Trader Joe's, AI & Placeholder Partners

Trader Joe's, AI & Placeholder Partners

What's YOUR favorite Trader Joe's item?   Do YOU use AI to make food decisions?   AND do you have or want a placeholder partner? What about... a plateholder partner?    This week, Around the Table welcomes Antonia Lofaso, Ayesha Nurdjaja & Duff Goldman to the panel! Aarti Sequeira will lead them through the food + pop culture zeitgeist in a game night that is at turns funny, profound and occasionally absurd.    From everything spice to self-care to the difference between Michelin friends and Nathan's hot dog friends... it's all here on this week's Around the Table!

Pop(corn) Culture Fight, NOMA No Nos & Starring: Whiskey!

Season 1, Episode 6 Featuring Jeff Mauro, Damaris Phillips and Nikki Dinki   Your bi-monthly food-meets-pop culture-meets-game-night where Aarti Sequeira invites her favourite food world weirdos to geek out over the latest dish from the culinary zeitgeist.    This week, her panel will try to out-quip one another talking about Popcorn Container Battles! (from Dune 2 to Hail Mary to Devil Wears Prada) NOMA (abuse allegations in the GOAT of world restaurants)  & Whiskey Business (the greatest STARRING ROLES for Whiskey in POP CULTURE HISTORY!)    Her panel this month is  DUFF GOLDMAN (Ace of Cakes, Duff's Happy Fun Bake Time) ANTONIA LOFASO (Tournament of Champions, Top Chef) & AYEHSA NURDJAJA (Triple Threat, 2026 James Beard nominee with a BRAND NEW COOKBOOK)

Stranger/Tastier Things, The Death of the Tasting Menu & TikTik Solo Dining

Season 1, Episode 5 Featuring Jeff Mauro, Damaris Phillips and Nikki Dinki Your bi-monthly food-meets-pop culture game/talk show where Aarti Sequeira invites her favourite food world friends to navigate the ever-changing culinary zeitgeist! This week, guest will battle over who has the best take on nostalgic treats (sparked by the Peanut Butter Bopper revival, thanks to Stranger Things), whether a recent glut of tasting menu closures is a sign of the times or NBD AND whether the Tiktok solo dining trend is speaking to our hungry souls!

Valentine's Day, The New Food Pyramid and Food Long Cons

Featuring Jeff Mauro, Damaris Phillips and Nikki Dinki! Your bi-monthly food-meets-pop culture talkshow where Aarti Sequeira invites her favourite food world friends to make sense of it all! This week, we wonder whether the new Food Pyramid is any tastier (or better?) than the previous version; whether going out for dinner for Valentine's Day is over-rated; and confession time! What foods have we all pretended to like but really hated?! AND HOW LONG DID WE LIE?

Around the Table: Macro Mania

This week, Aarti Sequeira invites guests Jet Tila, Damaris Phillips & Troy Johnson to sit around the table and see who can explore the following questions with the greatest acumen of insight and soundbite! The National Protein Obsession: have we gone too far? Is Michelin coverage just bougie pay for play? AND should larger people pay more at group dinners? Wait, WHAT???!? ALL that PLUS a quickfire Naughty or Nice List sorting of THE CHRISTMAS TREATS WE JUST GORGED OURSELVES ON FOR THE LAST WEEK! Enjoy this preview episode of the forthcoming 2026 weekly show! Let us know what you think! Send us food world topics to tackle! Like and subscribe to know when the rollout begins! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!