Skip to main content
What We Dig Today

What We Dig Today

By Laird Hercules / Rafi Shahriar

This is What We Dig, Toronto's source for some of the best food the city has to offer. Whether you are from here or visiting Toronto, we are a source of the best food, the stories behind the locations and how it's made. Bon Appetit. We may occasionally discuss other topics of what we love as well.
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Castbox Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
PodBean Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Is Happiness Counterproductive? Chef Devon Meet Cute, Kelly Finnigan

What We Dig TodayAug 14, 2019

00:00
40:16
The Birth of the Bidath Movement

The Birth of the Bidath Movement

Note* This episode was recorded right before social distancing was announced for the coronavirus in Toronto.   This week we talk about the impact of the coronavirus in Toronto, why millennial and gen x Torontonians do not want to live too close to their parent, a review of the Zach Villere concert and the musical recommendation of the soul refreshing french band La Battue. 

Mar 25, 202037:55
Breaking and Entering Is Nuanced - Music Reco Emawk

Breaking and Entering Is Nuanced - Music Reco Emawk

This episode we find out the results of the annual Garlic Pork off, discuss why so many cultural fictional characters perform breaking and entering, quick reviews of Star Wars, Knives out and the Witcher and the incomparable music of Emawk. 

Feb 12, 202041:41
Kanye's New Gospel, Iceland, Tycho & Kojin Review

Kanye's New Gospel, Iceland, Tycho & Kojin Review

This week we comment on Kanye's return on his latest release, the contrast of living in Iceland, reminding the west coast we love them even if they don't feel that way, the amazing music of Tycho and a review of Momofuku Kojin restaurant. 

Dec 13, 201945:54
The Best Food Pickup Apps, Toronto Libraries, inspiring music of Koffee and Chance The Rapper Album Rebuttal

The Best Food Pickup Apps, Toronto Libraries, inspiring music of Koffee and Chance The Rapper Album Rebuttal

This episode Rafi responds to Laird's review of the Chance the Rapper album the big day. We discuss the best food pickup/delivery apps in Toronto, discuss the amazingness of audiobooks found in the library and the book "The Third Door" by Alex Banayan and the inspiring music of Koffee the Jamaican reggae artist.

Sep 10, 201940:03
Is Happiness Counterproductive? Chef Devon Meet Cute, Kelly Finnigan

Is Happiness Counterproductive? Chef Devon Meet Cute, Kelly Finnigan

This episode we explore if having success and happiness hurts art, a random meet and glory of 2 chefs, the music of Kelly Finnigan and 2 restaurant adventures in Toronto. 

Aug 14, 201940:16
Raptors is the New Car, Summer in Toronto, Dominic Fike and Chop Chop

Raptors is the New Car, Summer in Toronto, Dominic Fike and Chop Chop

This episode we comment on how the Raptors have transformed from a secondary team to the leafs to THE team for representing Canada.  We discuss our favourite Toronto events, the diverse music of Dominic Fike and the sublime flavours of the Taiwanese Canadian restaurant Chop Chop in Toronto. 

Jul 23, 201945:50
Little Italy Toronto, A bidet, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Mk.Gee

Little Italy Toronto, A bidet, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Mk.Gee

This week we share an experience at a concert in little Italy Toronto that teaches us a valuable lesson.  We discuss how your dream may not be the actual dream and feature music by the artist Mk.Gee. 

May 22, 201937:20
Canadian Coffee, Auto Decisions, Band Stories and Marc Rebillet

Canadian Coffee, Auto Decisions, Band Stories and Marc Rebillet

This week we discuss the "auto-decisions" of Canadians and TIm Hortons coffee, risque band stories and the phenomenal music of Marc Rebillet. 

Apr 23, 201937:46
Episode 21 - Dome Dining, New Holiday, Toronto Tweets and Bayonne

Episode 21 - Dome Dining, New Holiday, Toronto Tweets and Bayonne

This week we discuss the new "Dome Dining" at the Bentway in Toronto, a new "Me Generation" holiday proposed as a joke, our Toronto tweet of the month and music by the remarkable Bayonne. 

Mar 11, 201937:19
Episode 20 - Meeting Torontonians, NFL vs eSports, Canadian $10 Bill, Pacific Junction & Tim Atlas

Episode 20 - Meeting Torontonians, NFL vs eSports, Canadian $10 Bill, Pacific Junction & Tim Atlas

In this episode we give you help on how to meet people in the city, discuss the challenges of the NFL, honour Black History Month by celebrating our $10 bill, musical recommendation is Tim Atlas and do a throwback visit of Pacific Junction hotel and poutine spring rolls. 

Feb 19, 201946:13
Episode 19 - Resolutions, Garlic Pork Winners, Angelo De Augustine & Norling

Episode 19 - Resolutions, Garlic Pork Winners, Angelo De Augustine & Norling

This week we talk about the concept of resolutions, get an update on the winners of Laird's traditional family garlic pork contest, the beautiful music of Angelo De Augustine and Norling a Nepalese restaurant in a Tibetan area of Toronto. 

Jan 29, 201945:24
Episode 18 - Toblorone's, Go Train Power, Garlic Pork and Vinyl Williams

Episode 18 - Toblorone's, Go Train Power, Garlic Pork and Vinyl Williams


Dec 31, 201836:22
Episode 17 - DQ Mystery Solved! Holiday Excuses, Roosevelt, Hello Yello & Doma

Episode 17 - DQ Mystery Solved! Holiday Excuses, Roosevelt, Hello Yello & Doma

This episode we finally find closure on why dairy queen does no longer carry the Reese's Pieces blizzard regularly. The best ways to avoid the difficult family members during the holiday season. Rafi's Roosevelt concert experience, the amazing up and coming band Hello Yello and the brilliant culinary art of the restaurant Doma.
Dec 20, 201847:15
Episode 16 - Dongles, Feelings, Union Station, Thirdstory & Pizza

Episode 16 - Dongles, Feelings, Union Station, Thirdstory & Pizza

This week we talk about earphones and the need for dongles in new gen phones, searching for new adventures, the opening of union station food court in Toronto, the harmony driven group Thirdstory and our Toronto Pizza Adventure
Dec 12, 201849:49
Episode 15 - Toronto vs. Taiwan, The Bentway, Puma Blue & Kitson and Co Sandwiches

Episode 15 - Toronto vs. Taiwan, The Bentway, Puma Blue & Kitson and Co Sandwiches

This week Rafi compares his experience in Asia and Indonesia with the food in Toronto, we talk about the Bentway ice rink and location, the hauntingly beautiful artist Puma Blue and some of the best dang sandwiches (and burger) in Toronto at Kitson and Co. Sandwiches
Nov 26, 201842:21
Episode 14 - Tipping, The Exhibition, Day wave and Sala Kitchen Thai

Episode 14 - Tipping, The Exhibition, Day wave and Sala Kitchen Thai

This week we discuss the impact of robots taking over for servers in restaurants. The Toronto Exhibition love it or hate it? The remarkable musical artist Day Wave and we visit Sala Modern Thai Kitchen on the Danforth.
Oct 18, 201845:40
Episode 13 - Rom-coms, Privacy, Orion sun, Speducci Mercatto

Episode 13 - Rom-coms, Privacy, Orion sun, Speducci Mercatto

This week we discuss the taboo of going to Romantic Comedies with platonic friends, the current generation balance of privacy and convenience, the sounds of Orion Sun and the delicious west end Speducci Mercatto.
Sep 10, 201855:29
Episode 12 - Flatulant Ubers, H.E.R and Best Onion Rings

Episode 12 - Flatulant Ubers, H.E.R and Best Onion Rings

This episode we talk about an interesting and smelly incident with a Toronto uber driver, what to expect at a Lauryn Hill concert, the artist H.E.R. and the Lord of the Onion Rings - the Fellowship of the best onion rings in Toronto.
Aug 27, 201837:14
Episode 11 - Songs of The Summer, Yuno and Magic Noodle

Episode 11 - Songs of The Summer, Yuno and Magic Noodle

This week we discuss our songs of the summer and why, how uncomfortable new public transit is, the remarkable artist from Miami Yuno and our visit to the Magic Noodle a fantastic Chinese pulled noodle joint in Toronto.
Aug 15, 201840:47
Episode 10 - Summer in the City, News Sources, Loch & Quay

Episode 10 - Summer in the City, News Sources, Loch & Quay

This week we discuss some of our favourite summer locations in Toronto to do on a low budget. Where we get our news in the current climate, Drake's Scorpion album and a delicious visit with Chef Dev from the Loch & Quay. Special thanks to Chef Doris Fin for the referral.
Jul 30, 201834:30
Episode 9 - Worst Commutes, Tapas Albums and Rickshaw Bar

Episode 9 - Worst Commutes, Tapas Albums and Rickshaw Bar

This week we discuss some of our worst commutes in and around Toronto. Shorter format albums with Kanye, Beyonce + Jay-z. New music: Jimothy Lacoste and Jorja Smith. We also visit a fabulous tapas place in Queen west called Rickshaw Bar with a BAMF owner Noureen.
Jul 23, 201845:30
Episode 8 - MOGA, Drake Beef Wrap, YE and Brownes Bistro

Episode 8 - MOGA, Drake Beef Wrap, YE and Brownes Bistro

This week we talk about our expected impact of new PC leadership in Ontario, Drake's Beef with Pusha T, the new Kanye album, hypocrisy in popular culture and meet with Jacob the Chef and owner of the delicious Brownes Bistro in Rosedale.
Jul 16, 201843:02
Episode 7 - Frings, Deadpool 2, Khruangbin and Katz Deli

Episode 7 - Frings, Deadpool 2, Khruangbin and Katz Deli

This episode we discuss the closure of Drake's Frings restaurant and the opening of Pick6, Deadpool 2, The band Khruangbin and visit the restaurant Katz's Deli and Cornbeef Emporium.
Jun 07, 201839:12
Episode 6 - Choice diets, Avengers, Parcels, Boar Sandwiches

Episode 6 - Choice diets, Avengers, Parcels, Boar Sandwiches

This episode we go in the etiquette of hosting a friend/family/acquaintances that have choice diets, Our thoughts on Avengers Infinity War, the band The Parcels and our amazing visit to Boar Sandwiches in the Davisville region.
Jun 04, 201846:38
Episode 5 - DQ Pt 2, Brockhampton and Appalachia Smokehouse

Episode 5 - DQ Pt 2, Brockhampton and Appalachia Smokehouse

In this episode we discuss our continued investigation into why Dairy Queen does not carry Reese's Pieces blizzards, honour the people impacted by the van attack in Toronto, praise Brockhampton for great music and share our visit to Appalachia Smokehouse BBQ.
May 09, 201847:11
Episode 4 - A DQ Mystery, Toronto, Tom Misch & Fancy Franks

Episode 4 - A DQ Mystery, Toronto, Tom Misch & Fancy Franks

This episode we begin the unsolved mystery of why Dairy Queen does not have reese's pieces blizzards, a heated argument that ensued on Instagram that Toronto is the best city for food in Canada, music from the artist Tom Misch and our Visit to Fancy Franks.
Apr 26, 201846:23
Episode 3 - Avengers, Daniel Caesar and Spice Indian Bistro

Episode 3 - Avengers, Daniel Caesar and Spice Indian Bistro

We discuss who we think will survive Avengers Infinity Wars. Zack Morris from Saved By The Bell was trash, the Canadian R&B phenom from the schwiggity (Oshawa, On) Daniel Caesar and a unique Indian restaurant in Toronto.
Apr 11, 201846:38
Episode 2 - Harvest Kitchen, Zach Villere and Goodbye Ed's

Episode 2 - Harvest Kitchen, Zach Villere and Goodbye Ed's

This episode we discuss the "Goonie" movement that Laird believes is prevalent in music right now and the sensational brunch location Harvest Kitchen. We also discuss the destruction of an iconic Toronto landmark Honest Ed's, thus the end of an era of Bathurst and Spadina.
Mar 27, 201838:44
Episode 1 - Anderson .paak, Leif Vollebekk and Sugo

Episode 1 - Anderson .paak, Leif Vollebekk and Sugo

This episode we discuss why Anderson .Paak is not mainstream yet, the greatness of the musician Leif Vollebekk, the female rapper glass ceiling and the spectacular restaurant Sugo in Toronto.
Mar 10, 201849:07
Why We Dig Toronto?

Why We Dig Toronto?

This is our first episode of the podcast on why we do the show and why Toronto is an incredible place for food.
Mar 02, 201803:56