Quiet Quitting Michelin. The Bear Is Low-Key Back. Top Chef Is Washed. And Eddie Huang vs. The New York Times.

Quiet Quitting Michelin. The Bear Is Low-Key Back. Top Chef Is Washed. And Eddie Huang vs. The New York Times.

From The LA Food Podcast by Acquired Taste Media

July 3, 2026 · 1h 3m · Episode 185

About this episode

The episode discusses the Michelin Guide, reviews of various restaurants, and the latest in culinary competitions and food writing.

Father Sal calls in from his Los Angeles staycation ready to quiet quit the Michelin Guide, even as he heads to two-star Kato and makes the case for restaurants like Lielle, Anajak and Jacaranda. Luca and Sal recap memorable meals at Quarter Sheets, Oaxacalifornia, Asadero, Cafe Telegrama, Expendio de Maíz, Voraz and Anajak before asking whether The Bear Season 5 has somehow rediscovered what made the show great. They also break down the Top Chef Carolinas finale and explain why America’s Culinary Cup, featuring Padma Lakshmi, Michael Cimarusti, Wylie Dufresne, Chris Morgan and Alta Adams chef Keith Corbin, may be the best cooking competition on television. Plus, Luca goes solo for Chef’s Kiss or Big Miss, weighing in on Noma’s controversial Los Angeles residency, Eddie Huang’s public response to Ryan Sutton’s Baohaus review , J Lee on Sqirl’s new dinner service , the supposed death of food writing per Vittles, and Norway’s brown-cheese waffles at the World Cup. -- Join our LA Pizza Run/Walk Club on July 12 ! Donate to my Soccer Without Borders fund

People in this episode

Host: Luca

Guest: Father Sal

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Michelin Guide, Noma, Vittles

Books & works: The Bear, Top Chef, Baohaus, Sqirl, America’s Culinary Cup

Places: Los Angeles, Norway

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