TBTL Podcast Episode #950: "Cooking with Sean Dettore - Prison Cuisine"

Release Date: November 12, 2011

Hosts: Luke Burbank & Jennifer Flash

Introduction & Weekend Plans

In Episode #950 of TBTL: Too Beautiful To Live, hosts Luke Burbank and Jennifer Flash kick off the show with their characteristic humor and camaraderie. Luke welcomes listeners to this milestone episode, highlighting the show's playful nature and their enduring friendship.

Notable Quote:

• Luke (00:21): "Hey folks. Welcome to a Friday afternoon edition of tbtl. This is the show that's probably too beautiful to live."

Jennifer shares her excitement about the upcoming Sweetberry Wine Tastings, encouraging listeners to connect with the MacArthur Foundation if they make new friends at the events.

Notable Quote:

• Jennifer (01:05): "I would just ask that if you attend a sweetberry wine tasting this weekend and you make a lifelong friend, that you drop a line to the genius grant people."

Luke discusses their collaboration with Chateau St. Michel for an upcoming wine tasting event, emphasizing the importance of external support to manage the event logistics.

Notable Quote:

• Luke (01:24): "You're bringing in outside help to administrate it, to administer it because you don't want. You can't administer the test and take the test."

Community Engagement & Listener Interaction

Jennifer and Luke delve into listener feedback, particularly amusing reports about the availability of crackers at various venues. They humorously commend themselves for shedding light on seemingly trivial but relatable issues, like the worldwide "cracker shortage."

Notable Quote:

• Luke (02:33): "Yes, they do. And you know what? That's what this show is about. It's about curing world loneliness, and it's about teaching people to be grateful for their crackers."

Jennifer introduces a delightful anecdote about the Minnesota 10s' extravagant cheese wheel, juxtaposing it with the humble cracker supply, showcasing the hosts' knack for turning everyday observations into humorous commentary.

Notable Quote:

• Jennifer (02:30): "They now recognize they should be grateful."

Charity Auctions & Personal Projects

Luke shares his involvement in a charity auction for Franciscan Health Systems supporting St. Joe's Hospital, highlighting his commitment to community service. He humorously contrasts his wine enthusiast tendencies with the serious nature of the charity event.

Notable Quote:

• Luke (03:00): "I always thought nuns, man, that seems like a really. That's obviously a lifelong decision."

Jennifer highlights the musical entertainment at the auction, reminiscing about past performances and emphasizing the enjoyable experiences despite the event's serious foundation.

Notable Quote:

• Luke (04:15): "Seeing all of these people in their 50s and 60s getting down to Flo Rida was pretty awesome."

Cooking with Sean Dettore: Introducing Prison Cuisine

A significant portion of the episode centers around the innovative segment "Cooking with Sean Dettore," where the hosts explore unconventional recipes inspired by prison cooking methods. Jennifer reminisces about their past show where their experiment with prison-style cooking spiraled into a quasi-sociological experiment, revealing unexpected interpersonal dynamics.

Notable Quote:

• Jennifer (06:04): "We didn't mean for it to, but our kind of hidden personalities came out, and we found out you were a little bit sniveling."

Luke humorously critiques the Stanford Prison Experiment comparison, reinforcing the playful and improvisational nature of their segment.

Notable Quote:

• Luke (06:23): "By the way, that's one of the smartest prisons you could get sent to is the Stanford Prison."

The Recipe: Cheez Its Mackerel

The segment introduces a humble yet inventive recipe: Cheez Its-crusted mackerel. Jennifer explains the simplicity of the recipe, emphasizing its origins from inmates utilizing limited resources.

Notable Quote:

• Jennifer (15:29): "Cheez its mackerel. It's laid out in front of me now is some pretty appetizing little pieces of jack mackerel that are all breaded."

Sean Dettore, adopting a "prison chef" persona, meticulously follows the recipe steps while engaging in the hosts' banter, simulating the constraints of prison cooking.

Notable Quote:

• Sean (13:39): "I am getting a new tattoo, a little teardrop. I'm planning on it for next week."

The Cooking Process: Humorous Mishaps

As the trio attempts to execute the recipe, technical issues and comedic misunderstandings abound. The production humorously mimics the challenges inmates might face, such as limited tools and improvised cooking methods.

Notable Quote:

• Luke (21:26): "They're gonna love you, boy."

Jennifer and Sean navigate the process with witty exchanges, turning potential disasters (like the overpowering smell of mackerel) into moments of shared laughter and improvisational comedy.

Notable Quote:

• Luke (31:00): "Now, this recipe was gotten off the Internet, and it's."

Technical Challenges & Behind-the-Scenes Humor

Throughout the episode, Luke and Jennifer poke fun at technical mishaps, such as microphone issues and equipment malfunctions, adding another layer of humor and relatability to the show.

Notable Quote:

• Luke (02:03): "I cannot tell you how many emails I now get with just reports about how many crackers are available."

Culinary Triumphs & Taste Testing

The culmination of their cooking efforts leads to a successful taste test, with the hosts surprisingly proud of their makeshift oven-baked mackerel dish. The segment showcases their ability to turn a simple experiment into a memorable and entertaining experience.

Notable Quote:

• Luke (47:11): "Grilled prison mackerel. I'm not gonna lie to you. This is delicious. This is so good."

Jennifer and Sean express their satisfaction with the outcome, celebrating their "prison-inspired" culinary achievement and humorously contemplating life choices that led them to such entertaining experiments.

Notable Quote:

• Jennifer (48:15): "Shocking good."

Closing Remarks & Future Segments

As the episode draws to a close, Luke and Jennifer reflect on the fun and chaos of the cooking segment, teasing future content and maintaining their engaging rapport. They reiterate their commitment to community events and listener engagement, wrapping up the episode on a high note.

Notable Quote:

• Luke (52:43): "This was really, really an accomplishment. And I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you both and proud of you all."

Jennifer concludes with a promotion of their upcoming wine tasting and charity events, inviting listeners to join in and share their experiences.

Notable Quote:

• Jennifer (58:09): "Have a fun weekend, everybody. Enjoy your wine tasting."

Conclusion

Episode #950 of TBTL: Too Beautiful To Live exemplifies the show's blend of humor, friendship, and community engagement. Through their playful exploration of prison-inspired cuisine, Luke and Jennifer offer listeners a unique and entertaining experience, punctuated by memorable quotes and lively banter. This episode not only celebrates a significant milestone but also reinforces the show's enduring appeal and the hosts' chemistry.