Mad Food

After dining at three Michelin star Osteria Francescana in 2018, and having less than a stellar night, Max went on a food criticism journey bringing him all the way to present day, where hewrote about that night eight years ago on Substack, shared it to Instagram, and then everyone entered the chat, including Massimo Bottura himself. Jordan and Max sit down with Max’s dining companion that night, Pistol Pete to talk their strangeevening in Modena and the reaction from the Instagram crowd.

The bites, booze, hits, losers, regrets, and social nightmares all for an incredible cause at LA Loves Alex's Lemonade.

Plus, what have the fellas done for each other, LA burger crawl options, more Jordanator shame, one steak for the rest of your life, Fall is here and there's nothing we can do about it but eat, The Husk, Mad Food corespondents, LA Times Food Bowl, Lakers vs. Warriors, and Souplantation is back, but will it be worth the schlep, and Max's thoughts on Jordan's Soupy P's move?

Plus, tipping habits, perceived value restaurants, Sora Craft Kitchen is on the move, food cities to visit, cookware and tools curation, an investigation into an Infatuation personality, bringing seasonings to meals, the coffee test, owning a dry-ager, and random ass neighborhoods.

After much talk, it was time for Judgement Day as Max critiques Jordan's cheesy shrimp taco collab with Santa Monica Seafood. The fellas talk all the sesame seed sprinkling, big name chef interactions, a horrendous mistake, and the continued haunting Jordudo history. Then, they preview an a-list chef lineup they're going to attack together at LA Loves Alex's Lemonade, the greatest food event of the year, benefiting the most deserving charity. Lastly, the boys recently sampled Matū Kai's newest dish, an elk chop that deserves all the attention. Join Jordan & Max at LA Loves Alex's Lemonade October 17th!

Jordan and Max talk the most expensive loaf of bread in New York (and possibly the world), if it could be worth it, why it's working, and where it may all lead. Then, Max outlines what a test would look like to qualify as a food influencer in a perfect world, which Jordan attempts to take, and you may be surprised with the results.

Jordan asks Max for a reality check and wonders if he's entitled after a recent experience at a pizzeria featuring not enough ranch dressing, an ornery owner, and Diet Coke corkage that may explain it all. Then, the boys talk their recent meal at San Damian, the highly acclaimed Abbot Kinney Mexican seafood restaurant that demands all the salsas, better lighting, and less pineapple.

Jordan and Max answer audience questions covering MaisonSota in Paris, looking five years into LA's dining future, what cuisine Max would love to learn, sous vide chicken directions, Uncle Pints vs. Lasker, why can't Brentwood have nice things, New Jersey seafood, a Venice schlep decision, the creepy daughter question, LA Times 101 is coming, and a Max fit check.

Jordan and Max answer audiences questions covering SoFi Stadium suite life, Jordan's son's dessert beating all Yom Kippur contenders, grocery store sushi, Mexico City plans, Max's weird storage issue, LA sesame dishes and the "Jordanador," Highland Park chewing, smuggling horse and birds, Tokyo love & hate, the LA Times got Lielle right but butter wrong, and most people thought the Zoom episode actually sounded great, leading Jordo down a dark path.

Jordan went to Sora Craft Kitchen for the first time and breaks it all down for Max, who was in Carmel with KB eating and drinking during a wedding weekend, and the fellas had to Zoom record this one, which pissed off one of them. Plus, notes for all navigation systems, an aphrodisiac town, and the future of Mad Food may be in peril after this one.

The fellas talk their recent time together in Las Vegas, LA Indian food options, Max possibly being a white devil, the famous punim effect, more Japanese vs. American toilet debating, Rick Caruso dream projects, consuming inside yurts, Jordan's Michael Jackson story, maybe there is pod tension, and all the new menu items at Chain's Westfield Topanga pop-up.

Jordan recounts a hellish caloric day where the daughter had a birthday party, his GLP-1 wore off, and way too much sushi, pizza, candy, and cake was in sight. Plus, marone vs. madone, Max finally ate a Dubai bar but never goes full chubby, disappointed nurses, and way too many pills.

Marée is the newest bistro from Michelin starred chef Marcus Jernmark, whose ode to French cuisine and California is now open on Pico Blvd., where Jordan and Max sit down with Marcus to experience the food and beverage game before talking it all.

The Q&A returns with Bar Sawa vs. Shunji, homemade ice cream thoughts, Pizzeria Sei bar pies and NY slices, a Catalina discussion, an Israel trip, Alphabet in the Palisades, movie theater soda drinking, a diabolical FMK, Rosh Hashanah meal highlights, 3 Michelin Star bug rules, and are Jordan and Max feeling tension?

Jordan and Max answer audience questions covering Enclos, what pairs best with ramen, fish bloodline thoughts, wine bags, DTLA's possible return, Saint James Iced Tea vindication, paying for bread baskets, dropping the check speed, real estate rivals, waiter behavior, more bidet talk, an ungodly pour of scotch, and the good, the bad, and the ugly of Infatuation LA's recent work.

This year's LA Chef Conference will feature Providence's Michael Cimarusti and Jordo is participating again with a shrimpy collab to feast on, so the Mad Food fellas travel to Hancock Park to talk kitchen leadership, hot vs. cold lobster rolls, clam bellies vs. strips, Michelin ketchup and cocktail sauce, disrespectful nicknames, love for Max, throwing Jordo a bone, the worst and most difficult fish to cook, Michael's at home eating, and reaching and maintaining mountaintop status. Purchase tickets to LA Chef Conference (October 5th) to hear Michael speak and taste Jordan's newest shrimp creation with Santa Monica Seafood ⁠HERE

Is Jordan the Joe Pesci of the show? Are toilets with bidets and seat warmers better? Is Max officially a Dark Triad after a text with the all-star formerly known as Netflix Andy? Plus, what's the Pasjoli schlep meter, will Max start shooting up with Reta, and is the closest thing to an Alice Waters restaurant in LA any good?

Sushi Nakazawa has landed on Robertson, and the boys saddled up to the bar for a Michelin level night of service, "the best sake list in America," wild glassware for the pours, and the only question was: would Jordan be challenged or is it pure pleasure? But first, Max headed down to Del Mar with Hector to celebrate Addison's two decade anniversary and reports on the rice and egg and food media stink eye scene.

And more Q&A covering French food in LA and the new old name on the scene, everyone calm down about ai, Jordo watered the head without Max and has no sense of fashion, Not No Bar rambunctiousness, Westlake Village food crawl with PHD’s wallet, Benjamin x Chubby Fish, a bad nickname idea, the Leopardo space will be filled soon probably, a rare restaurant Jordan thinks Max would like, the Culver’s order, red Burgundy advice by Bubbles, hanging with food writers, Summer treats to beat the heat, the most famous chef isn’t even known for LA roots for some reason, and did Max lie about peeing in a Vegas pool?

Max's secret from his recent San Francisco trip is exposed, LA restaurants that are making the best of Summer ingredients, a short farmer's market report, Mei Lin and more at Chain's new mall pop-up, Vin Folk's tasting menu, 80s music, bad restaurants to enjoy, living in Venice, Jordo's comfort food, "annihilating" podcasters Jonah Hill style, Saint James instructions, reservation apps, Sphere talk, more hot dog toppings, and the best new dish at Matū Kai is probably going away.

Max travelled north leaving Jordan in LA dust to dine, drink, and report on Alice Waters' greatness, an iconic chicken, raining possible tears in The Mission, and a newcomer putting out one of the strongest dishes in recent Bubbles memory.

The boys finally visited a dinner pop-up they've been chasing, a blast from Max's past is back in Venice, Jordan's Peking duck rankings gets a polish, taste testing Swedish candy, and a Bourdain movie mini review.

Another day in desert paradise for the boys was filled with a perfect steak and burger, impressive omakase antics, shirtless Max, Yoohoo Jordo, gambling behavior, a hell of a lobby bar, and the good and bad of Vegas day one feedback.

He's back serving a dish at LA Chef Conference on October 5th with his friends from Santa Monica Seafood, and has three concepts he pitches to Max for feedback and to help him land on the one that's going to get it done. And if you'd like to taste Jordo's dish and attend LA Chef Conference, you can purchase tickets here.

The boys travelled to the city of sin for a food, booze, spa, and goblin fueled vacation, reviewing the airline, hotel, spa, restaurants, and bar where it all went down. And this was only day one.

Max gives farmer's market arrival advice and has to suck it up when it comes to everything, a new LA pizza force of a neighborhood, dinner party planning tips, Jordo's Taco Bell lettuce feelings and restaurant bathrooms, kid friendly spots, a Diet Coke vs. Coke Zero talk, tipping, Nancy Silverton being spread too thin, top 5 peking ducks, and what really makes a successful restaurant if it isn't the food?

Jordan was in Jersey eating pizza and has thoughts, what food apps does Max use and some advice for influencers, an exploration of hot dog toppings, Comfy vs. Ricky, Dallas possibilities, Japanese ice, outdoor dining options, what to order at Hermon's, will Stella West Hollywood return, where to get a LA BEC, and thoughts on the new Pizzeria Sei.

Jordan recently made a bag of his favorite candy containing seven different flavors of Jelly Bellies, and Max aka The Palate Professor, will blindly taste each one, attempting to decipher and reveal Jordo's dark addiction bag to the world.

The story of Found Oyster is told in Adam Weisblatt's new book, For The Love Of Restaurants: An Insider's Guide From Daydreams To Opening Night, so Jordan and Max sit down with Adam to talk a life in owning and running restaurants, the lessons learned, and all the success that has and can follow. Plus, is restaurant investing really just throwing money away, how bad is the city of LA when it comes to opening small businesses, and the finished but never opened restaurant that was wiped away by the Palisades fire and lives on in dishes at Hermon's.

Jordan and Max talk the current meaty, sesame seeded roll matchup. Two LA cheesesteaks are dominating the conversation and calorie consumption of the city; and they can both be enjoyed, but only one can reign supreme.

Jordan and Max finally made the voyage to Betsy in Altadena, where the reviews have been mostly strong, but the boys needed to know if the seasonal, hearth centered restaurant is worth the schlep. Plus, all the veggies, proper pork temp, day drinking at a new bar, Max doesn’t want to watch soccer with Jordo, but he is a fashionista despite being in the hot seat, Saint James Iced Tea energy, and of course, what is the official Betsy schlep meter?

Shawn Lickliter is a co-owner and bar mind behind Vandell, a Los Feliz cocktail bar that Max believes is at the top of the LA game. Jordan and Max first talk a recent visit together, what food they paired with all the beverage, and needing therapy based on what room they like to sit in when drinking. Then, the fellas are joined by Shawn to talk how Vandell came to be, the secrets behind batching and pricing, and one of the only bananas Jordan loves.

Recipes for you to follow for the perfect poolside gatherings, including a tomato salad, the perfect hot dog, Jordo’s dip & wrap, two types of burgers, gotta have some corn, fruity desserts, and a Summer cocktail to wash it all down. Plus, grill cleaning techniques, a Bubbles appetite/weight update, and a disturbing theory on why the boys have never hugged.

A recapping of the recent awards, Max makes his own picks, and Mario Carbone has thoughts that may make sense in Los Angeles. Plus, a coastal pizza battle, sushi pricing, and lazy Susan love.

And more audience questions are answered like fixing DTLA, how Mish Deli is getting Max to come in, old Air Jordan episode love, the best restaurant scenes, Jordudo strikes again, more nicknames, Hillstone beef, Max restaurant beef, two Spain spots, and Culver City vs. Sherman Oaks.

Jordan and Max answer audience questions and it's all Chace Crawford cooking, LA dot cakes, food industry awards, a la carte sushi, Jordo's dad move at Luger's Vegas, getting obliterated together but not hugging, Wold Cup watching, and foods that almost always suck.

The only food critic in LA who matters, and known Japanophile shares his top ten Japanese restaurants (well, 11). Plus, a review of the second best Kaiseki in Los Angeles featuring the best beef in recent memory, and Max just may be a very sick person.

There is no better time of the year for cocktails & wine than Summer, so Mad Food booze corespondent Max Shapiro has the beverages you need for successful sipping. Plus, Jordan offers his thoughts on the business of Summertime booze, and he recounts a recent Wednesday morning trip to the Santa Monica Farmer's Market.

Jordan and Max talk how to eat Hillstone's spinach and artichoke dip and the conspiracy surrounding it, a recent trip to Two Rose pizza night, and JorDudo went back to the Mar Vista bistro where the Knicks game kept him in dud mode, but the chicken salt fries and dessert got him excited. Plus, the comfort of roast chicken, French mushroom lingo, and outing a friend.

Summer is beginning to Summer, so Max breaks down all the current and coming soon buys at Hollywood & Santa Monica Farmer's Markets, including the only tomato, cucumber, and mango you need with some recipes to boot. Plus, recent comments on the pod are reviewed including 50 Best Restaurants rankings, the worst pizza, Boston's tier, and Bruce.

It's the good, the bad, and the ugly of America's favorite chain of restaurants as Jordan and Max talk it all, including an examination of the best Hillstone menus in the country. Plus, a spinach and artichoke dip conspiracy, unsweetened meats, and the one dress code we can all agree on except for one listener.

Jordan and Max talk their pizza consumption in New York and the disaster slice shop, the dumbest dessert craze, a coastal cheesesteak battle, central California dining options, Vandell cocktails, natural wine strategies, sparkling water choices by Bubbles, three new restaurant opening in LA, Brentwood OGs, and is Dorsia a scam?

Jordan and Max review the recently released 50 Best Restaurants in North America, Komal's glowing New York Times review, this week in buffoonish food influencer behavior, tier two cities, Fat & Flour closing a location, dream pod guests, and Jordo being a dud in public. Plus, Max ate a shocking amount of dessert, GLP-1 symptoms, a fancy Summer BBQ, the Bruce pop-up opportunity, and a non-Jumbo Time wine situation abroad.

Peckerman is back to guide Jordan through his health goals with the help of the 100-pound-down-man Max Shapiro, and it's all about getting steps, fat shots, caffeine intake, struggling at the gym, sauna and ice, cardio advice, fasting habits, protein goals, and everyone's favorite calorie game show is played. Plus, Josh's Corner Store NYC review, Max on salads, a Jordo vegan rant, Neil Young's neck, movie popcorn nutrition, staring at the morning sun, Max's dental scraping, and horrible sleep.

The NYC bang-bang-bang was experienced by Jordan and Max who lived to talk it before sitting down with co-owner Chase Sinzer about the ethos behind it all. Plus, Chase gives pairing advice for the shrimpfecta, a decade old lasting hospitality Momofuku memory, Max going clavicular, and a plea for Los Angeles.

Jumbo Time Wines owner Jon Yadegar joins Jordan and Max to talk a recent boozed out lunch in NYC at the inexplicably dissed by the New York Times Le Veau d’Or, where the fellas drank and ate it all and tell the tale. Then, Jon talks how Jumbo Time Wines happened, where it's going, and how restaurants can partner with them to create their own bottles. Plus, Jordan’s problematic glassware, swirl game, kabob love, a taste test, and Max pitches Mad Food’s collab with Jumbo Time Wines.

Max finally ate Jordan’s favorite burrito at Eduardo's Border Grill, the fellas talk the recent New York Times 100 Best Restaurants number one spot and the one glaring miss, then Jordan recounts all the calories he celebrated Mother’s Day with. Plus, bagel flavors are ranked, lox cream cheese gets a rant, Courage tips, and hot honey vs. pineapple on pizza.

Dave Stassen aka Pints Sr. returns to talk his current life of ice cream, how to best stay in shape with that nasty sweet habit, and he then faces off with Max in everyone's favorite game, Will The Real Cream Boy Please Stand Up, where Jordan seeks the tough dairy answers on cone options, gelato differences, free sample etiquette, and the truth about sorbet. Plus, Running Point season 2 is now streaming, what exactly is a "showrunner," and when is it acceptable for a man to suck his fingers? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Jumbo Time Wines, and use promo code: MADJUMBO for 20% off all orders

Chef's Table co-creator Brian McGinn joins Jordan and Max to talk the fellas recent crawling through New York's cocktail scene with reviews of Katana Kitten, Sip & Guzzle, Martiny's, Schmuck, and Superbueno, and how it all compares to what's happening in Los Angeles. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit Jumbo Time Wines, and use promo code: MADJUMBO for 20% off all orders

Drinking everyday of your life, issues with the trainer, dad noises, Jordan guesses Summer ingredients, Vegas restaurants the fellas plan to dine at, a bakery rant, Bar di Bello goblet and cutlet, the Boston Celtics vs. Jordo and seafood, and a recent McDonald’s order and subscription rumor are just some of the topics covered as Jordan and Max answer audience questions. ⁠⁠⁠Visit Jumbo Time Wines, and use promo code: MADJUMBO for 20% off all orders