Have you ever wanted to broadcast the shit that comes out of your mouth while drinking with friends? That's kind of what happens on the Super Amazing Restaurant Show, a new podcast from Eggslut and Amboy chef Alvin Cailan and Badmaash co-owners Nakul and Arjun Mahendro, that launched yesterday (check it out here). The roughly 45-minute podcast touches on everything from the latest in food news to that time the Mahendro brothers got kicked out of a Downtown bar.
But first, there's drinking (And shout-outs. So many shout-outs). Alvin, Nakul and Arjun fuel up on Hennessy before delving into the recently released list of Bon Appétit's 50 Best New Restaurants. They're stoked about RiceBar's nomination, and talk about Filipino food's moment in the spotlight before musing on Baroo's inclusion, Trois Familia's Mexican influence and Cassia's service imperfections. There's some Far East Plaza love directed at Howlin' Ray's, and how you should definitely order their chicken from the bottom (least spicy) up.
There's talk, too, about the over-explaining that goes on with today's restaurant menus—fancy names, sourced farms, etc. "Do you guys talk about what farms are listed [at Badmaash]?" asks Alvin. "No, fuck that," Arjun says. More drinks are poured.
A large portion of the podcast deals with a story about Arjun and Nakul getting kicked out of an unnamed Downtown bar, and how the shitty service they received goes against everything they've been taught working in the hospitality industry. "You have to practice humility," says Nakul. "There's only certain industries where you can be arrogant," agrees Alvin, before Arjun jokes, "Rap, and fucking food."
I love this podcast for the sheer honesty that comes from these guys. They give a lot of restaurants love but don't shy away from talking about spots that have some issues to work out, whether it's service or attitude or menu design. "Every time we go out we have these in-depth conversations about what we do," says Alvin at the beginning of the podcast. "Maybe other people want to hear this, too." I'm definitely listening, and can't wait for the next episode.