The Man Who Built Chili's, Plus: Boy Kibble

The Man Who Built Chili's, Plus: Boy Kibble

From Eat Drink D-FW by Eat Drink D-FW

April 24, 2026 · 25 min

About this episode

The episode features an interview with Larry Lavine, the founder of Chili's, discussing the restaurant's history and cultural impact, along with insights into current food trends.

First, we sit down with Larry Lavine, the Dallas entrepreneur who opened a casual burger-and-chili joint in a converted house on Greenville Avenue and accidentally built one of the most recognizable restaurant chains in the world. He talks about the early days, what he got right, and what it feels like to watch his creation have a full-blown cultural renaissance decades later. And because we had the chance, we asked him the only question that really matters: how do you make the perfect cheeseburger? He had answers. We also hear from Dallas forensic historian and Chili's historian Farris Rookstool III, who offers his own perspective on what makes the chain's story so enduring.Then: boy kibble. The protein-obsessed, meal-prep, macro-tracking food culture that has taken over social media — and maybe your refrigerator. We dig into the trend, what's driving it, and what it says about how Americans are thinking about food right now.The Man Who Built Chili's, Plus: Boy Kibble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Eat Drink D-FW

Guests: Larry Lavine, Farris Rookstool III

Topics covered

  • restaurant history
  • food culture
  • entrepreneurship
  • casual dining
  • social media trends

Keywords

  • Chili's
  • Larry Lavine
  • food culture
  • cheeseburger
  • Dallas
  • restaurant chains
  • meal prep
  • macro tracking

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Chili's

Places: Dallas, Greenville Avenue

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