From the World Food Championships: Culinary Competitions and Coast Guard Collaborations - A Feast of Stories

to master , los Angeles all Harry , all right , this is the walk and talk podcast , and I am your host , carl Fiatini . We are at the world food championships in Dallas , texas , and , man , we're having a what a badass time . I'm eating like a King .

That's one of my stomach is right about how poof I'm like I'm like poof , be gone .

Okay , yes , now I got my Paisano ginger brother from another mother over here , raymond Felici now .

I don't know how that worked out , my man Okay , yeah , we'll talk about that .

But I'm not judging you , I'm judging up there .

Oh , he judges every chair , yeah you just judge my competition , my sand , okay , dude , and I'm not gonna give you any insight .

I don't get down like that . It's a sacred thing we do up there . It's all blood and everything you know about that .

I'm saying I know a guy Something get a sandwich car .

All right . So you've been , you've been a staple here . You and your guy , your team , have been a staple here . By the way , happy veterans , you guys have been in like how many companies , how many competitions are you right ?

We're in for six competitions and four of us went through to the next round . Okay , how many ? Do you have any left , or ?

no .

Yeah , we got one guy doing burger right now . We got soup , it's around three o'clock .

What I will tell you . What I'm gonna say , is it was a solid Sandwich . I was a solid , solid Sammy .

Yeah , yeah . I mean , once we got to Texas and we started tasting the kind of food they're making around these parts and it was like why ?

would I like how you got the , you know like local lingo .

Yeah .

Since running the Coast Guard , we've been in Miami , iowa , north Carolina now .

Large vast coast in Iowa .

He just said , it guys , what the Mississippi , the Mississippi small thing called the Mississippi .

A lot of business going up to .

Who's the other thing the other day ? Oh , the MRE . Oh yeah .

You guys did a great job . It's so clever . You guys won .

The presentation . I mean , listen , it was tough to present for Air Force . Yeah , you know , freak the keys idea , you guys that whole enchilada lasagna .

Oh no , you Wanted , I'm still . You guys gave it the whole enchilada .

I'm doing .

I do dad jokes . That's what I do . I'm a dad .

That's what I do . Please stop sending me emails about him and the dad jokes the judge . Raymond , jeff , you're out .

Jeff out Raymond in .

Give you guys a compliment on something because you know you guys , you know you're defending the world , you're defending our country , you're making sure democracy reigns all over the world , but at the same time you take time to hone in on Cooking skills and you know anybody can say , oh , I can do this and mix this with that .

I wanted to finish it . I really did . It was good .

Man , I wait what I just want to point out this competition is truly worldwide . This Japanese young lady , is presenting right now .

Here's literally a translator .

What on right now is you guys ? Talking , that's awesome man that is so awesome and look at that bro . Look at that .

look at that . I don't know what that is , it's almost like a Japanese floppy joe .

I want to eat a Japanese floppy . Joe , Me too . I think it is guys .

Or the sauce where it's about to turn out because the translator is going to come up there now , you know not for nothing . We're the Walkabout .

Podcasts and we're doing a thing .

No , we need to taste it . I know Next year we're going to have people like us , Brother screw you guys .

Screw you guys . I'm going home , so tell us about .

You know it's easy to . You know there's fine dining out there . There's people that are eating seafood . There's people that are eating , you know , desserts all the time Things like that . You have to go to a fancy restaurant or a good restaurant to get things that you want to the qualities .

Sandwiches and burgers . It's a way of life .

And you know people eat that every day and you know that to me to me those would be the hardest things .

It's as easy as it is to make a sandwich .

To me burger and a sandwich are the hardest things to compete in , because it just everyone knows it . It's what , every , it's relative to you . It's a hand to mouth thing , it's just primal in a way , and everybody has a special way , a special thing .

So it's just packed lunch .

You know , it's a staple of just nurturing it , and so to me that would be so hard to think of how to present that in the way that you think everyone is going to accept it .

Yeah .

Especially the judges .

Well , you know , I just want to go back to what you were saying before during that MRE challenge like being the Coast Guard . You know we have two things going for us . Our culinary training is second to none because it's such a small branch . You know we're smaller than the NYPD .

No , you're doing three squares a day .

Three squares a day . So you know , Is that your job or you have ?

another job as opposed to , you are the chef for your . Italian crew platoon , whatever you know .

Exactly . I understand , he's peeling potatoes , but he's also a gunner . Gotcha , I was actually a gunner .

I was a primary rescue swimmer on that FRC , so you know it , by the way make me a sandwich , I can . Yeah .

It's hilarious .

You're not the gentleman that took pastry chef in the ACF last year . I know because right over your shoulder is the young lady that took chef for the year . Right over my shoulder we got Danielle .

Hughes . She's ACF chef of the entire United States .

So first , A lot of royalty here .

She crushes so .

Yeah , I , she's the one I went for my chapter book to win on the national level . That is just in front of every because you compete .

I just want to make notice of it . Hello , good morning . Good afternoon Is the one that OK'd the Puddle Pirate comment , so I just want to put that out there .

Yeah , I'm not a dog . You said that , I said it .

I said it , but I asked around first .

And he actually said I need to ask him a question .

It's true , and that's how it is . It's like asking for a first kiss .

Wow , no kidding .

Anyway , look .

No , but so all right , let's drill this back , by the way , the Japanese young lady . It's a peanut butter and jelly with bananas . And what A hamburger Burger With a burger , and I it's you know .

I'm going to make so when we get back to next year , next Thursday , you want me to go make that burger ? For you . Yeah , but then for next year I'm going to get with Mike McLeon and I'm going to say , Mike , look , I need to be in the burger competition .

OK , that's fine , but I told you , I can't let . Japanese by next year .

I told him we can't compete . I can , I do , I do , I do Toyota .

Toyota , toyota . Yeah , thanks for the emails . I told Mike . I told Mike we can't compete , pooch not .

Why it's not fair , why ?

How am I going to interview people that I compete against ? It's not right .

It adds a great component to it , but maybe we can compete against other protectors .

I'd rather do it than I . I'd rather take .

Walmart to town . Let's go . We'll bring Rodriguez or one of the other chefs , that's fine .

I'm saying because you made a comment to me . Listen to me .

You started me under the bus , you threw me under the bus yesterday night .

That's all I'm saying . I did , oh yeah , we need him to compete .

Well , that's not throwing you on , I was just giving you some accolade . We'll talk about it . We believe in you , seth , I believe in you . I know we'll talk about it . I can't break you , anyway . So let's bring this back in a little bit . So the MRE thing .

I kind of want to not forget about it .

I'm not going to say that I haven't eaten , not because of any service , it's because I'm having that stuff around . So I've had my share and I'm like man . My heart goes out to you , cats , if you're going to eat that . That doesn't need MREs either that's smelly ass in the can , right there man , it's not good .

Gat and here chef .

Here's somebody I want you to follow , chef Gaston Meredith . He's a Coast Guard guy , he's an ACF guy from our part of town over in Tampa and he does really beautifully . He's a caterer , he's doing real well . He's a badass .

Speaking of what Chef Gaston Reid is right now presenting his burger . Shout out to the Coast Guard .

Oh , there's your guy right there , let's go that French onion burger .

French onion burger .

That's the ghost , wow , wow .

What's the ICU on the side ? Thanks , nice touch .

That is JP the Creeper .

I can see that bun right there . I know that's going to be delicious .

Come on .

What kind of bread is all the dimples ? That's real Very good , but the point is , all that training paid off .

Dude , I've eaten before you , I know that .

But you were young . I met you a year ago .

I've eaten before .

But you're now a master judge for sandwich .

I already said to you hook him . No , listen , listen , hold on . I'm not telling you , you're going to appreciate what I'm saying . I already said that you are my mic and to my rocky I know OK . I appreciate that I haven't had a bite .

Now I'm going to be the one that . Hey , that peanut butter and banana , I want that . Now the French onion soup . I want that one . He was like , he's like .

Kyle , you're too skinny . You're a bum . You're going to eat more .

I could do it . I could do it .

You know , it was a whole thing .

Cut me Jeff .

Unbutton my pants . Whoa , whoa , whoa Family show . That's a good one Family show ?

Yeah , all right . So what are we looking at ? So what's next for you ?

Next for me is going to be the Coast Guard culinary team . So you know they just picked the team .

I think the message went out in October .

So I'm going to be the team captain of the Coast Guard culinary team .

That's a great question , thank you .

We're going to be competing in . Fort . Laverdia I'm sorry , now it's Fort Greg Adams , virginia .

So in your sphere of things , do you have a territory that you kind of float around in , or is it like oh , we're going to ship you this way or that way , or are you pretty much stationary ? Um pretty , much .

Yeah , when we get orders , you know we have a list of whatever picks are available and then we rank them as far as the number one to pick we want . And it goes down to those pick we at least want , and you know , depending on your performance in the Coast Guard you uh that's kind of and what you were previously at .

Okay , I mean it'd be good if you got Lake Okeechobee or something Very cool .

I'm kidding , how did you ? You're like culinary mentor . Who would you look up to besides Pooch ? Um ?

thank you .

I mean , that wasn't even fun . I'm kidding .

Yeah , I mean , I really just started digging into cookbooks after I graduated from the CSA school and you know the food lab by Kenji Lopez is fucking great . And then Jet Tila is a hundred Asian cookbooks before you die , like those are .

You know , what I'm thinking is we should do a cookbook that's something like for military . It'll be like peeled potatoes and you Something like that . I feel like it would be kind of cool On the break .

Another email is going to be coming .

No , what I would really love to do man , I think it would be really cool is everybody's looking for recruiters , right ?

Like I mean recruiters in other words , each branch right that's what you're doing .

Well , I mean obviously , obviously , you know kind of being the number one food podcast , all that good . So we should , we should try to coordinate . Coordinate some certain you know some things . Yeah right , because see what Walk and Talk Media has are chefs .

my lawyer says that I was going to say was wouldn't it be just really for the Coast Guard to work with the Michelin Star chef ?

Yeah , that's what I'm saying . That's right , that's okay . So my point is we have these really cool relationships that we can probably merge some things together . You know we have all the platforms video , podcast , print , we do it all . So I'm just , I'm just putting out there in the universe of things you don't have to .

you need to talk to their commanders . Right there in the blue hat he runs the whole show .

Just stay in the knees . Um , I am not doing push ups , I promise you that , all right . Um , what do you have to say ? What do you got ? How do we follow you when you at ?

Do ? Coast Guard culinary Instagram . We got a lot of content coming out there . The Rainforest Master Chief he's the one behind you . He's a you know , he's the one traveling around showing , trying to show you know what the Coast Guard's about .

So , for you , it's Italian ginger .

Yeah , that's just a private Instagram . Look at his arm .

The tattoo on his arm .

Yeah , that's Miami Beach . I'm here for it . Let's go .

Yeah , that's cool , it's . It's a skull crossbow with a little chef hat on .

I just the eyes are eggs too . They got kind of friends . That's why that looks like it's pointed out .

That is very cool , that's awesome . That's a job Dope , yeah , that's good .

But three old guys leave us alone , were you guys based out of we're stationed . No , we're in Tampa , okay , cool . From Miami , though I mean . Well , he's the reason I'm in New Orleans , I don't know , all right .

For wait , wait , new Orleans , new Orleans , yeah .

So we just lost all our advice you guys from New Orleans .

We just lost all of you know audience . So don't say New Orleans , okay , which by ?

the way I've never , I've never said .

I don't , I don't do what he does . Jeff is like all of them , like you know , like he's really like he bends . That . This is not . You don't even hear any constant .

I mean honestly , it's one long vowel . That's very close to where you know how we get the stroke I'm having .

No , no , I got I slurred it on the thing .

Thanks , oh yeah .

God . Okay , listen my man , good luck . You know what Can you put the producer ? Oh yeah , by the way , our intro music is done by a fellow named Pablo Vivas , and that cat told you Bad ass you look really good in that new chef team , by the way man , new chef bro , I'll tell you what .

I'll tell you what they did a great job .

Victor , what's the other guy ? What's the guy's name over there , remember ? Yeah , I tried his name , jennifer . All right , new chef . We look fly . I'm talking about freshy fresh fly . Okay , I'll tell you , raymond . Thank you for doing what you do at work and over here at this show . You're good people . Pooja , chef Pooja .

Pooja , is he gone ? No , I'm kidding .

Ah , Jefferson , we are out Pooja .