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Season 3 Episode 10

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Dairy Queen: Grill & Chill feat. Tyler Eaton

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In this episode of Fine Dining: The Search for the Most Mediocre Restaurant in America:

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○ Part 1: Dairy Queen is more than just ice cream—it was one of the first fast-food chains to take over America. In this episode, we dive into how a self-proclaimed chemist helped perfect soft serve, why DQ dominated the 1950s, and the moment that changed everything: the invention of the Blizzard.

Joining me is writer & director Tyler Eaton of the new horror-comedy film Mysterious Ways, as we explore Dairy Queen’s rise, its questionable hot food menu, and whether it still lives up to its legendary status today.

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○ Part 2: We hit the road and drove nearly two hours to the nearest Dairy Queen Grill & Chill to finally see if there’s more to DQ than just frozen nostalgia. We tried three burgers (including a surprisingly delicious Flamethrower), fries, onion rings, chicken tenders, and two iconic desserts—the Blizzard and the Banana Split. The building looked half-abandoned, the service felt five-star, and the bathroom was designed by David Lynch, apparently.

Is Dairy Queen just a dessert destination with a food menu on the side—or is it a true contender for America’s most mediocre chain? Indie filmmaker Tyler Eaton joins me to evaluate!

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Location: Garden Grove, CA

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Michael's Score:                                     5.94

Tyler's Score:                                        6.22

Tchotchke of Mediocrity Score:       6.08

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Host: Michael Ornelas

Guest Hosts: Tyler Eaton

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Music by: James McEnelly

Theme Song by: Gabe Alvarez

 

Segment Transitions Voice by: Sandy Rose