Meatballs & Dreams

We randomly pick 16 spots out of the 76 pizza shop field for the play-in into the 64 shop tournament for the 2024 Roni Rumble.

Recently Dave Portnoy of Barstool visited Square Deli of Everett MA for a pizza review. We have the owner, Chris, on Meatballs & Dreams to talk about the process behind the scenes of these reviews. The review still hasn't been posted yet as of 6/22.

All 4 judges recap each spot in the Roni Rumble Final 4, and then a CHAMPION is crowned. 

On this episode of Meatballs & Dreams, we have special guest Frank Mendoza of North End's 'Monica's Trattoria' on. Frank talks about the $7,500 fee for outdoor dining that only applies to North End of all neighborhoods in Boston. 

Predictions, pizza, analysis, and a bracketology breakdown of the final 32 pizza shops left in the Roni Rumble!

Matt of @wesaygravy and Mike of @banderas_mkt are joined by special guest cakesbymike_90. Mike is the Pastry Chef at @j.paceandson in Saugus, MA. Mike moved to the States from Pisa Italy when he was 21. We dig into his favorite italian food spots around Boston, what life was like in Italy, his thoughts on American Pizza vs Italy Pizza, and much more!

Mike of @banderas_mkt and Matt of @wesaygravy are on site at @blanchardswineandspirits in West Roxbury MA recapping New Years Eve, discussing thin cut prosciutto vs thick cut, Matt's argument with a few restaurant managers, and more!

What are laced edges? What are burnt edges? What is BAR pizza? @wesaygravy and @mrbandera are joined by @ssbarpizza to get those answers. Jimmy of @ssbarpizza dives into the Bar Pizza World Championships that he hosted, how to order bar pizza, and explains to us where bar pizza country is on a map. 

In episode 23 we announce what the finals of wesaychef will be about. Mike rants about Eataly at the Prudential, Matt is pissed that Giada hasn't responded, and the possibilities of a meatball tour are discussed.

What would your last meal be on death row? Mike explains his final meal which may be a shocker. The 2nd round divisions are picked live out of a hat, and a sneak peek is given as to what the challenge will be for the last round of wesaychef contestants.

We are joined by @edsketch who is a participant in the wesaychef tournament and also knows the local beer scene in and out. He's asked about beer terms 'Crushable' 'Imperial Stout' Haze Boys' --- what do they even all mean? Mike talks about his experience at Strega's weekend brunch, how he got destroyed in a bocce tournament by a team from Italy and much more.

@mr_bandera and I hash out the format of wesaychef, review @cutletsmedfield , and discuss Winthrop's food scene and if it should be considered 'North Shore'. It gets a bit dicey at the 9 minute mark - has MIke never really tried Ramen Noodles made by @maurchan_inc ?????!!!!

We draft our top 5 picks/all star team from the recent @wesaygravy post of the "Massachusetts Pizza League", give a little update on wesaychef, and of course Patriots predictions. 

Mike addresses the accusations and reveals if he bought pre made frozen chicken cutlets. The details of wesaychef are revealed. Idle Hands Brewery Oktoberfest recap and Pizzas of the week.

This episode is dedicated to Milton Academy's # 14 Jake Thibeault who was injured this past weekend in a hockey game and is currently paralyzed from the waist down after breaking is back in several places. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Jake...we know you are ready to fight back!

Matt of @wesaygravy and Mike of @banderas_mkt kick it off with Mike doing the dishes during the closing weekend of Bandera's Market in Dennis Port, MA. South Boston bar lines look insane, we debate eating the Cheesecake Factory vs a Big Mac, the best beer list around at Cleat & Anchor, and Matt in the dunk tank at Idle Hands Beer on September 11th. Of course we also talk about our pizza of the week, and give our Pats predictions. 

Rundown:

2:24      MIKE'S DISH DUTY EXPERIENCE

5:20     SOUTH BOSTON BAR LINES

6:16     CAPO - ENDLESS PASTA

10:00   CHEESECAKE FACTORY CALORIES

12:32    FRANK PEPE VS SANTARPIO'S

14:29.   CLEAT & ANCHOR

15:07    IDLE HANDS OKTOBERFEST

19:50   SULMONA RESTAURANT 

21:09   WESAYGRAVY TROLLS 

23:10   PIZZA BARBONE

24:19   PATRIOTS PREDICTIONS/FOOD

Matt of @wesaygravy and Mike of @banderas_mkt kick it off with a date who didn't eat ANY of the antipasto. Could you be with someone who doesn't eat traditional Italian food? They recap the St Anthony Feast of the North End, the need for workers in the restaurant industry, discuss a pop up idea they would do, and much more. Enjoy!

Matt of @wesaygravy and Mike of @banderas_mkt are back at it talking about the finals of the Eatcinis 'Create a Cini' tournament hosted by @anthonypetrelis. They talk about what they want their ideal birthday cake to be, ice cube pizza, and the underground scene of the North End. 

:30   JIMMY HAYES

1:09 CINI TOURNAMENT

2:40 MEDFORD

4:00 CHIX/BROCC/ALFREDO

5:01 CANNOLI BARK

5:21 FUNCTION FOOD

6:25 SUSHI CAKE

8:00 MIKE'S VS MODERN

8:45 TIRAMISU

9:40 HOCKEY CAKE

10:24 ICE CUBE PIZZA

12:45 EAST BOSTON OYSTER

14:50 CIAO PIZZA & PASTA

16:20 FORK & KNIFE 'ZA

17:30 MODERN PASTRY BAR

18:40 NORTH END BASEMENTS

Mike talks about the release of Bandera's Meatball Blend Wine and where to buy it. We introduce new segment called 'Pizzas of the Week' where we talk about pizzas that caught our eye on instagram. Matt talks about the big game Friday night in the Cini Tournament, and much more!

Cliff Notes:

:10 BANDERA'S MEATBALL BLEND

1:48 BACK OF WINE LABEL

2:57 MAKE WINE @ BOSTON WINERY

7:28 TRILLIUM PIZZA

9:33 BIG GAME FRIDAY NIGHT

10:30 TIME TO ASK FOR HELP

11:45 WHERE DO YOU VOTE?

12:45 ITALIAN INSTAGRAM PAGES

15:15 POSTO PIZZA - SOMERVILLE MA

16:24 JINNY'S PIZZA - NEWTON, MA

17:24 ENGLISH MUFFIN PIZZA

19:22 MOZZ OR BURRATA?

The lucky number 13 episode. Matt of @wesaygravy and Mike of @banderas_mkt dig into something that made this particular wedding one to remember, the future of digital menus for restaurants, a recap of the Little Italy Cup, the North End Feast and more!

Cliff Notes:

:12 What made this wedding Mike went to last weekend one to remember?

1:53 How long does it take to make 100 Espresso Martinis?

4:05 Matt’s prediction/thoughts about the future of the digital menu trend

5:25 Restaurants need to start personalizing the menu experience

8:47 Little Italy Cup Champions @ducalipizza, and why they won

10:50 Difference between the Sub Shop Tourney and Little Italy Cup

11:40 Matt's next tournament idea that will never happen

13:00 Do all food bloggers hate each other?

14:15 The @eatcinis @anthonypetrelis tournament

15:15 Mike giving Matt some homework before episode 14

16:20 Mike tell us about the North End Feast

18:00 @cakesbymike_90 - did I pronounce it right?

18:15 Don’t let Matt get hot with desserts

19:00 Huge reveal next week

Matt of @wesaygravy and Mike of @banderas_mkt get into ranch gate, roast beef sandwiches, the Bronx, and more. Cliff notes below!

:15 - Mike’s reaction to Matt’s final 4 exit in the @ssbarpizza tourney

:52 - Ranch Drizzle thoughts

3:00 - @ducalipizza vs @trattoriacarina

3:52 - The Bronx 17-1 on my page, how do we get to NY?

4:40 - Shoutout @casadellamozzerella

5:50 - Mike’s ideal North End Circuit @streganorthend, @tonyandelaines, @monicastrattoria

6:45 . Mike’s roast beef sandwich fail in @northshorebeefs contest

10:00 - South Shore/Cape Roast beef spot @mikesroastbeef_wyarmouth

11:50 - When Mike tried his first roast beef sandwich

14:00 - Maine/NH Lakes Region vacation talk

15:10 - @italianreviewcrew_bos reviews @banderas_mkt

16:50 - The deep sub roster of @milanosdelieastie

Matt of @wesaygravy and Mike of @banderas_mkt talk about the event at Eat Cinis this past Monday, game 2 of the Bar Pizza Homecook Tournament, and we break down Molinari's of Dorchester MA (a final 4ist in the Little Italy Cup).

Cliff Notes:

:12 - @eatcini cigar / dinner event Recap

1:46 – Cini Contest run by @anthonypetrelis and @eatcini

2:20 – Matt's idea for the Cini Contest

3:33 – Matt’s Game 1 South Shore Homemade Bar Pizza recap

4:20 – Mike & Matt's opinions on bar pizza

4:50 – The pressure of game 2 that Matt is facing

5:15 – Matt’s hot take on why restaurant's repost tournaments/some don’t

8:40 – Gameplan for match #2

9:35 - @molinarispizzeria breakdown, in the final of the Little Italy Cup

11:40 – Do you prefer sitting at the bar or a table?

Mike of @banderas_mkt is having his morning espresso, Matt of @wesaygravy is trying to understand him with truck deliveries in the background. Let's go!

Cliff Notes:

1:18 What was it like celebrating Italy's Euro win in the North end?

3:00 The Cape vacation recap

8:45 We breakdown Tony & Elaines of the North End

12:00 Martha’s Vineyard and Chatham Food 

14:50 My idea on how I want to play bobby flay in a match

17:00 Bar Pizza tourney run by an Instagram blogger

After a few weeks off, Mike of @banderas_mkt and Matt of @wesaygravy are back at it. In this episode they talk about what the plan is for the week of the 4th in the Cape, Matt rants a bit about IG as usual, and they both discuss planning the Cape's largest Bocce tournament in history.

In episode 8, DJ Costa of Big Night joins us to talk about the Boston nightlife scene. 

-He reveals June 12th as the night he will be headlining at 'The Grand' in Boston's Seaport, as well as the opening dates of Memoir at the Encore Casino. 

-What do celebrities like Tiesto and Pauly D ask for when they're in Boston? 

Where does DJ Costa take them to eat? 

What's the craziest story he has? 

Also - Mike reveals how many meatballs Bandera's sold over memorial day weekend and it's insane.

All that and much more in episodee 8!

In Episode 7, Matt of @wesaygravy and Mike of @banderas_mkt have special guest Philip Frattaroli join. Philip is the owner of Lucia's in Boston's North End & Winchester, MA, Ducali Pizzeria of the North End, and the Cunard Tavern of East Boston.

Topics discussed:

-The tough pandemic decisions that Philip had to make as a North End business owner

-His thoughts on the Little Italy Cup and the Frattaroli family's record in the tournament so far

-The 'Nachos Italiano' dish that has propelled Ducali Pizzeria into the final 64

-Bandera's Market is 3 days away from opening day and Mike talks about the shop's preparation for the the big weekend

-Craft beer in the North End and much more!

Matt of @wesaygravy and Mike of @banderas_mkt recorded episode 6 after Mike's spray tan and during the Bruins game 2.

-Downtown Hyannis restaurants

-Bruins game 1 performance

-Mike's first Bob's of Medford MA experience

-North end breakfast spots

-Little Italy Cup best of 3 series previews (Strega vs Lucia), (Tresca vs Carmelina's)

-and much more!

Matt of @wesaygravy and Mike of @Banderas_mkt get into some serious topics this episode:

-GnocchiGate 2021

-A Fake IG post being called out

-Mike's up to date North End patio rankings

-Mike's hidden gem sushi spot in the South Shore

-Matt's response to his rigatoni dish ratings

The one and only Dolly Bandera of @banderas_mkt joins us on this special edition of M's and D's! 

-Straight MEATBALL talk. The X's and O's of making a meatball.

-How many meatballs does Bandera's Market make a day?

-Will Bandera's be releasing a new sub this summer?

-Dolly's favorite Florida restaurants

And more!

In this episode, Matt of @wesaygravy and Mike of @banderas_mkt talk about:

-New food spots they tried this week (Roy's Cold Cuts of East Boston, Pisa Pizza of Malden)

-Break down some matchups in round 2 of the North End bracket in the Little Italy Cup

-A new restaurant opening that people camped out overnight for

-Food blog etiquette

-The craziest sub order Mike has seen at Bandera's Market

And much more!

Episode 3 details:

-Matt talks about his tv show 'Masterchef' stint

-Is Bandera's Market revealing a lobster roll this summer?

-Break down North End bracket weekly results in the the Little Italy Cup

-How many meatballs can you eat in 5 minutes?

-Vegas/Florida Restaurants

-Mike waits until the end to break some news to Matt

In this episode, Matt of @wesaygravy and Mike of @banderas_mkt talk about North End espresso martinis, south shore bar pizza, where food bloggers go from here, and some old Boston spots like News and Splash. 

Matt of @wesaygravy and Mike of Bandera's Deli in Dennis Port talk about the Boston italian sub shop ranks, the patio scene of Boston's North End, and discuss the italian restaurant scene.