Chef Nick Vazquez won a James Beard award for having the most authentic Cuban restaurant on the East Coast. This proved to be no joke when he won the throwdown against Bobby with his Cuban sandwich stuffed with ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese and dill pickles. The ropa vieja is another fan favorite.
Bobby calls Chef Melba Wilson the "Queen Bee" when it comes to chicken and waffles. A family recipe that has been passed down for generations, this sweet and savory Harlem favorite is topped with strawberry butter and maple syrup. If you're going for dinner, get a side of Tres Mac and Cheese too.
When Bobby heard that Manny's Buckhorn Tavern had the seventh best burger in the nation, he had to challenge them to a Green Chile Cheeseburger throwdown. The competition was tough, but in the end, Chef Bob Olguin's refried green chiles and toasted bun helped him take the prize.
Bobby samples an apple pie, baked in an inventive way, from The Elegant Farmer in Mukwonago, WI, where they are making a famed Apple Pie Baked in a Paper Bag on Food Network's Throwdown with Bobby Flay.
On Food Network's Throwdown with Bobby Flay, Bobby tries his hand at Jamaican cuisine with Mobay Uptown Restaurant in Harlem, NY, where they are cooking up a delicate, Fried Fish Escovitch.
Hollywood hot dog legend Pink's Hot Dogs is one of the most - if not the most - famous and busiest hot dog stands in the country. Dishing up dogs since 1939, their Chili Cheese Dog is still a favorite of customers (and of Bobby Flay), having been chomped on by The Best Of, FoodNation and Throwdown.
Four generations of family pride (and some of Cape Cod's best comfort food) grace the tables of 4 Bros. Bistro and Last Resort Lounge. The must-try from brothers Jack and Rocco Collucci? Their Throwdown-championship "tongue tingling, mouthwatering, super satisfying" meatloaf with brown gravy.
Rachael’s visit to Seattle wasn’t over until she visited the “must-taste” Matt’s in the Market. With a location inside the iconic Pike Place Market, this eatery always has fresh ingredients close at hand. Stop by for the scrumptious seafood paella made with mussels, clams, octopus and prawns.
When Bobby heard about A Salt & Battery's award-winning fish and chips, he immediately called for a throwdown. But chef Mat Arnfield had his British roots to guide him. Today they're using a sustainable Pollock with their classic light batter. Ultimately, these chips were the best catch of the day.
Marc Summers heads to this spot for the Philly cheesesteak, which features thin-sliced rib-eye steak, provolone and a tasty ladleful of red gravy on top. Rachael Ray can’t get enough of the Italian Roast Pork Sandwich, which is piled high with slow-roasted ham, broccoli rabe and sliced provolone.
"The Chili Queen" reigns supreme in Houston! Cindy Reed Wilkins' recipes are honed from a long line of "chili dynasty" competition champions. Her Cin Chili & Company's signature "silky" Texas Red Chili kept her crown intact as she and Bobby wrangled to a fair and square tie during their Throwdown.
The iconic Buffalo chicken wing's roots trace back to its hometown namesake, Anchor Bar in Buffalo, N.Y. What started as a kitchen experiment is now a national phenomenon and they push well over 1,000 pounds of wings out their door daily. Not even a Throwdown from Bobby could outmatch the original!
Just about every diner offers grilled cheese, but only The Pop Shop in Collingswood, N.J., offers more than 30 varieties of grilled cheese. Their best-selling Calvert has melted Monterey Jack, bacon, turkey and avocado; Bobby himself said ''it's a really good sandwich'' on Throwdown.
Four delicious words: fresh, moist, fantastic cupcakes. Big Man Bakes is satisfying L.A.'s sweet tooth, one bite at a time. Owner Big Chip Brown's Rum Raisin Mini Cupcakes are a single gulp of perfection (Bobby eats them by the boxful), made by the gentle hands of a 6-foot-5 linebacker of a baker.
When Rocco DiSpirito wants cheesecake, he skips the chocolate swirls and instead orders Junior's plain cheesecake with a sponge cake crust. Opened in 1950, Junior's has become an iconic Brooklyn restaurant, serving towering pastrami sandwiches, steak burgers and the "most fabulous" of cheesecakes.
Make restaurant favorites at home with copycat recipes from FN Magazine.
Let Guy take you on a coast-to-coast tour Friday at 9|8c.