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Gastronomics

Alex Mayyasi
Economics
Domino's
Aldi
Portland, Oregon
Egg Industry
Chicken Thighs
Japanese Wagyu
Restaurant Reservation Apps
Pop-Up Bagel
Food Industry
Time Perception
Emotional Ergonomics
Unbundling
Private Label
White Tea
Antitrust Law
Peru
Trend Forecasting
China Politics
Private Equity

Gastronomics is about the business of food. In each episode, Planet Money author 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... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes10Founded7 months ago
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Business NewsBusinessNews

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Artwork for Gastronomics

Latest Episodes

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 ... more

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,... more

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... more

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 sp... more

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Recent Guests

Adam Chandler
Wall Street Journal columnist covering food, business, and culture, and author of Drive-Thru Dreams.
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: Status-Symbol Beef, Reservation Wars, and the Rise of Chicken Thighs
Jonathan English
Transportation and infrastructure expert, founder of Infrastory Insights; NYU Marin Institute fellow
Infrastory Insights
Episode: Asparagus, the War on Drugs, and Cheap Flights to Machu Picchu
Liz Dunn
Award-winning journalist who writes about food and business
New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Consumed (substack)
Episode: Can Private Equity Scale (Good) Bagels?
Basel Musharbash
Antitrust lawyer
Farm Action (with DOJ case background)
Episode: Was the Price of Eggs a Conspiracy?
Jolyn Chen
Co-owner and general manager of Xiao Ye
Xiao Ye, Portland
Episode: How to Run Your Dream Restaurant Like a Business
Louis Lin
Co-owner and head chef of Xiao Ye
Xiao Ye, Portland
Episode: How to Run Your Dream Restaurant Like a Business
Josh Freedman
Tea entrepreneur and China scholar who started the PHT tea drops
PHT (tea business)
Episode: Why a China Scholar Started a Tea Business
Lizzy Freier
Senior Director of Menu Research and Insights at Technomic
Technomic
Episode: ​How top chefs unknowingly do R&D for Applebee's
Deena Shanker
Food and health writer at Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Businessweek
Episode: Aldi Is Unbundling the Grocery Store

Host

Alex Mayyasi
Host and creator of Gastronomics; focuses on economics-driven food industry discussions.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 34 ratings
  • Chicken Breast is racist

    The popularity of white mean over dark meat was not because of racism, you absolutely weirdos. OMG I can’t.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Richelle85
    United States10 days ago
  • New go-to food podcast

    Fun and fascinating new food podcast for anyone who likes shows like gastropod, planet money, or sporkful. Had no idea I could be sitting above asparagus while flying or that the status trackers we see all over the place sprang from the Domino’s pizza tracker.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    D-rej
    United States25 days ago
  • Terrific show

    Looking around for new podcast this one caught my eye. It's a terrific blend of food and finance. I learn something new every week.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cat the Owl
    United Statesa month ago
  • Yummy

    This podcast is great food for thought. Alex is engaging and the topics ate fun!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Podcast philos
    United Statesa month ago
  • Learning economics through something we can all relate: food

    As someone who enjoys learning about politics and history through food, this podcast has been such a delight. I used to scour Planet Money episodes for ones that covered food so Gastronomics has been such a treat. Very informative and interesting, whether you enjoy learning about food, politics, or economics - this podcast is for you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dina Yaz
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests bring nuanced, data-backed perspectives on trends and industry dynamics.
A few listeners note that advertising can be disruptive to the listening experience.
Listeners appreciate the depth and practicality of insights into how market forces shape menus and supply chains.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Status-Symbol Beef, Reservation Wars, and the Rise of Chicken Thighs
Q: What do you want to do is buy a very small portion that will psychologically take the edge off, but also you don't have to eat that much of it?
Chandler advises buying a small portion, cooking it briefly with little or no neutral oil, and pairing it with sharp flavors such as wasabi and soy sauce rather than rich sides.
Status-Symbol Beef, Reservation Wars, and the Rise of Chicken Thighs
Q: Is the chicken thigh just better than a chicken breast?
Chandler says thighs are fattier and more forgiving to cook, making them well suited to everyday meals and mass consumption, though a perfectly cooked breast can be hard to beat.
Can Private Equity Scale (Good) Bagels?
Q: Why now, with PE money flowing into bagel shops, and what does this say about the broader food industry?
PE money is flowing in because firms see a scalable, centralized-operational model with strong branding and social-media traction, particularly for breakfast-focused concepts. This reflects a broader shift in the industry toward premium experiences in mainstream formats, though it risks sidelining independent, locally rooted shops.
Can Private Equity Scale (Good) Bagels?
Q: What is your go-to bagel order and what does it reveal about the bagel culture you describe?
The go-to order—sesame bagel with scallion cream cheese and sometimes lox—highlights the preference for traditional, high-quality ingredients and restraint (e.g., not toasting unless day-old), which mirrors the episode's tension between artisanal craft and scalable business models.
​How top chefs unknowingly do R&D for Applebee's
Q: Shouldn't I be skeptical of trend forecasts given that they claim to predict the future of menus for large chains like Applebee's or Cheesecake Factory?
The guest emphasizes that forecasts are based on actual menu data and consumer claims, not pure guesswork. While not guaranteeing outcomes, the approach aggregates signals from thousands of menus, consumer surveys, and social listening to guide decisions, acknowledging that some items may be fleeting while others persist.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Gastronomics

What is Gastronomics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A show at the intersection of food and economics, featuring conversations with chefs, economists, trend forecasters, and other food-industry insiders. Topics often center on how economic forces shape menus, sourcing, branding, and consumer behavior—ranging from trend forecasting for new flavors to the mechanics behind award-winning restaurant lists. Notable moments often highlight practical, data-driven insights and cross-disciplinary storytelling, with anecdotes that connect global supply chains to everyday dining. A distinctive strength is turning complex market dynamics into accessible, story-driven analyses that are useful for professionals in food, retail, and media, as well as curious listeners who want to understand how economics sha... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Gastronomics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Gastronomics:

1. Planet Money
2. The Indicator from Planet Money
3. Freakonomics Radio
4. Throughline
5. Consider This from NPR

How many episodes of Gastronomics are there?

Gastronomics launched 7 months ago and published 10 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Gastronomics?

Recent guests on Gastronomics include:

1. Adam Chandler
2. Jonathan English
3. Liz Dunn
4. Basel Musharbash
5. Jolyn Chen
6. Louis Lin
7. Josh Freedman
8. Lizzy Freier

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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