Episode 193 of the "Play It By Ear" podcast starts with a discussion on the impracticality of Roman numerals and the hosts reminisce about classic comedy bits involving Roman numeral jokes. The main segment focuses on a recent list—"12 Ridiculous Food Trends That Need to Go Away"—where they dissect trends such as mashed potato fries, rainbow-colored foods, slow-cooked skinless chicken breasts, weird pasta recipes, baby shower food etiquette, mug cakes, fake social media recipes, and the overuse of avocado. Each trend sparks a mix of agreement, debate, and personal stories about food preferences and cooking disasters.They also delve into the challenges of social media food presentation, criticizing misleading thumbnails and “cheese pools,” where the visual spectacle can overpower actual enjoyment of food. The episode then shifts to more personal and humorous stories, including preparation for medical procedures, bathroom mishaps, and workplace awkwardness, especially focusing on a story involving a manager and an employee navigating perceived flirting and professional boundaries.### Highlights - [00:10:00] 🍟 Debate on mashed potato fries: crispy exterior with a mashed potato interior—innovative but tricky texture. - [00:18:30] 🌈 Rainbow foods discussion: colorful but often artificial, prioritizing Instagram appeal over flavor. - [00:24:00] 🍗 Slow-cooked skinless chicken breast critique: tends to become rubbery and stringy in slow cookers. - [00:39:00] 🤰 Baby shower food etiquette: controversy over messy nachos vs. elegant finger foods. - [01:09:00] 🧀 Cheese pools phenomenon: visually impressive but can overwhelm the eating experience. - [01:26:00] 🚽 Hilarious workplace bathroom mishap: falling through a stall door after sitting too long. - [02:08:00] 💼 Awkward workplace flirting story: manager compliments employee’s scent, leading to a cringeworthy response and HR involvement. #earbudsunite!