How should food writers cover Elon Musk's Tesla Diner? Plus, the influencer who closed a restaurant, the taqueria that scored national headlines, and a ray of hope for Cole's French Dip.

Elon Musk’s space-age Tesla Diner has been grabbing headlines—but when activist group Tesla Takedown staged a protest, it forced the media to look beyond burgers and milkshakes. This week on The LA Food Podcast, SF Gate’s Karen Palmer joins host Luca Servodio to explore how food writers should approach stories where dining intersects with politics, labor, and activism. Should they just stick to the food—or dig deeper? Plus: Karen teases her new feature on California’s barbecue boom, and in Chef’s Kiss / Big Miss, we unpack: The influencer scandal that shut down a restaurant A spicy New York Times review that reads like a political takedown And a potential happy ending for LA institution Cole’s French Dip The LA Food Podcast is powered by Acquired Taste Media. Be sure to check out our sister shows: Taqueando with Bill Esparza and Let It Rip. And don’t forget to rate and review! – Go check out The Lonely Oyster in Echo Park! ⁠https://thelonelyoyster.com/⁠ – Get 10% off at House of Macadamias using code "LAFOOD" https://www.houseofmacadamias.com/pages/la-foods