<![CDATA[Feed Me: Expense Account]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/s/expense-accounthttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!lHlf!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0d2418fb-95ab-431a-81bf-122b5e464ca4_1280x1280.pngFeed Me: Expense Accounthttps://www.readfeedme.com/s/expense-accountSubstackTue, 05 May 2026 03:06:59 GMT<![CDATA[Tom Colicchio]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/p/tom-colicchiohttps://www.readfeedme.com/p/tom-colicchioMon, 23 Mar 2026 10:26:43 GMTExpense Account is currently between seasons, but we had an opportunity to speak to culinary legend Tom Colicchio at his home in New York. We have more exciting announcements about the show later this spring, but in the meantime, enjoy this intermission episode.

This week, J Lee spoke to Tom Colicchio. The restaurateur and TV star just celebrated the 25th anniversary of his iconic restaurant Craft. You might also know him as a judge on all 21 seasons of “Top Chef,” and as a co-founder of Gramercy Tavern. This episode covers:

  • What it was like to shop at Union Square Farmer’s Market in the ‘90s

  • How the cost of opening a restaurant in New York City has changed over the last three decades

  • Training in restaurants vs. training in culinary school

  • How Tom almost ended up in “The Sopranos”

Expense Account is a food podcast for everyone. Insiders, outsiders, your mom, your dad, New Yorkers, Angelenos and also people from Florida (we love you). Anyone who enjoys eating food. It’s even for people who hate food. Feed Me’s resident food critic, J Lee will be joined each week by interesting and noteworthy guests from various fields who will make you laugh, they might even make you cry, who knows. You’ll find us here each week. Subscribe to stay relevant.

]]><![CDATA[Keith McNally]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/p/keith-mcnallyhttps://www.readfeedme.com/p/keith-mcnallyWed, 28 Jan 2026 11:05:16 GMTIt’s the season one finale of Expense Account!

This week, J Lee spoke Keith McNally, the legendary restaurateur behind Balthazar, The Odeon, Pastis, Minetta Tavern, Lucky Strike and more. He is also the author of “I Regret Almost Everything.” Topics discussed include:

  • The ideal order for two people at Balthazar

  • Keith’s love/hate relationship with social media

  • Creating the perfect restaurant playlist

  • and why restaurants are one of the last places you can achieve the American dream

If you’re interested in working with us on the next season of Expense Account, have an idea for a guest, or want to host us at your countryside farm in France, email emily@readfeedme.com
]]><![CDATA[Cami Téllez and Sasha Mutchnik]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/p/cami-tellez-and-sasha-mutchnikhttps://www.readfeedme.com/p/cami-tellez-and-sasha-mutchnikWed, 21 Jan 2026 17:36:51 GMTThis week on Expense Account, J Lee spoke to Cami Téllez and Sasha Mutchnik. Topics discussed include:

  • Colostrum

  • The Armani Couture bring worn and Juuls being smoked at Casa Cipriani

  • Sasha and Cami’s friendship origin story on the Columbia campus

  • Dinner omelettes

  • And the art collection at Kappo Masa

Expense Account is a food podcast for everyone. Insiders, outsiders, your mom, your dad, New Yorkers, Angelenos and also people from Florida (we love you). Anyone who enjoys eating food. It’s even for people who hate food. Feed Me’s resident food critic, J Lee will be joined each week by interesting and noteworthy guests from various fields who will make you laugh, they might even make you cry, who knows. You’ll find us here each week. Subscribe to stay relevant.

]]><![CDATA[Pete Wells]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/p/pete-wellshttps://www.readfeedme.com/p/pete-wellsWed, 14 Jan 2026 15:48:48 GMTThis week on Expense Account, J Lee spoke to Pete Wells, former restaurant critic for The New York Times. Topics discussed include:

  • The ideal width of sandwiches.

  • Why everyone is a food journalist now (social media).

  • The increased emphasis on furniture and design in restaurants.

  • And whether Pete misses being a critic.

Expense Account is a food podcast for everyone. Insiders, outsiders, your mom, your dad, New Yorkers, Angelenos and also people from Florida (we love you). Anyone who enjoys eating food. It’s even for people who hate food. Feed Me’s resident food critic, J Lee will be joined each week by interesting and noteworthy guests from various fields who will make you laugh, they might even make you cry, who knows. You’ll find us here each week. Subscribe to stay relevant.

]]><![CDATA[Eddie Huang]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/p/eddie-huanghttps://www.readfeedme.com/p/eddie-huangMon, 05 Jan 2026 13:22:53 GMTThis week on Expense Account, J Lee spoke to chef, author, director, and writer of on Substack, . Topics discussed included:

  • Getting arrested in Sicily.

  • Writing his book to Sky Ferreira on repeat.

  • His honest thoughts on the state of menswear in New York.

  • And ChinaMaxxing.

Expense Account is a food podcast for everyone. Insiders, outsiders, your mom, your dad, New Yorkers, Angelenos and also people from Florida (we love you). Anyone who enjoys eating food. It’s even for people who hate food. Feed Me’s resident food critic, J Lee will be joined each week by interesting and noteworthy guests from various fields who will make you laugh, they might even make you cry, who knows. You’ll find us here each week. Subscribe to stay relevant.

]]><![CDATA[Meadow Lane's Sammy Nussdorf]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/p/meadow-lanes-sammy-nussdorfhttps://www.readfeedme.com/p/meadow-lanes-sammy-nussdorfMon, 29 Dec 2025 13:42:02 GMTThis week on Expense Account, J Lee and Emily Sundberg spoke to Sammy Nussdorf, the founder and CEO of Meadow Lane. Topics discussed include:

  • Mouse-gate.

  • Chicken Nugget-gate.

  • Building a viral business in public, and why haters fuel growth.

  • And what sets his Tribeca gourmet grocer, Meadow Lane, apart from New York’s existing establishments.

Expense Account is a food podcast for everyone. Insiders, outsiders, your mom, your dad, New Yorkers, Angelenos and also people from Florida (we love you). Anyone who enjoys eating food. It’s even for people who hate food. Feed Me’s resident food critic, J Lee will be joined each week by interesting and noteworthy guests from various fields who will make you laugh, they might even make you cry, who knows. You’ll find us here each week. Subscribe to stay relevant.

]]><![CDATA[Jason and Emily wish you a merry Christmas.]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/p/jason-and-emily-wish-you-a-merryhttps://www.readfeedme.com/p/jason-and-emily-wish-you-a-merryMon, 22 Dec 2025 11:29:28 GMTThis week on Expense Account, J Lee and had a special edition of Feed Me — a holiday extravaganza. Topics discussed include:

  • A shortage of house parties.

  • Tom Cruise’s coconut cake.

  • New York’s finest holiday desserts.

  • The woman with a ribbon around her neck.

Expense Account is a food podcast for everyone. Insiders, outsiders, your mom, your dad, New Yorkers, Angelenos and also people from Florida (we love you). Anyone who enjoys eating food. It’s even for people who hate food. Feed Me’s resident food critic, J Lee will be joined each week by interesting and noteworthy guests from various fields who will make you laugh, they might even make you cry, who knows. You’ll find us here each week. Subscribe to stay relevant.

]]><![CDATA[Momofuku's Paul Carmichael and Marguerite Zabar Mariscal]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/p/momofukus-paul-carmichael-and-margueritehttps://www.readfeedme.com/p/momofukus-paul-carmichael-and-margueriteMon, 15 Dec 2025 11:10:16 GMTThis week on Expense Account, J Lee spoke with Paul Carmichael (chef at Momofuku’s Kabawa) and Marguerite Zabar Mariscal (CEO of Momofuku Group). Topics discussed include:

  • Everyone’s earliest memories of eating at Momofuku restaurants.

  • The charm (and benefit) of phone-only reservations.

  • The restaurant scene in Hudson Yards.

  • And what it feels like to open a new restaurant in New York.

Expense Account is a food podcast for everyone. Insiders, outsiders, your mom, your dad, New Yorkers, Angelenos and also people from Florida (we love you). Anyone who enjoys eating food. It’s even for people who hate food. Feed Me’s resident food critic, J Lee will be joined each week by interesting and noteworthy guests from various fields who will make you laugh, they might even make you cry, who knows. You’ll find us here each week. Subscribe to stay relevant.

]]><![CDATA[Asa Akira]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/p/asa-akirahttps://www.readfeedme.com/p/asa-akiraMon, 08 Dec 2025 16:42:07 GMTThis week on Expense Account, J Lee spoke with Asa Akira, adult film actor, spicy food avoider, and miniature enthusiast. Topics discussed include, but were not limited to:

  • Collecting miniatures.

  • Why the cheek is the best part of a lot of animals.

  • School lunch nightmares and being embarrassed about eating Asian food in school.

  • And taking advantage of “eating for two” while pregnant.

Expense Account is a food podcast for everyone. Insiders, outsiders, your mom, your dad, New Yorkers, Angelenos and also people from Florida (we love you). Anyone who enjoys eating food. It’s even for people who hate food. Feed Me’s resident food critic, J Lee will be joined each week by interesting and noteworthy guests from various fields who will make you laugh, they might even make you cry, who knows. You’ll find us here each week. Subscribe to stay relevant.

]]><![CDATA[Hannah Crosbie]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/p/hannah-crosbiehttps://www.readfeedme.com/p/hannah-crosbieMon, 01 Dec 2025 10:45:39 GMTThis week on Expense Account, spoke with Hannah Crosbie, drinks columnist at The Observer Magazine, and author of Corker: A Deeply Unserious Wine Book.

Topics discussed include, but were not limited to:

  • A rumor that ’s album was inspired by London’s Brat.

  • Riesling is the wine nerd’s grape.

  • Why wine writing should be as fun as drinking a bottle with your friends.

  • And Hannah teaches Jason about Wales.

Expense Account is a food podcast for everyone. Insiders, outsiders, your mom, your dad, New Yorkers, Angelenos and also people from Florida (we love you). Anyone who enjoys eating food. It’s even for people who hate food. Feed Me’s resident food critic, J Lee will be joined each week by interesting and noteworthy guests from various fields who will make you laugh, they might even make you cry, who knows. You’ll find us here each week. Subscribe to stay relevant.

]]><![CDATA[Bloomberg's Joe Weisenthal on barbecue and borscht.]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/p/bloombergs-joe-weisenthal-on-barbecuehttps://www.readfeedme.com/p/bloombergs-joe-weisenthal-on-barbecueMon, 24 Nov 2025 10:35:33 GMTThis week on Expense Account, spoke with , the co-host of Bloomberg’s Odd Lots, who is also one of New York City’s most loyal Chinese restaurant customers.

Topics discussed include, but were not limited to:

  • Naming names on what New York barbecue restaurants are worth it (or not)

  • Why the influx of Chinese students at NYU has made the East Village the new Chinatown

  • Borscht, both hot and cold

  • And Katz’s deli’s breakfast menu

Expense Account is a food podcast for everyone. Insiders, outsiders, your mom, your dad, New Yorkers, Angelenos and also people from Florida (we love you). Anyone who enjoys eating food. It’s even for people who hate food. Feed Me’s resident food critic, J Lee will be joined each week by interesting and noteworthy guests from various fields who will make you laugh, they might even make you cry, who knows. You’ll find us here each week. Subscribe to stay relevant.

]]><![CDATA[Helen Rosner on the state of restaurant criticism.]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/p/helen-rosner-on-the-state-of-restauranthttps://www.readfeedme.com/p/helen-rosner-on-the-state-of-restaurantMon, 17 Nov 2025 16:13:49 GMTThis week on Expense Account, spoke with Helen Rosner, a staff writer at The New Yorker who writes about restaurants. Helen has received multiple James Beard Awards for her work, including, in 2025, for her profile of Padma Lakshmi.

Topics discussed include, but were not limited to:

  • What it’s like to be The New Yorker’s restaurant critic

  • Debating whether Carrie Bradshaw’s friends read her column

  • Learning about Vyvanse from Cat Marnell’s blog

  • And what role appearances play in becoming a food star

Expense Account is a food podcast for everyone. Insiders, outsiders, your mom, your dad, New Yorkers, Angelenos and also people from Florida (we love you). Anyone who enjoys eating food. It’s even for people who hate food. Feed Me’s resident food critic, J Lee will be joined each week by interesting and noteworthy guests from various fields who will make you laugh, they might even make you cry, who knows. You’ll find us here each week. Subscribe to stay relevant.

]]><![CDATA[Alison Roman has a secret menu order at Keens.]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/p/alison-roman-has-a-secret-menu-orderhttps://www.readfeedme.com/p/alison-roman-has-a-secret-menu-orderMon, 10 Nov 2025 14:36:55 GMTFeed Me’s first podcast, Expense Account, launched this morning. The show grew out of Jason Lee (formerly Semi Anonymous Restaurant Critic )’s restaurant column of the same name — a sharp, funny, often deranged diary of New York restaurants that has become essential reading for anyone who wants to know what happens at the hardest tables to land in New York City (foie gras-washed Old Fashioneds and a $150 burger).

A few months ago, while editing one of Jason’s pieces, I paused on a line that read “I’ll save that for the pod.” He didn’t have a podcast, but the phrase felt like a manifestation. I texted him: Do you want one? He said yes, so we made one.

This morning I looked through my inbox at my first email with Jason from July 2024. When I asked if he’d consider writing regularly for Feed Me, he replied with the pitch that started it all:

“I’m thinking the main thing will be ‘Expense Account’ where I write proper reviews of restaurants that I don’t normally cover on my Instagram. Business guy restaurants, the bistros, sushi spots and lounges. Patrick Bateman spots. You are a ‘business’ substack after all. I’ve wanted to do Indochine/Buddakan/Mr Chow forever. I’m thinking one of those will be my first. and maybe sometimes it’ll be a hypey restaurant, but I prefer to not be writing about places at the same time as other food writers.”

He delivered. Since Expense Account (the column) launched, he’s become a star within Feed Me’s universe. I love how Jason writes. He’s able to capture the spirit of a restaurant in a way that sets him apart from every other food writer I read. When I get the first draft of his columns, I imagine him sitting at a restaurant and proverbially scribbling away at his Notes app – I feel him tracking a meal from the moment his finger lands on the paper menu to the instant his fork plunges through the layered cake on his dessert plate, attentive to each layer in the way a pastry chef dreams each customer would be. And I think that’s why a lot of people are attracted to his work. Expense Account (the podcast) evolves Jason’s opinionated and plugged-in editorial content to a new medium that we believe will resonate with Feed Me readers and, more broadly, anyone who appreciates opinionated people who like talking about restaurants. Our first episode is with Alison Roman.

This is Feed Me’s first podcast, and I’m looking forward to working on more non-newsletter projects in 2026. If you’re interested in working together or have a guest idea, email emily@readfeedme.com.

The Expense Account podcast is built in partnership with Substack. New paid subscribers can get a free month of Feed Me in the Substack App by going to substack.com/Emily.

“Feels like the ‘Page Six’ for my food industry (in the best of ways). Insightful and fun. Always ahead of the game.” - Tamy, paid reader.
]]><![CDATA[Expense Account is a food podcast for everyone.]]>https://www.readfeedme.com/p/expense-account-is-a-food-podcasthttps://www.readfeedme.com/p/expense-account-is-a-food-podcastThu, 18 Sep 2025 03:28:55 GMTExpense Account is a food podcast for everyone. Insiders, outsiders, your mom, your dad, New Yorkers, Angelenos and also people from Florida (we love you). Anyone who enjoys eating food. It’s even for people who hate food. Feed Me's resident food critic, J Lee will be joined each week by interesting and noteworthy guests from various fields who will make you laugh, they might even make you cry, who knows. You'll find us here each week. Subscribe to stay relevant.

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