Forks on the Left

Let's face it, we're right at the beginning of "Dessert Season," cold weather, family gatherings, ski-vacations…it lasts until we start thinking about bathing suits and beaches sometime after Valentine's Day. After a little dessert-directed Day Drinking featuring Stone Brewing Co's Seasonal Chocolate/Chili/Spice/Coffee Beer, "Xocoveza" and Handmade, Barrel-Strength Bourbon from Noah's Mill, Strauss and Phelps sit down with Lisa Ritter, one of the founders of LA's beloved "Big Sugar Bakeshop" (and a really great story-teller). We taste and talk about the sweet stuff and hear about Lisa 's journey from being raised in a food-centric, Jewish/Italian family to the surprising, even to her, beginnings of Big Sugar. She'll share her recipe for Old-Fashioned (and amazing) Banana Bread and a few great secrets to REALLY EASY Cookie Pie Crusts. Oh, and Strauss and Lisa explain the wonders and complexities of catering "Abondanza" style…something they each learned in their own way from Lisa's mother, (and pro-caterer) Carol Ritter. Additional guest appearance from Friends writer/producer, Jeff Greenstein (who also happens to be Lisa's husband).

Day Drinking: Stone Brewing's "Xocoveca" - a winter-spiced mocha stout, and Noah's Mill handmade, small-batch Kentucky bourbon.

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Banana Bread

Big Sugar Bakeshop - Website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

If you didn't fill up on Kim Dickens during our Halloween episode, here are a few more delicious bites. It's incredible how much "what we eat" says about "who we are." Kim answers Forks on the Left's "10 Questions" — picture James Lipton (or Will Ferrell) and the "Inside the Actors Studio" questionnaire…but with food, and Strauss and Phelps.

Guest: @KimDickens Host: @Forks_ontheLeft

For more bonus content, check out our website - forksontheleft.com

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It's a 'Friends' reunion! We are joined by Jeff Strauss's college buddy and for many years, his writing and producing partner, the award-winning Jeff Greenstein, the original "Other Jeff." In this week's episode, Strauss and Greenstein, who co-wrote the very first 'Friends' Thanksgiving episode, share never-before-revealed secrets behind "The One Where Underdog Gets Away."

You'll hear the hilarious and horrible, real-life story from Strauss's life that inspired that much-loved, Emmy-nominated holiday tale. You'll also learn the surprising inspiration for Monica's need to keep everybody happy with potatoes. An exploration of Greenstein's childhood in suburban Atlanta and his comical "food-rules" lead to a discovery and a dare as Phelps and Strauss make Greenstein eat a food he has never tried before. What more could you want? A little eating, a little drinking, great stories from behind the scenes at one of the biggest hit TV shows ever — and a food called "Orange Carnage."

Jeff Greenstein - Twitter, Instagram Day Drinking: a Nordic alcohol adventure — Aalborg Aquavit from Denmark and Bjork from Iceland (liquor with a real birch branch in the bottle)

http://www.forksontheleft.com/episodes/ep-4

In honor of the election season we all wish would end, it's the most American of battles… no Dems v. Repubs, no "Blue v. Red", this is Ultra-High-Calorie Meal v. Ultra-High-Calorie Meal. It's Corn Dog versus Salmon Tartare Coronet, Brisket-Cheesy-Fries versus Sweet-Butter-Poached Lobster Fricassée. It's the 2016 Tulsa State Fair facing down a 2012 visit to Napa's 3-Michelin-Starred The French Laundry!

How will Strauss and Phelps survive course after course of complete and total over-indulgence? These are the GREATEST FOOD EXCESSES OF OUR TIME going toe to toe… do not miss one riveting minute! Hear about how Phelps had to call in reinforcements in a moment of weakness facing down the dreaded Donut-Cheeseburger. Hear how Strauss's dining companion collapsed in the face of just too much great food and wine… Who will be left standing…? And what about the mechanical bull??

Special Phone Guest: Steve Clark (actual survivor of the donut-cheeseburger)

Day Drinking: Four Pillars Navy Strength Gin and Fever Tree Tonic vs. Tito's Handmade Vodka and Club Soda

Check out our website for pictures of the Tulsa State Fair food extravaganza and our Day Drinking cocktails.

Guests: Kim Dickens, Erika Nakamura, Curtis Di Fede

Nothing better than blood, sharp objects and zombies on Halloween, and we've got lots of all of that — and Kim Dickens, star of 'Fear the Walking Dead' and HBO's 'Treme'. Starting off with a cocktail — "The Bloody Vampire Killer" — Kim and The Jeffs dig into her experiences playing Chef Janette Desautel and starring alongside the likes of Superstar Chefs Tom Colicchio, David Chang, Eric Ripert, Wylie Dufresne, John Besh and Susan Spicer as well as her current role as Bad-Ass Mom, Madison Clark and feeding/killing for your family during the zombie apocalypse. Strauss surprises Phelps and Dickens with a little in-studio, fresh-made Beef-Heart Tartare and the three wrestle with the perennial question: "If you had to eat one person, who would it be?"

Along the way, Strauss visits one of America's "Top Woman Butchers", Erika Nakamura at her hot-new butcher-shop/eatery, White-Gold Butchers, in New York to talk "How to Cut Up a Carcass"… and later sits down with Napa's rising-star chef, Curtis Di Fede, of Miminashi. The show finishes with a musical 'treat' courtesy of YouTube star Andy Rehfeldt.

Day Drinking: "The Bloody Vampire Killer" with guest bartender "Manimal"

Guests: Phil Rosenthal, Adam Cole

In our first-ever episode, hosts Jeff Strauss & Jeff Phelps hang out with the always-funny Phil Rosenthal, writer/creator of the massive hit comedy 'Everybody Loves Raymond' and star/creator of 'I'll Have What Phil's Having'. Strauss, Phelps and Phil talk eating, family, TV, travel and Phil's lifelong hate/love experience with food.

The three are joined by chef Adam Cole, whose career has taken him from the front-lines in fine-dining kitchens of superstar chefs Michael Voltaggio and José Andrés to open his own Los Angeles restaurant — Maple Block Meat Co. — a BBQ joint. Chef Cole shares some smoked-brisket secrets and talks about how modern technique informs his approach to 'Cue.

Day Drinking: Craft Beer vs Beer Beer — Hanger 24 Orange Wheat vs Miller High-Life