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- Chef and food creator Josh tested whether celebrities have good taste in food. He asked seven well-known figures for their two favorite restaurant or food recommendations, visited each location, and rated the food from 1 to 10. The celebrity with the highest combined score would receive the Best Taste in Food award.
- The seven celebrities were Brie Larson, Tom Segura, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Ice Cube, Alexander Volkanovski, Phil Rosenthal, and Andrew Zimmern. Five responded directly to Josh. Dwayne Johnson and Ice Cube did not, so Josh used recommendations they had previously made publicly.
- Brie Larson recommended the Dodger Dog at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. She described it as an essential Los Angeles food experience and encouraged Josh to attend a Dodgers game, cheer for Shohei Ohtani, and enjoy the atmosphere rather than simply buy a hot dog.
- The Dodger Dog held personal significance for Josh. He regularly attended Dodgers games between approximately ages five and ten, primarily because he loved the hot dogs. He had not eaten one in more than 20 years.
- Josh compared the classic Dodger Dog with the all-beef Super Dodger Dog. He liked the smokiness, saltiness, and juiciness of the better version but thought the other resembled a Vienna sausage. Despite enjoying the nostalgia, he gave the Dodger Dog 6/10, considering it a good but unexceptional processed hot dog.
- Larson's second recommendation was Casa Bonita, a Mexican-themed restaurant known for its elaborate entertainment and cliff divers. Josh initially questioned the recommendation but understood its appeal after arriving. He compared the immersive setting to Disneyland mixed with a tropical Mexican fantasy environment.
- Casa Bonita received 10/10 for its experience but 6.9/10 for its enchiladas. Josh praised both the green chile and red chile sauces for their seasoning, acidity, and roasted flavors. The corn tortillas were moist, although he wanted the cheese hotter and more thoroughly melted.
- Larson's two food ratings totaled 12.9/20. Casa Bonita considerably exceeded Josh's initial expectations, but its outstanding entertainment was not counted as a perfect food score.
- Comedian Tom Segura responded almost immediately and invited Josh to meet him in person. Segura selected two Austin establishments, beginning with a bakery in which he was personally involved.
- Segura's first recommendation was Cicio Bomba, an Italian bakery he helped establish in Austin. He explained that he met its chef, Gianba, in Los Angeles and persuaded him to move to Austin. Segura described the bakery as a business he had opened to the public so he could enjoy its food himself.
- Segura acknowledged a direct commercial interest in his first recommendation. Unlike celebrities recommending an unrelated restaurant, he was asking Josh to evaluate a business connected to him. Josh explicitly recognized that the recommendation carried an economic interest.
- Cicio Bomba's cardamom pastry impressed Josh with its texture and preparation. Its exterior was exceptionally crisp while its interior remained moist. Butter and sugar caramelized during baking, producing a crunchy glaze that Josh compared to crème brûlée.
- The bakery's sfogliatella changed Josh's opinion of the Italian pastry. He generally considered sfogliatella dry and uninteresting, but this version had balanced sweetness, a well-executed filling, and a crisp exterior without excessive richness. He called it the best sfogliatella he had ever eaten.
- Cicio Bomba received 9/10, based specifically on its pastries. Josh emphasized that he had not evaluated the bakery's entire menu. Segura reacted enthusiastically and announced the praise to the chef.
- Segura's second recommendation was Jeffrey's, an established fine-dining steakhouse in Austin. He praised its ambiance, lighting, layout, and service, specifically recommending the deviled eggs, pork belly appetizer, and steak.
- Segura did not accompany Josh to Jeffrey's. He joked that he had already consumed too many calories at Cicio Bomba. Josh also disclosed that, although he had thought he had visited Jeffrey's previously, this was actually his first visit.
- Jeffrey's pork belly rillette was well prepared but not exceptional. Josh described the shredded meat as moist and nicely seasoned, with sweet pickled melon providing a useful contrast to its richness.
- Jeffrey's deviled eggs were among the best Josh had eaten in years. As someone who habitually orders deviled eggs at restaurants, he particularly appreciated the silky yolk filling, precise seasoning, richness, and absence of an unpleasant sulfur taste.
- The steak at Jeffrey's was cooked properly but lacked sufficient salt. The less expensive steak arrived medium rare as requested and had good beef flavor, although Josh found it slightly chewy. He also tried a dry-aged steak, which he considered noticeably different.
- Jeffrey's fries were another standout item. They were unusually thick, extremely crisp on the outside, and almost puréed inside.
- Jeffrey's received 8.9/10, bringing Segura's total to 17.9/20. Josh considered both recommendations excellent and said he intended to become a regular at Jeffrey's. Segura took the lead in the competition.
- Dwayne Johnson did not answer Josh's request for recommendations. Josh instead relied on Johnson's established public preferences, beginning with a French toast preparation Johnson had repeatedly promoted on Instagram.
- Johnson's first selection was Brique French Toastery. Its signature French toast had reportedly been developed specifically around Johnson's tastes and had become popular through his social media posts.
- Brique specialized in one principal French toast preparation. It consisted of exceptionally thick brioche, peanut butter–coconut maple syrup, whipped cream, and toasted coconut chips.
- Brique's French toast received 9/10. Josh praised its soft, pillowy interior, cinnamon fragrance, peanut flavor, rich syrup, and contrasting coconut crunch. He concluded that Johnson's enthusiasm was justified rather than simply a consequence of his restrictive training diet.
- A companion at Brique disclosed that he was 61 and managing diabetes. He said he had tasted the French toast previously but needed to exercise restraint. The exchange underscored how rich and indulgent the restaurant's signature product was.
- Johnson's second selection was Mastro's Beverly Hills penthouse steakhouse. Josh said Johnson had visited so frequently and admired it so much that a room had been named in his honor.
- Mastro's began with an unusually poor bread experience. Josh found its pretzel roll so excessively salty that he considered it almost inedible, an unusual criticism from someone who generally appreciates strongly seasoned food.
- Mastro's seafood tower combined impressive presentation with preventable mistakes. It included shrimp, king crab, oysters, and freshly grated, exceptionally strong horseradish. Josh disliked the ketchup-heavy cocktail sauce and encountered oyster-shell fragments while eating, despite considering the oysters themselves delicious.
- Josh considered Mastro's seafood errors unacceptable for an expensive steakhouse. He noted that the restaurant had already cost a substantial amount before the main course, making execution failures especially difficult to excuse.
- Mastro's 32-ounce bone-in ribeye redeemed the meal. Served with compound butter, the steak impressed Josh with its beef flavor, salt level, richness, and juiciness. He considered the steak essentially perfect.
- Mastro's received approximately 8/10 overall despite its excellent ribeye. Josh weighed the poor pretzel and seafood mistakes against the outstanding steak rather than judging the restaurant solely by its best dish.
- Ice Cube also failed to respond to Josh's request. Josh selected restaurants based on the rapper's public references to food, including a Fatburger mention in his music.
- Ice Cube's association with Fatburger was reinforced by its reported popularity among other famous rappers. Josh mentioned Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. as additional admirers, presenting the chain as part of a broader Los Angeles hip-hop food culture.
- Josh ordered what he described as Ice Cube's supposed Fatburger preference. The order was a half-pound hamburger topped with chili, a fried egg, and mustard.
- The Fatburger disappointed Josh because the toppings overwhelmed the beef. He compared it to a meatloaf sandwich, saying the chili's cumin and spices dominated while the beef was virtually undetectable. He also criticized the lack of salt and mushy texture. No separate numerical score was stated.
- Ice Cube's second reported favorite was El Cholo, a longstanding Los Angeles Mexican restaurant. Josh cited a reported statement from Ice Cube that, apart from his wife's cooking, he preferred El Cholo's chimichangas.
- El Cholo had operated for more than a century, and its chicken chimichanga reportedly dated to the 1960s. Josh acknowledged the restaurant's historical significance while questioning whether its food still justified its reputation.
- El Cholo's side dishes produced mixed results. The refried beans reminded Josh of ordinary canned beans. The rice was substantially overcooked but had good flavor and appropriate seasoning.
- El Cholo's chicken chimichanga had too much tortilla relative to its filling. The chicken was moist and nicely salted but somewhat stringy and overcooked. Josh regarded the dish as fairly ordinary American-style Mexican restaurant food.
- El Cholo received 4/10. Josh said he wanted well-made, flavorful food rather than expensive or fashionable dining, and concluded that Ice Cube's strong endorsement was not supported by his own experience.
- Two-time UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski responded with a personal video message. He selected two favorite places in the United States, both in New York, despite not living there.
- Volkanovski's first recommendation was Rosario's, a New York deli that also makes pizza. Josh was surprised to discover that it was primarily a small, family-style delicatessen rather than a dedicated pizzeria.
- Josh was joined at Rosario's by a recurring companion, Mr. Scott. Josh valued Scott's perspective when evaluating New York pizza. The two discussed the unusually salty combination of sausage and pepperoni.
- Rosario's sausage-and-pepperoni pizza balanced salty toppings with a surprisingly sweet tomato sauce. Josh appreciated the contrast but criticized the dough for being too soft, floppy, and nearly undercooked.
- Josh argued that reheated New York pizza slices can outperform freshly boxed whole pizzas. He explained that reheating helps the crust develop crispness, something the Rosario's pizza lacked during his visit.
- Rosario's received 7/10. Josh considered it good pizza, but not outstanding by the unusually competitive standards of New York City.
- Volkanovski's second recommendation was the hamburger at Peter Luger Steak House. Rather than suggest a steak at the famous establishment, he specifically praised its straightforward burger for emphasizing the natural flavor of the meat without sauces.
- Peter Luger's burger incorporated dry-aged steak trimmings. It was served simply with beef, cheese, and onion, without mayonnaise, mustard, or other sauces. The meal also included a substantial slab of bacon and large fries cooked in beef fat.
- Josh believed Peter Luger's minimalist burger depended entirely on beef quality, seasoning, and cooking. He appreciated its clean, beef-forward taste but felt it lacked something that would make it exceptional.
- Peter Luger's burger received 7.5/10. Josh considered it clearly above average but recommended visiting Peter Luger primarily for its steak instead. He placed the restaurant among his personal top ten American steakhouses and suggested it might rank similarly worldwide.
- Volkanovski finished with 14.5/20. His two recommendations were respectable but insufficient to challenge the leaders.
- Food-travel personality Phil Rosenthal responded after several days and initially wanted to taste Josh's own cooking. Josh maintained the original competition format, and Rosenthal instead agreed to eat with him.
- Rosenthal's first recommendation was République, a prominent Los Angeles bakery and restaurant. He specifically recommended its pastries and described its chocolate cake as his favorite, possibly the best in the world.
- Josh sampled République's kouign-amann, ube brioche, and chocolate cake. The kouign-amann had excellent layers and a caramelized underside. The ube brioche was light, pleasantly crunchy, and not excessively rich, although its ube flavor was relatively subdued.
- République's chocolate cake was the strongest item and challenged Josh's general indifference toward chocolate cake. He described it as exceptionally moist, dense, and almost brownie-like without becoming too heavy.
- Salted frosting and caramel distinguished République's chocolate cake. Josh particularly valued the frosting's salt balance and the caramel running through the cake, which added both flavor and chewiness.
- République received 8.5/10. Josh considered the bakery highly reliable, although it was not necessarily his personal first choice among pastry destinations.
- Rosenthal's second recommendation was Max & Helen's, a diner he created with celebrated chef Nancy Silverton. Josh visited the restaurant with Rosenthal, who highlighted its patty melt and chocolate egg cream.
- Max & Helen's signature patty melt contained nine ounces of dry-aged beef and brisket on high-quality rye bread. Rosenthal described it as the most expensive item on the menu and potentially the diner's standout savory dish.
- The patty melt impressed Josh by preserving the flavor of the beef. Unlike patty melts dominated by cheese and toppings, this version remained distinctly meaty, juicy, and well seasoned.
- Rosenthal presented the diner's chocolate egg cream as a revival of a traditional Brooklyn drink. He explained that the drink originated roughly a century earlier and traditionally combined chocolate syrup, milk, and seltzer.
- Nancy Silverton's version of the chocolate egg cream used homemade chocolate syrup and half-and-half instead of ordinary milk. Josh praised its refined chocolate flavor and sparkling, effervescent texture, while Rosenthal described the beverage tradition as something worth preserving.
- Max & Helen's received 9/10, giving Rosenthal a combined 17.5/20. Josh praised both the patty melt and chocolate egg cream.
- The narration placed Rosenthal in a tie with Dwayne Johnson for second place, but the spoken ratings were mathematically inconsistent. Rosenthal's 8.5 and 9 total 17.5, while Johnson's stated scores of 9 and 8 total 17. The tie therefore cannot be established from the individual scores given in the transcript.
- Andrew Zimmern was the final contestant and agreed to participate only if Josh traveled to Minnesota. Josh accepted despite never having visited the state. He regarded Zimmern, a veteran food-television personality, as a particularly strong contender.
- Zimmern's first selection was a sophisticated burger made by a highly regarded chef in Minnesota. Josh was initially skeptical because he generally preferred traditional hamburgers and believed elaborate ingredients often distracted from what makes a burger satisfying.
- The burger, identified in the conversation as the Dirty French burger, used a homemade brioche bun toasted on both sides. It also featured multiple beef patties, Comté cheese, caramelized onions, and a red-wine sauce.
- The Dirty French burger overcame Josh's objections to elaborate hamburgers. Despite its unusual ingredients, the burger retained the essential flavor and character of a hamburger. Josh praised its seasoning, browned beef, funky cheese, and balance.
- The Dirty French burger received 9/10. Zimmern explained that he repeatedly returned to it because its individually developed ingredients worked together without overwhelming the fundamental burger experience.
- Zimmern's second selection was an American Chinese restaurant in Minnesota. Josh considered this a risky recommendation because an ordinary-looking Chinese restaurant would have to deliver nearly perfect food for Zimmern to win.
- The standout dish was a whole Dungeness crab coated in five-spice seasoning and chilies. Its fragrance and presentation immediately impressed Josh before he tasted it.
- The crab succeeded by combining bold spices with the natural sweetness of the seafood. Josh highlighted its salty umami, aromatic seasoning, and subtle sweetness from onion and crab. The preparation enhanced the crab rather than masking it.
- Josh admitted that he had underestimated the Chinese restaurant before eating there. He was surprised by the precision of the cooking and considered the dish among the best executions of crab he had encountered.
- Zimmern challenged the tendency to treat Chinese restaurants as less prestigious than European or other international cuisines. He argued that an excellent Chinese restaurant deserved the same standing as an excellent French, Italian, Mexican, or Japanese establishment. The crab provided a practical demonstration of that argument.
- The Dungeness crab dish earned another 9/10. Zimmern therefore achieved a combined 18/20, narrowly exceeding Segura's 17.9.
- Andrew Zimmern won the Best Taste in Food competition by 0.1 points over Tom Segura. His victory came from two very different dishes—a sophisticated burger and a Chinese seafood preparation—both executed at a consistently high level.
- Zimmern received the Best Taste in Food trophy and responded with a humorous acceptance speech. He thanked his mother and the Minneapolis restaurant community, joking that he finally had a decorative object for his car dashboard.
- Josh tried to obtain additional Minnesota food recommendations after presenting the trophy. Zimmern declined to continue listing places, joking that he was not an influencer.
- The competition demonstrated that personal enthusiasm and celebrity endorsement did not consistently predict Josh's ratings. Ice Cube's longstanding favorites disappointed him, while Segura's own bakery, Johnson's French toast, Rosenthal's diner, and Zimmern's Minnesota choices scored exceptionally well.
- The strongest recommendations were distinguished by execution rather than prestige or elaborate presentation alone. Josh repeatedly rewarded accurate seasoning, balanced flavors, properly cooked meat, texture, and ingredient quality. Famous establishments lost points for basic errors, while comparatively modest restaurants earned high scores when their food delivered.
- The final confirmed ranking was Zimmern first with 18/20, Segura second with 17.9/20, Rosenthal at 17.5/20, Volkanovski at 14.5/20, and Larson at 12.9/20. Johnson's stated individual scores total 17/20 despite the narration's tie claim; Ice Cube's complete numerical total cannot be recovered because the Fatburger score was not stated.