Acquired Taste Food Podcasts

Acquired Taste Media
  • 4.9 (67)
  • Food
  • Weekly

Welcome to Acquired Taste Food Podcasts, the feed where you get fed. We believe everyone is entitled to unreasonably strong opinions about what they eat. We just happen to yell those beliefs into a microphone. OUR SHOWS: LA FOOD PODCAST🌴 For LA food news, gossip and restaurant reality checks, hosted by Luca Servodio with special contributors Father Sal and Karen Palmer. TAQUEANDO WITH BILL ESPARZA 🌮 For deep dives on street food culture and hotter-than-hell takes, produced by Robert Haleblian. COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF 📺 To not feel so alone while you binge food TV shows ranging from To

  1. 12h ago

    The Definitive LA Times 101 Best Restaurants Analysis | THE LA FOOD PODCAST

    Today on The LA Food Podcast, Father Sal and I have once again committed the frankly psychotic act of treating the LA Times' annual 101 Best Restaurants list like it's the NBA Draft, dear listener. We've got spreadsheets, hot takes, and enough grievances to keep a restaurant publicist employed through Christmas. The 2026 list is here, and we've got some questions. Is newcomer Lielle really the best restaurant in Los Angeles? Has Funke somehow become more essential than Bestia and Bavel? Does Alta Adams' meteoric rise to #10 prove that Keith Corbin is having the year of his life? And what exactly did Pizzeria Bianco do to deserve getting kicked off the list altogether? We're going deep on the biggest risers, the most brutal falls, the perennial heavyweights, the most egregious snubs, and the restaurants we're betting on for 2027. Plus, we discuss my OTHER 101, because apparently one list of 101 restaurants simply wasn't enough. But first, we recap the sold-out Echo Park Pizza Crawl, which raised $1,750 for Soccer Without Borders, plus some very good eating at the LA Food Bowl, Carousel, Mr. T, and Quarter Sheets, where I may or may not have committed an act of betrayal against my best friend. And in Chef's Kiss / Big Miss, we're tackling the explosive Memo Torres vs. LA Taco saga, an absolutely deranged scrambled egg scene in Nathan Fielder's Elizabeth Holmes documentary, restaurants finally putting their foot down on menu substitutions, and the horrifying economics of Halloween candy. It's a big one, dear listener. Get comfortable. LINKS AND FURTHER READING Memo Torres responds to LA Taco Eater on the scrambled eggs scene in You Can See Everything Eater on restaurants pushing back against substitutions The New York Times on skyrocketing Halloween candy prices THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SLANG.AI Slang.ai is an AI phone concierge built specifically for restaurants, helping teams handle incoming calls, reservations, guest questions, and more, so staff can focus on the people actually dining with them. With its new Superhost technology, Slang.ai can recognize guests' emotions, adapt naturally to conversations, and even handle interruptions and language switches. Restaurant groups like Memento Mori Hospitality and Telefèric Barcelona are already using Slang to help manage their phones. Learn more about Slang.ai and Superhost here: https://www.slang.ai/restaurants?utm_source=la_food_podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=superhost_launch_oct_26&utm_content=ad_read And check out our recent interview with Chloe Makhani of Casaléna to hear how her restaurant uses Slang.ai to improve hospitality. Powered by Acquired Taste Media.

    The Definitive LA Times 101 Best Restaurants Analysis | THE LA FOOD PODCAST

  2. 2d ago

    LA TACO's Meltdown: Memo Torres, Javier Cabral & the Fallout | TAQUEANDO WITH BILL ESPARZA

    All hell has broken loose at LA TACO. Following the firing of longtime reporter Memo Torres, the departure of Izzy Ramirez, and a series of increasingly contentious public statements, one of Los Angeles' most beloved independent publications finds itself at the center of an extraordinary controversy. Bill Esparza and Rob break down the entire saga, from the ethical questions surrounding Torres' relationship with a California state senator to LA TACO's handling of the fallout, its ownership structure, and allegations of newsroom dysfunction. Bill also opens up about his own complicated history with editor-in-chief Javier Cabral, including a little-known story about how he landed the book deal for L.A. Mexicano. Then, in a stunning late-night twist, Torres publishes his side of the story while Bill and Rob are recording, prompting an emergency addendum and a whole new set of questions about LA TACO's future. Plus, the guys recap the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants celebration, the growing influence of Latino chefs on LA's dining scene, and some of the list's biggest surprises. It's an unusually explosive episode of Taqueando, and nobody is holding back.

    LA TACO's Meltdown: Memo Torres, Javier Cabral & the Fallout | TAQUEANDO WITH BILL ESPARZA

  3. 3d ago

    Anything off the trolley, dear? (Dessert Week) | GBBO S17 E5 | COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF

    It's Dessert Week in the Great British Bake Off tent, but somehow Elizabeth Holmes has found her way into the conversation. Nancy and Bits are back to recap Season 17, Episode 5, where the bakers tackle self-saucing puddings, a tricky bread-and-butter pudding technical, and a gloriously retro dessert trolley showstopper. We're talking soggy bottoms, questionable textures, and who's emerging as a serious contender for the Bake Off crown. Plus, the ladies take a major detour into You Can See Everything, Nathan Fielder's bizarre new Elizabeth Holmes documentary. What happens when the mind behind Nathan for You and The Rehearsal turns his attention to the disgraced Theranos founder? Nancy and Bits have plenty to discuss. From British puddings to Silicon Valley fraud, it's another delightfully unhinged episode of Compliments to the Chef!

    Anything off the trolley, dear? (Dessert Week) | GBBO S17 E5 | COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF

  4. 4d ago

    Bill Addison & Jenn Harris Break Down the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants of 2026 | THE LA FOOD POD INTERVIEWS

    The Los Angeles Times 101 Best Restaurants of 2026 is here, and the two people behind the list are joining us to break it all down. LA Times restaurant critics Bill Addison and Jenn Harris return to The LA Food Podcast to explain how they chose LA's best restaurants, why newcomer Lielle earned the coveted No. 1 spot, and what this year's rankings reveal about the state of dining in Los Angeles. We get into the biggest surprises, snubs, and shake-ups, including why three-Michelin-starred Somni didn't make the list, how Alta Adams rocketed into the top 10, why restaurants like Barbacoa Ramirez tumbled down the rankings, and what happened to Pizzeria Bianco. Plus, Bill and Jenn discuss the restaurants making a comeback, the exciting new openings redefining LA dining, and why the word "best" might not be the best way to describe the 101 in the first place. From Holbox and Kato to Broken Spanish Comedor, n/naka, and Osteria Mozza, we're going behind the scenes of LA's most anticipated restaurant list. Read the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants of 2026: https://www.latimes.com/food Subscribe to The LA Food Podcast for weekly conversations about Los Angeles restaurants, chefs, food news, and everything happening in LA's dining scene.

    Bill Addison & Jenn Harris Break Down the LA Times 101 Best Restaurants of 2026 | THE LA FOOD POD INTERVIEWS

  5. Oct 23

    Karen Bass vs. Nithya Raman: Who's Better for LA Restaurants? | THE LA FOOD PODCAST

    Who should run Los Angeles if your single biggest political concern is where you're having dinner? This week, Luca does something no one asked him to do: turns The LA Food Podcast into a political endorsement machine. Karen Bass vs. Nithya Raman. Five rounds. Restaurant permitting, street vendors, housing, homelessness, Hollywood, and the most important question of all: which candidate would be more fun to grab a beer with? By the end, we're endorsing someone. Democracy has never tasted so good. Plus, Luca visits the new Bar Fortuna, has a life-changing steak experience at Gwen, and declares Quarter Sheets one of his favorite restaurants in Los Angeles. Then Luca's wife returns for Chef's Kiss / Big Miss to tackle the possible resurrection of Horses, the James Beard Awards finally recognizing food influencers, Cole's controversial comeback, LA's chicken Caesar wrap obsession, and whether restaurants are collecting a little too much information about their customers. THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SLANG AI Slang AI is an AI-powered phone concierge built specifically for restaurants, helping teams handle calls, answer guest questions, and spend more time doing what they do best: providing great hospitality. Its new Superhost technology makes conversations feel more natural than ever, even when guests change their minds, interrupt, or switch languages. Learn more at Slang.ai and check out our recent interview with Chloe Makhani of Casaléna to hear how her restaurant is putting it to work. LINKS & FURTHER READING The mayoral showdown Karen Bass: https://www.karenbass.com/ Nithya Raman: https://www.nithyaforthecity.com/ Chef's Kiss / Big Miss Horses is plotting a comeback (Hoodline): https://hoodline.com/2026/09/hollywood-s-horses-plots-sunset-strip-comeback-after-cat-killing-scandal-530k-in-debt/ James Beard Awards introduce new short-form creator categories: https://www.jamesbeard.org/awards/media-awards/broadcast-media-awards Cole's is reopening with new ownership (LA Times): https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2026-10-20/french-dip-icon-coles-will-return-new-menu-new-ownership-same-bukowski-sign How the Chicken Caesar Wrap Ate Los Angeles (Eater): https://la.eater.com/now-trending-los-angeles/307804/chicken-caesar-wrap-los-angeles-restaurants-trend Hospitality Shouldn't Require So Much Data (Ravenous): https://www.weareravenous.com/hospitality-shouldnt-require-so-much-data/ Subscribe, leave us a review, and tell us who YOU think deserves the keys to City Hall.

    Karen Bass vs. Nithya Raman: Who's Better for LA Restaurants? | THE LA FOOD PODCAST

  6. Oct 21

    LA Has a Wet Trompo Problem. Danny Trejo Has a Bigger One. | TAQUEANDO WITH BILL ESPARZA

    Los Angeles, we have a wet trompo problem. And Bill Esparza has had enough. This week on Taqueando, Bill and Robert Haleblian get to the bottom of why so much of LA's beloved al pastor is drowning in adobo. From Angel's Tijuana Tacos to the legendary trompos of Mexico City, they break down what separates a truly great taco from a soggy imitation, why the traditional taco brigade matters, and where to find the best al pastor and adobada in Los Angeles. But first, Bill has some words for Danny Trejo. Following news of the actor's involvement in a controversial film depicting an ICE agent, Bill reflects on his own history with the Hollywood icon, the disappointing tacos he once gave a pass, and why he's now calling for a boycott of Trejo's restaurants. Plus, an unforgettable seafood takeover at Sāntō, a Holbox collaboration at Paseo, and plenty more from Bill's latest adventures across LA's dining scene. On this episode: Why LA has a wet trompo problem Angel's Tijuana Tacos and the economics of street tacos The secrets of Mexico City's greatest al pastor Bill's favorite al pastor and adobada spots in LA Danny Trejo, ICE, and a Hollywood icon's controversial career decision Seafood, chef collaborations, and the latest Antojitos Rundown This is Taqueando, where Mexican food, culture, and the people behind it always come first. Part of the Acquired Taste Media network. Producd by Robert Haleblian.

    LA Has a Wet Trompo Problem. Danny Trejo Has a Bigger One. | TAQUEANDO WITH BILL ESPARZA

  7. Oct 20

    Technical Foul (Bread Week) | GBBO S17 | COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF

    Was this the worst Bread Week in Great British Bake Off history? Nancy and Bits return to the tent for Season 17, Episode 4, where the garlic bread desperately needs more garlic, the dough desperately needs more time, and Paul Hollywood’s grape-and-blue-cheese flatbread technical needs to answer for its crimes. We’re getting into Mo’s three-TikTok preparation strategy, a technical challenge that nobody could pull off, and the eternal question: can you ask for cake-like bread and then complain that it tastes like cake? Plus, festive bread showstoppers, Tom’s growing frontrunner status, a plea for restaurants to put food on actual plates, and Nancy’s potentially explosive allegation that saffron is a scam. Come for the Bake Off recap. Leave craving garlic knots. Compliments to the Chef is part of the Acquired Taste podcast network. Subscribe for weekly recaps of The Great British Baking Show, Top Chef, and more. FOLLOW & EXPLORE Follow Acquired Taste on InstagramWatch on YouTubeRead our SubstackExplore the Acquired Taste network

    Technical Foul (Bread Week) | GBBO S17 | COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF

  8. Oct 19

    Kelly Dobkin Is Taking Food Media Back to the Future | THE LA FOOD PODCAST INTERVIEWS

    Why do restaurants have lines before anyone’s tasted the food? When did restaurant merch become streetwear? And why does getting dinner sometimes feel like homework? This week, Luca sits down with Kelly Dobkin, the food writer behind Of All Places and a former editor at Eater, Zagat, and Thrillist, to unpack the forces shaping LA restaurant culture. We get into Eater’s wild early days, the awkward relationship between food writers and chefs, and why Kelly is betting on Substack after years in traditional media. Then, we talk restaurants becoming brands before they even open, the power of a really good sign, and the dining inconveniences Kelly would happily leave behind. Plus: millennial restaurant nostalgia, au poivre everything, toast-flavored ice cream, and the LA restaurants she’s loving right now. Read and follow Kelly:• Of All Places LA• Of All Places NYC• Kelly on Instagram Stories discussed:• Meet the Designer Behind Some of LA’s Coolest Cafe Branding, A-Frames, and Interiors• LA’s Coolest New Ice Cream Brand Is Turning Toast, Burnt Rice, and Tomatoes Into Dessert

    Kelly Dobkin Is Taking Food Media Back to the Future | THE LA FOOD PODCAST INTERVIEWS
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About

Welcome to Acquired Taste Food Podcasts, the feed where you get fed. We believe everyone is entitled to unreasonably strong opinions about what they eat. We just happen to yell those beliefs into a microphone. OUR SHOWS: LA FOOD PODCAST🌴 For LA food news, gossip and restaurant reality checks, hosted by Luca Servodio with special contributors Father Sal and Karen Palmer. TAQUEANDO WITH BILL ESPARZA 🌮 For deep dives on street food culture and hotter-than-hell takes, produced by Robert Haleblian. COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF 📺 To not feel so alone while you binge food TV shows ranging from To

Information

  • Creator
    Acquired Taste Media
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    220
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Acquired Taste Media
  • Show Website
    Acquired Taste Food Podcasts

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