Did you see the recent (fictional) Food Channel episode? It featured a cook-off between two
New York City chefs, Nugyen Quang Foe against John Smith. Foe was a Buddhist monk who
emigrated from Saigon in 1964. Smith, a native New Yorker, owned a popular, restaurant
located on Manhattan’s upper east side.
For his final offering, Smith presented his signature dish, Chateaubriand prepared with a
delicate Bearnaise sauce. Foe countered by dowsing himself in gasoline, flicking his Zippo
lighter and exploding in flames.
The audience was stunned when the judges awarded the victory to Foe. They explained that,
despite overcooking the meat, Foe’s presentation caught the attention of all New Yorkers.
Devastated, Smith left the stage muttering, “This sucks, I might as well sell my restaurant and
move to Florida.”
The next day, a food truck set up shop outside the network studio selling Mamdani Burgers.
This delicacy featured two charred paties broiled with gasoline. The food truck’s enterprising
owner proclaimed, “We use only regular gasoline to ensure that all New Yorkers can afford our
food.”
Seconds, anyone?