Eat Drink D-FW: The Man Who Built Chili's, Plus: Boy Kibble episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 24, 2026 · 24 MIN

Eat Drink D-FW: The Man Who Built Chili's, Plus: Boy Kibble

from The Dallas Morning News · host The Dallas Morning News

First, we sit down with Larry Lavine, the Dallas entrepreneur who opened a casual burger-and-chili joint in a converted house on Greenville Avenue and accidentally built one of the most recognizable restaurant chains in the world. He talks about the early days, what he got right, and what it feels like to watch his creation have a full-blown cultural renaissance decades later. And because we had the chance, we asked him the only question that really matters: how do you make the perfect cheeseburger? He had answers. We also hear from Dallas forensic historian and Chili's historian Farris Rookstool III, who offers his own perspective on what makes the chain's story so enduring.Then: boy kibble. The protein-obsessed, meal-prep, macro-tracking food culture that has taken over social media — and maybe your refrigerator. We dig into the trend, what's driving it, and what it says about how Americans are thinking about food right now.The Man Who Built Chili's, Plus: Boy Kibble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First, we sit down with Larry Lavine, the Dallas entrepreneur who opened a casual burger-and-chili joint in a converted house on Greenville Avenue and accidentally built one of the most recognizable restaurant chains in the world. He talks about the early days, what he got right, and what it feels like to watch his creation have a full-blown cultural renaissance decades later. And because we had the chance, we asked him the only question that really matters: how do you make the perfect cheeseburger? He had answers. We also hear from Dallas forensic historian and Chili's historian Farris Rookstool III, who offers his own perspective on what makes the chain's story so enduring.Then: boy kibble. The protein-obsessed, meal-prep, macro-tracking food culture that has taken over social media — and maybe your refrigerator. We dig into the trend, what's driving it, and what it says about how Americans are thinking about food right now.The Man Who Built Chili's, Plus: Boy Kibble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Eat Drink D-FW: The Man Who Built Chili's, Plus: Boy Kibble

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This episode was published on April 24, 2026.

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First, we sit down with Larry Lavine, the Dallas entrepreneur who opened a casual burger-and-chili joint in a converted house on Greenville Avenue and accidentally built one of the most recognizable restaurant chains in the world. He talks about the...

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