The Isabel Brown Show – Thanksgiving Food TIER LIST: Ranking Every Classic Dish from Elite to Trash

Date: November 25, 2025
Host: Isabel Brown (The Daily Wire)

Episode Overview

In this festive episode, Isabel Brown brings her bold and unfiltered opinions to the ultimate Thanksgiving debate: which holiday dishes deserve the coveted “elite” status, and which should be banished from the table for good? Sharing stories from her own family traditions and a dash of playful banter, Isabel walks listeners through her personal Thanksgiving food tier list—from turkey and stuffing to desserts and drinks—infused with anecdotes, nostalgia, and hot takes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving Memories & Traditions (04:00–06:30)

• Isabel reminisces about her childhood Thanksgivings, including backcountry “camp” Thanksgivings in Colorado with freeze-dried food.
• She shares her own journey now cooking Thanksgiving dinner for her small family.
• Emphasizes the cultural and personal significance of Thanksgiving as an American tradition.

Quote:
"This might be a really hot take, but Thanksgiving dinner, the meal itself, is the greatest meal of the calendar year. I don't know what is up the people's butts that say they hate Thanksgiving food. Cannot relate actually." — Isabel Brown (03:35)

2. The Thanksgiving Food TIER LIST: Elite to Hard Pass

Turkey (08:10)

• Considered just “okay”—iconic but not a personal must-have.
• Cites that unless “smothered with something,” turkey isn’t the real star.
• Notes she hasn’t tried deep-fried turkey, which might sway her in the future.

Quote:
"You're not eating Thanksgiving dinner solely for the turkey. In fact, if you did it right, you are smothering said piece of turkey with something else." — Isabel Brown (08:23)

Biscuits & Rolls (09:35; 12:15)

• Biscuits and dinner rolls—any variety—are “elite.” Always worth a second (or fifth) helping.
• Prefers rolls, especially King’s Hawaiian, for next-day sandwiches loaded with leftovers.

Quote:
"Biscuits are elite. I will always get second, second, third, fourth, fifth rounds of biscuits... Doesn't matter. Biscuits are elite." — Isabel Brown (09:38)

Brussels Sprouts & Squash (10:07)

• Likes both as foods but declares them “hard pass” for Thanksgiving—doesn’t belong on the table.
• Criticizes the idea of serving squash solo: “If you do that, you are a heathen.” (11:10)
• Prefers squash as part of something like ravioli, but never as a standalone dish.

Cranberry Sauce (13:00)

• Jellied cranberry (from the can) is “elite”—a must-have for turkey, sandwiches, and appetizers.
• Chunky cranberry sauces are “hard pass”—off-putting texture, “vomit-inducing.”

Quote:
"Jellied cranberry is elite... Cranberry sauce with chunks of cranberry—hard pass. Not gonna happen. Not on my Thanksgiving dinner table. Maybe it's a texture thing, I don't know. But... No. Vomit inducing. Immediate. No.” — Isabel Brown (13:30–14:50)

Green Bean Casserole (15:40)

• Another “elite” dish—loves it despite her husband’s disdain.
• Defends it with passion, comparing herself to Friends’ Joey: “What’s not to love?”

Quote:
"When it is made correctly. Divine. So good. Where can you go wrong? ... Put them together and it's great.” — Isabel Brown (16:10)

Corn and Cornbread (18:00)

• Associates corn on the cob with summer, not Thanksgiving—puts it in “maybe.”
• Cornbread also a “maybe”—traditionally had chili with cinnamon rolls, not cornbread.

Gravy (20:30)

• Undeniably “elite”—makes everything better.
• Shares family background: didn’t have it often, but now a Thanksgiving staple.

Quote:
"Gravy of all kinds is elite. It's basically just deliciousness on your plate, smothered over everything." — Isabel Brown (21:39)

Ham (22:10)

• Considers ham “great” but not quite “elite” (unless honey-baked).
• More of a Christmas tradition in her family, but tempted to try it for Thanksgiving.

Mac and Cheese (23:00)

• “Elite,” no debating it—doesn’t matter how it’s made.
• Jokes about her husband’s lactose intolerance and commitment to the cause.

Quote:
"Elite every single time. And again, you're wrong if you disagree. If you're lactose intolerant, I don't care. You're eating Mac and cheese on Thanksgiving." — Isabel Brown (23:11)

Mashed Potatoes (24:10)

• Handily “elite,” regardless of preparation.
• The “vehicle” for all other Thanksgiving foods—binds the plate together.

Quote:
"Mashed potatoes is really the hallmark keystone ingredient of Thanksgiving dinner, in my opinion." — Isabel Brown (25:05)

Roasted Vegetables & Scalloped Potatoes (28:00)

• Roasted veggies: “maybe” — likes them but not essential for the holiday.
• Scalloped potatoes: also “maybe”—yummy but not a Thanksgiving must-have.

Stuffing (29:07)

• “Elite”—handcrafted or boxed, doesn’t matter.
• Gushes about excitement and plans to break her diet for the holiday.

Sweet Potato Casserole (30:20)

• “Elite,” especially her dad’s version with marshmallows and brown sugar.
• Husband still not a fan, despite repeated tries.

Desserts — Pumpkin Pie & Apple Pie (31:00)

• Pumpkin pie is “elite” — non-negotiable, will eat a whole (Costco-sized!) pie with whipped cream.
• Apple pie is also “elite,” though she associates it more with Fourth of July than Thanksgiving.

Quote:
"Pumpkin pie is elite. You are literally in need of psychiatric help if you do not like pumpkin pie...you probably are a communist." — Isabel Brown (32:45)

Beverages (34:15)

• Sparkling apple cider/juice: “always elite,” childhood favorite continuing into adulthood.
• Red wine: also “elite.” Notes her husband “converted” on their honeymoon in Italy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• (On strong food opinions)
  "My answers are correct. This is just object. We seek truth here in Isabel Brown's content. I will always tell you the truth, even when it's difficult to hear." (12:21)

• (On green bean casserole haters)
  "You're stupid if you hate fried onions." (16:01)

• (On Thanksgiving indulging)
  "This is the one time a year I will ever endorse morbid obesity and we all should be endorsing it for Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy. Eat up." (36:16)

• (On the pie debate)
  "If you're not doing pumpkin pie and you're doing apple pie, I might have some trust issues with you." (34:00)

Food TIER LIST Summary Table

| Dish | Ranking | Notable Comments | |------------------------------|--------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Turkey | Okay/Maybe | Only great if deep-fried; needs gravy or cranberry sauce | | Ham | Great | Better than turkey; honey-baked is “elite”; usually Christmas not T-giving | | Biscuits | Elite | Any type; always seconds and leftovers | | Dinner Rolls | Elite | Especially King's Hawaiian, for next-day sandwiches | | Brussels Sprouts | Hard Pass | Likes them, just not on Thanksgiving | | Squash (alone) | Hard Pass | “If you do that, you are a heathen.” | | Jellied Cranberry Sauce | Elite | From a can only! | | Chunky Cranberry Sauce | Hard Pass | Highly negative reaction to the texture | | Green Bean Casserole | Elite | Loves it; defends passionately | | Corn on the Cob | Maybe | More of a summer food in her family | | Cornbread | Maybe | Chili is for cinnamon rolls | | Gravy | Elite | Needs to be on everything | | Mac and Cheese | Elite | Non-negotiable, all types | | Mashed Potatoes | Elite | “Keystone” of Thanksgiving | | Roasted Vegetables | Maybe | Likes, but not Thanksgiving-specific | | Scalloped Potatoes | Maybe | Good, but not essential for holiday | | Stuffing | Elite | Boxed or homemade, always great | | Sweet Potato Casserole | Elite | Dad’s recipe is favorite; marshmallows crucial | | Pumpkin Pie | Elite | Could eat an entire Costco pie | | Apple Pie | Elite | Still “elite” but really a Fourth of July dish in her mind | | Sparkling Apple Cider/Juice | Elite | Timeless, festive, loved at all ages | | Red Wine | Elite | Newly appreciated by her husband |

Listener Engagement & Closing

• Isabel invites listeners to vote in the comments on the “turkey vs. ham” debate for her small family’s Thanksgiving (35:40).
• Encourages playful disagreement:
  "If you decided to be stupid and disagree with me on any of these things, also let me know in the comments." (36:00)
• Expresses deep gratitude for her community and listeners as an extended “family” at her Thanksgiving table.

Final Thoughts

Isabel’s animated and humorous approach delivers both food for thought—and for the belly—guiding listeners through a nostalgic, opinionated, and inviting Thanksgiving food debate. Whether you agree or disagree with her takes, she wraps the episode in a spirit of gratitude and community, reminding everyone to enjoy and celebrate.

Happy Thanksgiving!