Sonny Side - Host of the “Best Ever Food Review Show”
Digest
This podcast episode features Adam Corolla interviewing Sunny Side, a food blogger and host of the "Best Ever Food Review Show" on YouTube. The episode begins with an advertisement for the Colleguard Test, a home colon cancer screening test. Adam then introduces Sunny Side, who shares his journey from a struggling college student to a successful food blogger. He discusses his move to Korea, his transition from teaching English to video content creation, and the eventual launch of his YouTube channel. Adam and Sunny Side delve into the demographics of Sunny Side's audience, with men making up the majority. They explore why men might be more drawn to watching extreme food challenges, while women might be more interested in cooking inspiration. The conversation then shifts to the unique paradox of California's rules and regulations, where strict enforcement of micro-management laws coexists with a lack of enforcement for more significant issues like homelessness and environmental violations. Sunny Side shares his experiences living in Vietnam, highlighting the affordability, vibrant culture, and ease of getting around on motorbikes. He contrasts the freedom of everyday life in Vietnam with the more restrictive environment in the US. Sunny Side explains his rules for trying unique foods, emphasizing that they should be part of the local culture and not endangered. He discusses his experience in Ghana, where he encountered bushmeat markets and the ethical considerations surrounding the consumption of wild animals. The episode features a taste test of durian, a pungent fruit known as the "King of Fruits." Adam describes the smell as a mix of industrial chemicals and rotting organic matter, while Sunny Side emphasizes the unique flavor profile. Sunny Side recounts his experience bringing mad honey, a honey with psychoactive properties, to Joe Rogan's podcast. He describes the honey's origins in Nepal and the potential side effects, leading to a humorous anecdote about a customs agent who may have been listening to the podcast. Adam shares a bizarre experience at LAX airport where a customs officer pulled him aside for a random search, citing the possibility of drugs like cocaine and "mad honey" being brought in from Lima. Adam introduces the century egg, a preserved duck egg with a unique flavor and texture. He describes the process of its creation and its typical consumption with tofu or kanji. Adam dives into the world of Vietnamese fermented shrimp paste, "bom tom," known for its pungent aroma and intense flavor. He emphasizes the importance of a small dose and the psychological impact of its smell. Adam reflects on the mental aspect of food challenges, highlighting the importance of mindset and self-talk. He compares it to other challenges like cold plunges and colonoscopies, emphasizing the need to push through mental barriers. Adam recounts his most challenging food experience with the Datoge tribe in Tanzania, where he was presented with raw, uncooked animal parts dipped in blood and stomach contents. He emphasizes the cultural differences in food preferences and the importance of embracing new experiences.
Outlines
Colleguard Test Advertisement and Introduction of Sunny Side
This segment features an advertisement for the Colleguard Test, a home colon cancer screening test, followed by the introduction of Sunny Side, a food blogger and host of the "Best Ever Food Review Show."
Sunny Side's Journey and Food Content Appeal
Sunny Side shares his journey from a struggling college student to a successful food blogger, discussing his move to Korea, transition to video content creation, and the launch of his YouTube channel. Adam and Sunny Side discuss the demographics of Sunny Side's audience and the appeal of his food content.
California's Paradox and Sunny Side's Vietnam Experience
Adam and Sunny Side discuss the unique paradox of California's rules and regulations, followed by Sunny Side's experiences living in Vietnam, highlighting the affordability, vibrant culture, and ease of getting around on motorbikes.
Sunny Side's Approach to Unique Foods and Taste Test: Durian
Sunny Side explains his rules for trying unique foods, emphasizing that they should be part of the local culture and not endangered. He discusses his experience in Ghana, where he encountered bushmeat markets and the ethical considerations surrounding the consumption of wild animals. The segment concludes with a taste test of durian, a pungent fruit known as the "King of Fruits."
Mad Honey Incident and Unexpected Customs Encounter
Sunny Side recounts his experience bringing mad honey, a honey with psychoactive properties, to Joe Rogan's podcast. He describes the honey's origins in Nepal and the potential side effects, leading to a humorous anecdote about a customs agent who may have been listening to the podcast. Adam shares a bizarre experience at LAX airport where a customs officer pulled him aside for a random search, citing the possibility of drugs like cocaine and "mad honey" being brought in from Lima.
Century Egg, Bom Tom, and the Mental Game of Food Challenges
Adam introduces the century egg, a preserved duck egg with a unique flavor and texture. He describes the process of its creation and its typical consumption with tofu or kanji. Adam dives into the world of Vietnamese fermented shrimp paste, "bom tom," known for its pungent aroma and intense flavor. He emphasizes the importance of a small dose and the psychological impact of its smell. Adam reflects on the mental aspect of food challenges, highlighting the importance of mindset and self-talk.
The Most Challenging Food Experience
Adam recounts his most challenging food experience with the Datoge tribe in Tanzania, where he was presented with raw, uncooked animal parts dipped in blood and stomach contents. He emphasizes the cultural differences in food preferences and the importance of embracing new experiences.
Keywords
Colleguard Test
A home colon cancer screening test that detects both ultra-DNA and blood in stool. It is FDA-approved and non-invasive, offering an alternative to colonoscopies.
Sunny Side
A food blogger and host of the "Best Ever Food Review Show," a YouTube channel featuring unique and interesting foods from around the world. He is known for his willingness to try extreme and unusual foods.
Durian
A pungent fruit known as the "King of Fruits" in Southeast Asia. It has a strong, distinctive odor that is often described as a mix of industrial chemicals and rotting organic matter.
Mad Honey
A honey produced in Nepal that contains neurotoxins from the flowers the bees visit. It has psychoactive properties and can cause hallucinations and other side effects.
Vietnam
A Southeast Asian country known for its affordable cost of living, vibrant culture, and delicious food. It is a popular destination for expats and digital nomads.
Bushmeat
Meat from wild animals hunted in Africa. It is a significant industry in some countries, but there are ethical concerns about its sustainability and impact on endangered species.
Pangolin
A mammal with scales that is native to Africa and Asia. It is the most illegally hunted animal in the world, primarily for its scales, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Century Egg
A preserved duck egg that has been cured in an alkaline mixture for several months. The process changes the egg's physical properties, resulting in a translucent brown white and a slimy green yolk. It has a pungent, sulfury flavor and is often eaten with tofu or kanji.
Bom Tom
A Vietnamese fermented shrimp paste known for its intense, pungent aroma and salty flavor. It is typically consumed in small doses and is often used as a condiment or spread.
Q&A
What is the Colleguard Test and how does it differ from a colonoscopy?
The Colleguard Test is a home colon cancer screening test that detects both ultra-DNA and blood in stool. It is FDA-approved and non-invasive, offering an alternative to colonoscopies, which require extensive preparation and can be uncomfortable.
What is Sunny Side's approach to trying unique foods?
Sunny Side tries to eat foods that are part of the local culture and not endangered. He believes in experiencing food in its full context and showing how it is meant to be eaten, rather than simply focusing on the sensational or disgusting aspects.
What is mad honey and what makes it unique?
Mad honey is a honey produced in Nepal that contains neurotoxins from the flowers the bees visit. It has psychoactive properties and can cause hallucinations and other side effects. It is known for its potent effects on the brain and is often used for medicinal purposes in Nepal.
What are some of the challenges and rewards of living in Vietnam?
Vietnam offers a low cost of living, a vibrant culture, and delicious food. However, it can be challenging to navigate the language barrier and the lack of certain conveniences like Amazon. The rewards include a more relaxed and free-flowing lifestyle, with easy access to transportation and a sense of community.
What is the ethical dilemma surrounding bushmeat?
Bushmeat is a significant industry in some African countries, but there are ethical concerns about its sustainability and impact on endangered species. While it is a part of local heritage and tradition, the increasing demand for bushmeat is putting pressure on wildlife populations.
What is the significance of the Pangolin in the context of the podcast?
The Pangolin is the most illegally hunted animal in the world, primarily for its scales, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine. Sunny Side's encounter with a live Pangolin in Ghana highlights the ethical considerations surrounding the consumption of endangered species and the role of traditional medicine in driving the illegal wildlife trade.
What is the most challenging food Adam has ever encountered?
Adam's most challenging food experience was with the Datoge tribe in Tanzania, where he was presented with raw, uncooked animal parts dipped in blood and stomach contents. He found it difficult to overcome his initial apprehension and embrace the cultural differences in food preferences.
Show Notes
Next, Sonny talks about what, if anything, he won’t eat and what it was like shopping at an African bush meat market. Then, Sonny has Adam taste some weird foods including durian, century eggs and fermented shrimp paste.
For more with Sonny Side:
● INSTAGRAM: @besteverfoodreviewshow
● WEBSITE: https://youtube.com/besteverfoodreviewshow
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