via The Mostly Occasionally Show
On the latest episode of The Mostly Occasionally Show, I found myself in a high-stakes interrogation with Man vs. Food legend Adam Richman.
The test was a rapid-fire game of “Food Would You Rather?” questions that quickly spiraled from a fun back-and-forth into a Rorschach test for how well you really know a person.
You can tell a lot about a person by their simple sandwich preferences. Not complex deli orders or “greatest sandwich they ever had” on a road trip questions that require a lot of thought. Just simple BLT or club? Grilled cheese or chicken parm?
The answer is a glimpse into someone’s soul, just like talking about their favorite Pennsylvania snack foods.
Adam started simple:
- PB&J or tuna fish?
- PB&J or egg salad?
- PB&J or BLT?
Then he turned up the heat:
- BLT or club?
- BLT or grilled cheese?
- Grilled cheese or chicken parm?
I stayed loyal to my tomato-loving convictions—BLT all the way. Then grilled cheese entered the ring. If you’ve ever had a garlic grilled cheese in the parking lot after a Phish show, you know how unbeatable it is.
And finally, the heavyweight title fight: grilled cheese vs. chicken parm.
The Food CAPTCHA Theory
This is a really good way to know a person. At the end of the exchange, Adam pointed out that we’d crossed into a secret handshake moment. Like that scene in Mission Impossible where the agents exchange cryptic phrases to confirm they’re not impostors. We had arrived.
Talking about common foods to get the vibe on someone’s sense of taste is the fire hydrant CAPTCHA of human interaction. If you answer correctly—or at least with confidence—you pass. You belong.
Taste is subjective, so everyone has an unspoken food philosophy. For example:
- The person who orders pineapple on pizza knowing full well they’ll be roasted for it.
- The one who swears mayo is the best condiment ever created.
- The die-hard who refuses to eat a burger unless it’s smashed on a griddle.
It’s a litmus test that’s a vibe check. Kinda like those gimmicky Buzzfeed quizes back in the day to find out what kind of sandwich you are.
There’s no right or wrong answer, but how you answer says everything.
Want to see if someone passes the test?
Try this game in the wild on…
- First date: Want to know if they’re a grilled cheese or a tuna melt person before things get serious? This is crucial intel.
- New coworker lunch: Ditch the awkward small talk about the weather. A quick “Pancakes or waffles?” will reveal more than their LinkedIn ever could.
- Long road trip: Keeps everyone entertained and settles where you’re stopping to eat. (If they say gas station sushi over McDonald’s, reconsider the friendship.)
- Fantasy football draft party: You’ll learn who’s trustworthy… and who willingly eats boneless wings (aka, chicken nuggets).
- Meeting the in-laws: If you’re petty, deep-dish vs. thin crust might be a dealbreaker for your future together.
Forget the boring “What do you do?” the next time you’re at a social function and need an icebreaker. Hit them with the real test:
“Grilled cheese or chicken parm?”
If they hesitate too long, you might be dealing with a spy.
Stay frosty out there.
Watch the whole podcast on YouTube. You can also listen to it on Apple or Spotify.