Hi guys!  First, we discuss spice blending, and the total lack of decent resources on the subject.  Then, we get into whether it's OK to make your employees work on Christmas (a fraught topic, every year.)  Finally, we discuss some of our hits and misses over the years on our Christmas menus.

Time Stamps:

1:00 The Story of the Mouth of the South

3:54 Listener Question: Good Books About Spice Blending?

6:46 Madras Curry

9:30 Nate’s Hail Mary Recommendation.

12:22 Jesse’s Insane Spice Research Idea

16:13 Reverse Engineering

17:52 The Spice House

20:00 Back to Curry Powder and Vadouvan

21:55 On the Dual Nature of Cinnamon

23:43 The Biggest Difference Between Nate’s Cooking and Jesse’s

27:00 Restaurant Cooking on Christmas

31:28 The Fiscal Evils of a Special Christmas Menu

32:04 On Reservations and Tickets

33:19 People REALLY DO Eat at Restaurants on Holidays

40:42 Heather’s Gingersnap Cookie

41:49 Nate’s Great-Grandma’s Spiced Chocolate Cookies

42:50 On the Feast of Seven Fishes

43:57 On Italian Seafood Simplicity

45:47 Jesse’s Feast of Seven Fishes Dish

49:50 The Difficulty of Getting Rid of Leftover Turkey, and the Worst Charcuterie Plate EVER

52:20 On the Once-a-Year Potato Puree

55:25 On 86’ing Specials and Why That’s Not a Bad Thing

56:22 Jesse’s Xmas Dessert Fail

59:32 The Tale of the Dreaded Minty Sanchez