Home Podcasts Gastronomics

Gastronomics

Alex Mayyasi 8 Episodes Oct 14, 2026

Gastronomics is a show about the business of food, hosted by journalist Alex Mayyasi, who has written for Planet Money. Each episode explores how economics shapes what ends up on modern menus, through conversations with chefs, economists, and industry insiders. Topics range from how trend forecasters track thousands of menus to predict the next big ingredient, to how best-restaurant lists are assembled, to why billionaires buy up farmland. New episodes are available on major podcast platforms and YouTube, with email updates at gastronomicspodcast.com.

Episodes

Status-Symbol Beef, Reservation Wars, and the Rise of Chicken Thighs Oct 14, 2026 46:44 How a weak yen made Japanese beef the new truffle. Plus the fall and rise of chicken thighs and a food fight between credit card companies that's making it impossible to get dinner reservations. With guest Adam Chandler of the WSJ. Show Notes Adam Chandler's WSJ articles are available at https://www.wsj.com/news/author/adam-chandler "What the Rise of Chicken Thighs Says About America," Adam Chand

Asparagus, the War on Drugs, and Cheap Flights to Machu Picchu Sep 30, 2026 43:19 Peru gets a lot more tourism from North America and Europe than you might expect for a country so far away. The hidden reason why? Asparagus. And the War on Drugs. Show Notes "Going on Vacation to Peru? Thank Asparagus," Jonathan English, June 22, 2206 https://infrastory.substack.com/p/going-on-vacation-to-peru-thank-asparagus "How the War on Drugs got us... blueberries," Erika Beras and Keith Ro

Can Private Equity Scale (Good) Bagels? Sep 17, 2026 54:54 Private equity firms and venture capitalists are investing millions in new bagel shops. Can they bring great bagels to towns and cities across the country? Or are bagels the next investment bubble? Show Notes "Grip, Rip, Dip, Repeat. Grip, Rip, Dip, Repeat," Liz Dunn, New York Magazine https://www.grubstreet.com/article/popup-bagels-national-franchising.html "Inside the Venture-Backed Bagel Boom

Was the Price of Eggs a Conspiracy? Sep 2, 2026 59:10 After the pandemic, eggs were the poster child for inflation. Experts said egg prices were high because of avian flu. But then, this summer, the Department of Justice charged Big Egg with an honest to God conspiracy. Show Notes This episode is sponsored by LMNT. Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT's most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at DrinkLMNT.com/gastro Note: The egg companies

How to Run Your Dream Restaurant Like a Business Aug 25, 2026 44:24 Great cooking is an art, and people make pilgrimages to restaurants that make us feel a certain way. But a restaurant is also a business. A notoriously hard business. So how do chefs and restaurateurs create these special experiences without going broke? I talk with Louis Lin and Jolyn Chen about opening their dream restaurant: Xiao Ye in Portland, Oregon. Show Notes "After Becoming Housemates, Ro

Why a China Scholar Started a Tea Business Jul 29, 2026 33:29 The state of tea in the United States is something of a national embarrassment. Josh Freedman started a tea business so more Americans can try and buy great teas from China and Taiwan. And to better understand China's economy and unique form of 'capitalism with communist characteristics.' Show Notes The Beijing tea market we discuss is called Maliandao. You can find Josh's Taiwan Travelogue teas a

How top chefs unknowingly do R&D for Applebee's Jul 9, 2026 41:13 Imagine for a moment that you are a head chef. Not at The French Laundry or Alinea. Not at a local diner or greasy spoon. No. You're the head chef at a big chain like Applebee's or Cheesecake Factory. And it's your job to oversee a menu that will be used at hundreds of locations. Or thousands. Your menu needs to satisfy customers in the suburbs and appeal to diners who live in foodie cities. It n

Aldi Is Unbundling the Grocery Store Jun 27, 2026 33:52 Aldi, the cheap and quirky grocery store chain, is opening so many stores in the U.S. that it's on track to become the 2nd largest grocery chain within a few years. How is Aldi matching or beating Walmart and Costco's low prices without the huge stores, warehouses, and economies of scale those chains have used to drive down prices? And how has a chain best known for ultra-budget, bare-bones stores

The secret life of the Domino's pizza tracker Jun 10, 2026 29:44 You are probably familiar with the Domino's pizza tracker. What you may not know is that it is one of the most influential design innovations of all time. Its subtle brilliance has inspired apps and websites ranging from Uber to TurboTax. There are pizza trackers everywhere for those with eyes to see. Learn more about Gastronomics or subscribe to the newsletter at gastronomicspodcast.com

Introducing Gastronomics Apr 7, 2026 01:31 Gastronomics is about the business of food. In each episode, host Alex Mayyasi talks to chefs, economists, and people with insights and stories about how economics shapes the modern menu. Meet a trend forecaster who tracks thousands of menus to know exactly when restaurants should start serving yuzu lemonade or ube pancakes. Discover how Best Restaurant lists get made. And learn why billionaires

Gastronomics

Episodes

Recommended