popeyes, We're All Hypocrites

#101: High At David Copperfield

#100: 2019's Top 10 Fast Food Game Changers Pt. 2

#100: 2019's Top 10 Fast Food Game Changers Pt. 1

#99: The Legend of The Coney Dog

#98: Oaxacan Me Crazy: The Mezcal Episode

#97: Unlocking The Vegas Food Scene

#96: Meth, Addiction and The Vegas Foodstagram Scene

#95: Origin Story: Wolfgang Puck

#94: Boba Guys Is For The Culture Pt. 2 [w/ co-founder Andrew Chau]

#94: Boba Guys Is For The Culture Pt. 1 [w/ co-founder Andrew Chau]

#93: The Most LA of LA Coffee Shops Is Now International [w/ @Alfred]

#92: Breaking All The Sushi Rules

#91: Prison Food Culture w/ An Ex-Con

#90: From Iconic Streetwear To Food Fests w/ Ben Hundreds

#89: High At: An Underground Cannabis Swap Meet

#88: The Indian American Love For Taco Bell

#87: Snoop Dogg Headlining A Noodle Festival

#86: LA's All-You-Can-Eat Wing Festival

#85: Origin Story: Coolhaus Ice Cream

#84: Charging Influencers Double

#83: The Hug Life Chose Me

#82: High On Baseball... And Edibles

#81: From Dropout To Serial Restaurateur w/ Andy 'Cool' Nguyen

#80: Star Wars Galaxy's Edge: A BREAKdown

#79: Origin Story: House of Blues

From Jail To Fusion Powerhouse, The Story Of Fatima's Grill

#78: NBA's Secret Eating Habits w/ ESPN's Baxter Holmes

#77: World's Best Pizza Lands In Hollywood

#76: Lao Chef Calls Out Foodbeast

#75: Beyond Meat Goes Public, Vegans Go Mainstream