Eating Rice

Episode 43 - Caleb vs. Joel: The Great Fruit Debate

Caleb and Joel talk dessert wines, beef noodle soup, and which fruit they’d eat forever. Plus: how long can you really live off local food when traveling? A light-hearted mix of food, travel, and mildly questionable takes.

Episode 42 - Why Food Belongs in Every Dinner Conversation

In this episode of Eating Rice, Caleb and Joel pour a glass of vermouth and slurp back some baked oysters, and tackle the question: should you come armed  to dinner with anecdotes? They debate whether food should always be part of the table talk (spoiler: yes), and laugh through the quirks of what makes a good dinner conversation.

Episode 41 - Donuts and Dietary Restrictions

In this episode of Eating Rice, Caleb and Joel ask the important questions: are Krispy Kreme donuts really that good, and why don’t donut ice cream sandwiches exist? They also dig into dietary restrictions, looking at avoidance, substitution, and imitation, and debate which approach makes the most sense.

Episode 40 - Vegetables People Love to Hate

Sushi, sake, and a fried fish sandwich set the stage as Caleb and Joel dive into a list of controversial vegetables — the ones people love to hate, or just can’t live without.

Episode 39 - Costco, Cooking, and the Comeback We Need

In this episode of Eating Rice, Caleb and Joel talk Costco, from the legendary food court to the newest Asian items on the shelves. They compare unpacking bulk meat to a modern-day hunting trip, and reflect on the decline of home cooking in our generation. The conversation wraps with ideas on how cooking can make a comeback.

Episode 38 - Sandwiches and Sticky Toffee Pudding

In this episode of Eating Rice, Caleb and Joel explore the art of the sandwich, from how small details can completely change the final bite to Joel’s growing fascination with this once unfamiliar food.

Episode 37 – Fried Shallots, Plus the Art and Science of Paying the Bill

In this episode, Caleb and Joel dig into the delicious world of Beef Rendang, Lu Rou sauce, and their mutual obsession with fried shallots. But it’s not all about food—things heat up when they debate who should foot the bill: the host, the guest, or maybe your parents? From splitting checks with friends to dining out for birthdays, they serve up laughs, opinions, and maybe a little monetary awkwardness too.

Episode 36 - Fried Fish and Café Food

This week on Eating Rice, Caleb and Joel dive into crispy fried fish, sizzling Brazilian BBQ, and the big question: what really belongs on a café menu? Is there a line between brunch and bold experimentation, or can you serve anything as long as it tastes good? We also sip on what it takes to scale a café, food or brand?

Episode 35 - Should We Set a Shot Clock for Dinner?

This week on Eating Rice, Caleb and Joel dig into the unspoken rules around dining timelines. Should we all agree on how long dinner should last before making other plans? And what about the art of eating and chatting? How do you keep the conversation flowing while still finishing your meal on time?

Episode 34 - Who Let Him Grill?

This week on Eating Rice, Caleb and Joel dive into Joel’s trip to New Orleans, packed with oysters, crawfish, and powdered sugar-covered beignets. We cover how do you politely tell someone they shouldn’t be the one grilling? And why do we always hand the tongs to the guy who’s never cooked a day in his life? Plus, we chat about the Michelin Guide’s debut in Boston. What does it really mean for a city’s food scene?