Lauren Goode: I don’t remember that.
Zoe Schiffer: I think he did.
Michael Calore: I don’t know why everyone is looking at me.
Lauren Goode: Yes. Mike, what’s your recommendation?
Michael Calore: Actually, mine is strangely related to this unboxing we just had, because I want to recommend seasonings. So everyone has that thing they love to put in their food. I have a friend who puts Jordanian za’atar on absolutely everything. I have a friend who loves the very expensive and fancy Meyer Lemon Olive Oil, which is $25 a bottle, and he drizzles it on his breakfast every day. Maybe there’s a chili crisp that someone is…
Zoe Schiffer: My God. I was just going to say.
Michael Calore: Sure, because chili fries can cost $20.
Zoe Schiffer: Very expensive.
Michael Calore: Very expensive. So get them a year’s supply. You know they will use it. And it’s totally thoughtful. It shows that you care, that you have enough knowledge of his life to know him well enough as a person and know how to make him happy. So yeah, that’s…
Zoe Schiffer: That’s a very good one.
Michael Calore: If you can’t decide, I don’t know what its size is. I don’t know if you have read this book. I don’t know if they would actually use this, get them what you know they love and that you know they will use.
Zoe Schiffer: That’s a very good one. It’s very good, because it is difficult to get it yourself. I still have this problem because my brother and mother are chefs. So when they come home, they give me these really expensive ones, for example, the Momofuku Chili Crisp, and then I tell them, “Well, I’m completely addicted to that. I need it in all my meals all the time.” And then I go buy it and I’m like, “$18 for this little…” No, I can’t.
Lauren Goode: That’s actually my favorite ingredient. Momofuku Crispy Chili.
Zoe Schiffer: You can put it on everything.
Michael Calore: Have you tried Fly By Jing?
Lauren Goode: No.
Zoe Schiffer: Oh, also very good. It is one of Sichuan chili.
Michael Calore: Awesome.
Zoe Schiffer: Really delicious.
Lauren Goode: This is great. God, I feel like I literally recommended Snake Oil and everyone’s like, “Oh, Mike. Yeah. Thanks.” Now I’m hungry.
Michael Calore: Okay, well, that’s our show today. We will return in the new year. Thanks for listening mysterious valley. If you like what you heard today, be sure to follow our show and rate it in the podcast app of your choice. If you would like to contact us with any questions, comments or program suggestions, you can email us at uncannyvalley@wired.com. Today’s show is produced by Kyana Moghadam. Amar Lal of Macrosound mixed this episode. Jordan Bell is our executive producer. Condé Nast’s global audio director is Chris Bannon.