LEILANI DANG: My name is Leilani. 

JOSELIN CRUZ: My name is Joselin,

MAYRA ARTEAGA: And My name is Mayra.

DANG: Since Thanksgiving just passed, what were some dishes that you enjoyed?

ARTEAGA: I really enjoyed the mac and cheese and bread.

CRUZ: I really enjoyed the ham and the mac and cheese.

DANG: I enjoyed the pie and all the desserts because I just like them. Since it just passed, we’re gonna rate Thanksgiving foods on this tier chart, starting with, let’s do the pie, the cherry pie.

ARTEAGA: I would say it’s C tier. I feel like it can be really tart, and then the syrup in like the cherries, is too sweet.

CRUZ: I haven’t really tried any pie, so I wouldn’t really know, but cherries, I feel like, make it a little too sweet.

DANG: For me, cherry pie would be a D tier, because I just don’t like cherry pie. I’ve tried it. I tried to like it. I can’t. I mean, every other pie is good, but cherry, except pecan pie I hate pecan pie. But cherry pie is too sweet, and I don’t like the texture. It’s like, too mushy, in my opinion. So would you give it a C or D tier?

ARTEAGA: I could agree on D. 

CRUZ : Yeah, D.

DANG: Let’s do mashed potatoes.

ARTEAGA :Um,  I don’t really like mashed potatoes. I feel like they can be really bland. You know, they don’t add much to the Thanksgiving dinner. Most people eat it with normal dinner. So, like, it’s nothing to look forward to. So I’d say like E.

CRUZ: I feel like it’s nothing special either. It’s kind of plain. So, somewhere like a D, maybe?

DANG: Um,  I would agree with that, I don’t really like mashed potatoes. Because mashed potatoes, well actually, I do like mashed potatoes. I like mashed potatoes, but if it’s like the powdered one, and you’re using it at Thanksgiving dinner? Then that’s just like, 

DANG: It’s not that hard to make by hand, why are you using powder? 

ARTEAGA: Make it by hand or just don’t make it. 

DANG: Just don’t make it.

DANG: And like you said, it’s a basic staple for dinner every day. That’s something I don’t like. You know, it’s basic. Why use it as something special? So I would give that C or D.

ARTEAGA: I say D,

CRUZ: D, yeah.

DANG: It’s not good enough?

ARTEAGA & CRUZ : Yeah.

DANG: Let’s do deviled eggs.

ARTEAGA: Deviled eggs?

ARTEAGA: Um, I like them, but I feel like, because of the way my family makes it, they add mustard into the egg yolk, and I hate mustard. So, I’ll give it like a C tier if they don’t add any, or if it’s not as like present in the taste. What about you Joselin?

CRUZ: They’re good, but they’re nothing special. So, like a C.

DANG: Really? 

CRUZ: Yeah.

DANG: Well, C is better than the cherry pie. I, maybe, it’s like good. Actually, no. It’s the bomb.com, guys. But that’s because, well, I have to think hard about this one, because I, I like it, but mustard in it is not good, my family makes it good though. I would go C, C is okay.

CRUZ: Yeah, C.

DANG: Um, how about stuffing?

ARTEAGA: My family doesn’t make it for Thanksgiving.

CRUZ: Me either.

DANG: Stuffing. I think it’s just a D tier, because y’all don’t know about it, and obviously it’s just bread that’s flavored. So this might hurt a lot of people, because people eat it a lot for Thanksgiving, but I’m just gonna say it’s a D tier thing.

ARTEAGA: I used to think that the stuffing went in the turkey.

DANG: It does. Sometimes, it does. You can cook it outside or in the turkey. Most people do inside the turkey. It tastes better that way. 

DANG: Okay, let’s do some veggies, brussels sprouts.

ARTEAGA: I’ve never had brussels sprouts. Have you had brussels sprouts?

CRUZ: Um no, but I feel like not many people like it, but I think it depends on how you cook it though.

DANG: Yeah, that’s what I said but I like brussel sprouts, I like brussel sprouts. People say they’re nasty. I don’t care. You’ve just never had them, you know, in a good way.

DANG: I don’t know, y’know how people give them out? Wait, what grade?

CRUZ: Do a D,

DANG: D tier?

CRUZ: D tier.

DANG: Because it’s just like, you know?

DANG: Um, what about the turkey itself?

ARTEAGA: Um, I feel like turkey is like one of those main dishes you think about when you hear the word “Thanksgiving.” I’d say it’s kind of overrated for me, and I know a lot of people don’t agree with that, but I feel like it just has to be made right in order for it to be good. So I would say it’s like C tier.

DANG: C?

ARTEAGA: Actually, D.

DANG: Actually D? What about you?

CRUZ: I feel like C and D is kind of low, like, as, like a main dish.

ARTEAGA: So then B?

CRUZ: I think B. 

DANG: I still think C though.

CRUZ: But I’ve always had it pretty dry, so either a C or B.

DANG :I think a C. I’ve always had it dry. For five years, dry.

CRUZ: I’ve never had good turkey.

DANG: I’ve never had a good turkey. How do you cook it?

CRUZ: I don’t know, my tia makes it.

DANG: But like, is it like the whole turkey? Is it cut up in slices, and then when they cook it? Like, you don’t even know?

CRUZ: No. I just eat the turkey. 

DANG: They put it on the plate and it’s already, like, cut up and everything?

CRUZ:  Yeah.

DANG: What about you?

ARTEAGA: Um, since it’s only six of us at our dinner, we just, like, don’t make the whole thing. We just make, like, the turkey breast in like, either the oven or the smoker outside.

DANG: Mhm. My family makes whole turkeys, and it’s so dry I can’t. So we’re gonna do C?

CRUZ: Yeah.

DANG: Green beans.

ARTEAGA: Green beans, um, I feel like those are like uh, uh, green beans I feel like, can be good. My mom makes them with like garlic and like, she cooks them really good.

ARTEAGA: So I feel like B.

DANG: B. What about you?

CRUZ: I mean, they’re green beans. You can’t really go wrong with them.

DANG: You can’t really go wrong with them. What about canned ones? I don’t like canned ones.

CRUZ: Nuh Uh, No.

ARTEAGA: No, they’re soggy.

DANG: They’re soggy and weirdly mushy, right? So it has to be like the fresh ones that are made by, you know, hand, yeah. Okay, so what tier would that be then? Just a B?

CRUZ: Just B.

DANG: Okay. Um, cranberries, canned cranberries, jarred cranberries? 

ARTEAGA: I don’t like cranberry jelly or whatever. I would say, E. Feel like it’s too tart for me. It’s like a weird mixture of tart and sweet. It just like, makes my jaw clench, like it’s like, ughh!

DANG: Like your face scrunches up?

ARTEAGA: Yes! It’s like, I don’t like it. We don’t even eat at Thanksgiving. 

DANG: Um, well, I have, hm, I don’t like it but it’s like,

DANG: it’s, I don’t think I’ve eaten it with my Thanksgiving actually, like, it’s there, but I don’t choose it because, yeah, people are gonna shoot us for this. I know a lot of people do cranberries for Thanksgiving. And like, Lingonberry jam. If you ever heard of that, it’s like cranberries. Personally, I don’t like it. I don’t know, so I would actually give it a F tier.

CRUZ: I’ve never tried, like cranberry jam, only tried cranberry juice and I do like that. But I think it’s a little different.

DANG: It’s a little different. It’s like, it’s like, that flavor, but like, 10 times stronger and in a jelly form.

CRUZ: Yeah, I don’t really like jelly so I’d say probably F or E.

ARTEAGA: Yeah, I could agree on F, yeah F.

DANG: Okay, mac and cheese. 

ARTEAGA: I’m gonna have to say S tier when it’s made correctly. And it’s like, you put it in the boiler and it gets all crispy on top. It’s like baked in the oven. So delicious.

DANG: I can see you imaginating it, imagining it.

ARTEAGA: I am!

CRUZ: I think an S tier too, like it’s the best out of there.

DANG: It’s just A tier though, I don’t like mac and cheese that much. We can do S tier, S tier, yeah, it depends who makes it for me, though,

DANG: Okay um, what about peach cobbler?

ARTEAGA: I love peach cobbler when it’s nice and warm with ice cream on top. I have to say, S tier. 

CRUZ: I haven’t tried peach cobbler.

DANG: We need to get her peach cobbler, like a pie, because, like, pies are like pie. You know? I mean, S tier for sure. I can’t argue or, like, talk about it just good…

DANG: You’ve never had sugared yams, have you?

ARTEAGA: No.

DANG: It’s just like, it’s like, have you had a sweet potato?

ARTEAGA: Yeah.

DANG: So, it’s like that, but it’s coated and, like, like, a sweet like, coat, I guess. It’s not crunchy, it’s still the same texture. It’s just like, sweeter. Covered in sugar.

CRUZ: Isn’t it too like sweet? 

DANG: It’s not that sweet, no, because the sweet potato itself is not that sweet. You know, it’s kind of just a little bland. So which is why I like it. I’m just gonna put at A tier, because y’all don’t know about it, but since I really like it, I’ll put it at A.

DANG: Um, cheese board.

ARTEAGA: I love cheese. 

CRUZ: Me too.

ARTEAGA:I love crackers, I love all that stuff. So I’m going to have to say S tier for me.

DANG: Is there anything on a cheese board you don’t like?

ARTEAGA: Um, I would say, like, really sharp cheese. I feel like, like…

DANG: If it’s, like, too strong? 

ARTEAGA: Yes, it’s too cheesy, then it gets to a point. But I feel like it’s a good, like little thing for in between whatever you’re eating.

CRUZ: Yeah, I really like it. Like, I love cheese. 

DANG: Is it just A tier or S tier?

CRUZ & ARTEAGA: S tier, S tier, S tier.

DANG: Um, what about sweet potatoes in general?

ARTEAGA: I like sweet potatoes. I would say like B.

DANG: B? Just B. What about you? 

CRUZ: A B, yeah.

DANG: Sweet potatoes are just sweet potatoes.

CRUZ: Yeah, it’s like sweet potatoes. Just like green beans.

DANG: Okay, apple pie.

ARTEAGA: Apple pie, I like it. I like it when it’s made with cinnamon. Um, I’ll say, like A tier.

DANG: A tier. You’ve never had apple pie?

CRUZ: I’ve never had apple pie.

DANG: We have to bring her apple pie dude. We have to bring her a pie. Pie is so good. I can’t, apple pie is the favorite. It’s one of my favorites besides pumpkin pie. How far up? You said A? 

ARTEAGA: Yeah I said A. 

DANG: Just A.

ARTEAGA: Yeah.

DANG: It doesn’t beat peach cobbler. Does it?

ARTEAGA: No. For me, it doesn’t.

DANG: So just, 

DANG: Okay, um, pecan pie.

ARTEAGA: I don’t really like it. I would have to say, like, C tier. It’s nothing special. We don’t eat it at our Thanksgiving. 

DANG: But you’ve had it? 

ARTEAGA: Yeah. 

DANG: What about you? You’ve never had it?

CRUZ: But I don’t like pecans, like I just don’t like it.

DANG: I’ll tell you, it’s freaking gross. I hate pecan pies. I don’t just dislike it, I hate it. I eat it. It’s like, you know how, like, people mass produce it with, like, syrup, and it’s, like, all weird and sticky. It’s so weird. I don’t like the texture of it. I hate the taste and the texture. It’s just I can’t do it. I would say F tier. 

ARTEAGA: Okay, I mean I don’t love it. So, I can agree on that, you know, I’m not gonna try and defend it. 

DANG: Pumpkin pie.

ARTEAGA: I’d have to say S tier. I love the texture of it, the taste of it is not too sweet, which is perfect. And when you load it with whipped cream, it’s the best.

DANG: You’ve never had pumpkin pie.

CRUZ: I’ve never had pumpkin pie.

DANG: So have you ever had like a pumpkin spice flavored thing?

CRUZ: Probably, yeah, but sometimes I feel like the pumpkin so it’s too strong.

DANG: Well, it’s kind of like that, but the texture is like a cheesecake. I’m also gonna do S tier, because obviously, it’s like, 

ARTEAGA: It’s a classic!

DANG: It’s the classic for and, you know, everyone gets it at Starbucks, everyone loves pumpkin pie. 

ARTEAGA: Oh or the Costco one.

DANG: Oh, the Costco one is good.

DANG: Um, bread rolls.

ARTEAGA: I will have to say S or A. I feel like it goes with all of the foods, it’s a good side.

CRUZ: Yeah, I really like it too, either S or A too.

DANG: What’s the best type of roll? 

CRUZ: The like, the sweet Hawaiian rolls are so good. 

DANG & ARTEAGA: Mmm, yeah.

DANG: So S tier? 

ARTEAGA: Yeah!

DANG: Okay, last one. Last one, ham.

CRUZ & ARTEAGA: Ham? S!

ARTEAGA: I feel like it’s underrated, like people over-hype turkey too much, and we forget about ham.

CRUZ: Ham is so good!

DANG: The ham is so good. It’s always, “Thanksgiving, turkey, turkey,” But like the ham! When people make ham on Thanksgiving, it’s so good, it’s like, it’s savory, and it goes with a lot of sides because they’re plain. So that’s perfect for mac and cheese, or, like, mashed potatoes, or like rolls, the savory stuff just cuts in through that. And it’s so good, so good. So, S tier? 

CRUZ & ARTEAGA: Yes, definitely!

DANG: No conversation needed! And that’s our tiers and please don’t kill us if you disagree. Um, how many people do you think will disagree with this? 

ARTEAGA: I think they’re definitely gonna disagree with the turkey being so, like, low.

DANG: And that’s their problem, right? 

CRUZ & ARTEAGA: Yeah.

DANG: I mean, it’s because turkey’s overrated. That’s why.

DANG: What’s the ultimate dish then?

ARTEAGA: I’m stuck between ham and mac and cheese.

DANG: I say ham so that breaks it.

CRUZ: Ham? Ham, okay ham.

DANG: Ham is the best, ham is the best. It’s like, flavorful and like you can’t go wrong. Especially if it’s homemade.

DANG: Um, since you know, Thanksgiving passed, what were some things you’re grateful about?

ARTEAGA: I’m grateful for everything. I think it’s important to be grateful for everything.

CRUZ: Of course. Be grateful for like being here, being alive for another day.

DANG: I’m grateful for being able to eat everything, but most importantly, I’m alive to eat it!

DANG, CRUZ & ARTEAGA: We’re thankful for you listening to this podcast episode! Thank you for listening, stay grateful!