Joshua Weissman

**Joshua Weissman** (0:08)
Taste has been the conversation for so long, now let's give Texture a chance. Okay, let's put Taste to the background for a second. Flavor, put that in the background for a second. Let's really focus on the structural integrity of a great meal or a great bite of food. I think that if you can learn a little bit about these six main textures, not only will it make you better cook, but it's also going to make you a better eater.

**Matt Rodbard** (0:29)
This is Taste. I'm your host, Matt Rodbard.
Joshua Weissman is the biggest thing in food YouTube. He's got over nine million subscribers and you probably are here listening to it because you know Joshua Weissman. But if you don't, you should tune in to this episode. We talk about his latest book, Texture Over Taste. We also go into so many topics about like Austin, Texas, where he lives, his favorite restaurants there, his favorite fast food hamburgers. We also talk about what's cool on the internet and what makes a video sing. I love catching up with Joshua Weissman and I hope you enjoy this conversation.
Joshua Weissman, welcome to This Is TASTE.

**Joshua Weissman** (1:15)
Hey, thank you for having me. I'm happy to be here.

**Matt Rodbard** (1:16)
Happy book birthday. Today's your book set.

**Joshua Weissman** (1:18)
I know, I'm not pregnant anymore. Pop that thing out real good.

**Matt Rodbard** (1:22)
Texture Over Taste is cool. And I want to get into this. This is like a cerebral idea, a very key to understanding our food culture and what we like. But first, we're in New York.
Where have you been for food right now? You live in Austin, but you're back in New York. Where do you go?

**Joshua Weissman** (1:38)
Back in New York. I love New York food. The funny thing is, I've been so busy this time around that I didn't really have the chance to really explore, if that makes sense.
But I love Contra, big fan. I'm sad they're going.

**Matt Rodbard** (1:52)
They're gone, yeah, they're out.

**Joshua Weissman** (1:53)
I'm sad they're going, so I didn't get a chance to eat there. I haven't been anywhere this time. I'm gonna be honest with you. I haven't had a chance to go out. I had some hotel food, it was trash.

**Matt Rodbard** (2:03)
I mean, it really happens most of the time. Because the club sandwich is usually fucking soggy.

**Joshua Weissman** (2:10)
Yeah, you know what's funny? I think the club sandwich, despite it being soggy, simultaneously is the most reliable thing. You could have a really dry ass burger if you want, you know, there's that.

**Matt Rodbard** (2:18)
Yeah. Where are you staying? You were good, downtown, uptown, midtown?

**Joshua Weissman** (2:22)
Pierre.

**Matt Rodbard** (2:23)
Oh, you're at the Pierre?
All right, well, the food is not good there. That's good to know.

**Joshua Weissman** (2:26)
I mean, it's okay. You know, I ordered, what did I order? I ordered the shrimp curry.
And what I didn't like about it was the rice that they gave me was like this fragrant rice, right? There were so many curry leaves in this rice that when I picked them all out, I could fill the bowl back up with the curry leaves.
Look, I get it. It's fragrant rice, you know. Oh, look, we're so traditional. No, nobody wants that. I just want rice, you know, call it a day.

**Matt Rodbard** (2:57)
Yeah, it can be like hard to fish out certain like objects in rice. And you know, curry leaves, not great.

**Joshua Weissman** (3:03)
Not great.

**Matt Rodbard** (3:03)
To eat a curry leaf.

**Joshua Weissman** (3:04)
They're not great to eat, they're not.

**Matt Rodbard** (3:05)
I love them cooking and obviously using like tempered oil, you know, use a curry leaf, throw that shit in there.
You have a chew chapter. I love this so much. And you talk about the New York City bagel. Have you, have you, do you have bagel plans? New York City bagel plans?

**Joshua Weissman** (3:19)
If I have time today, I definitely will swing by and grab some. I might go swing by Utopia.
My boy Scotty.

**Matt Rodbard** (3:24)
Yeah.

**Joshua Weissman** (3:25)
Love that guy.

**Matt Rodbard** (3:25)
That's a good spot.

**Joshua Weissman** (3:26)
Yeah, it's great. It's awesome. I love Utopia.
You know, I mean, there's all sorts of bagel places around here. I love, I mean, Russ and Daughters is a classic. You can always go by there and grab something. You know, it's gonna be consistent.
I don't think it's the best bagel, but I think it's consistently good.