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Guy's Grocery Games: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Tournament 2 — Meet the Competitors

For the second time, Guy Fieri's invited 16 of the best Triple D chefs to compete on Triple G. Get to know the competitors.

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Part 1: Brigitte Bledsoe — Baltimore

Even before Guy and his crew showed up at Miss Shirley's, business was great at the restaurant. But afterward, Executive Chef Brigitte saw business go through the roof. The restaurant originally had just 42 seats, but Brigitte has grown it to 250 over the 12 years she's worked there. Although she's never attended culinary school, Brigitte has put to good use everything she's learned from her mom and working in the restaurant business. With hair spikier than Guy's, Brigitte gets recognized all over town.

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Part 1: Lou Ramirez — North Beach Miami, Florida

In North Beach Miami, Lou and his wife, Ann, took a rundown apartment complex and turned it into a boutique hotel with a restaurant. Ever since appearing on Triple D, the restaurant has been getting lots of recognition from both tourists and locals, who love the chill vibe of the outdoor beer garden. The menu features craft beer and seasonally inspired cuisine, all cooked by Lou himself.

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Part 1: Louis Remillard — Las Vegas

After working in country club kitchens for a number of years, Louis decided he needed a change, and he decided to do something that could appeal to the greater public, so he opened up a joint specializing in crepes. At the restaurant, Louis offers 30 different types of sweet and savory crepes, many of which have earned them top ratings. Louis hopes to one day franchise the business so there can be Crepe Expectations all over the country.

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Part 1: Peter Campbell — Minneapolis

Peter made his first pizza as early as 2 years old, but it wasn't until he got fed up with his "real" job that he decided to make pizzas for a living. Before opening his Red Wagon Pizza Company, Peter worked with a local mill to get the flour just right for his personal recipe. Since he appeared on Triple D, his business has seen a steady increase, and customers come from out of state just to try Peter's pizza.

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Part 2: Adam Gold — Syracuse, New York

Originally a radio host, Adam didn't come up with his restaurant's name by accident. In college he played in a funk band, and once at a party the guys ended up experimenting with a waffle maker, and after a few funk-and-waffles parties, a business plan was born, and the restaurant followed. After it was featured on Triple D, the restaurant grew so much in popularity that Adam is now opening his third location. Adam knows he makes the best waffles around.

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Part 2: Jon Taub — Washington, D.C.

Jon may be a classically trained chef, but he runs a sandwich shop — and not just any shop. It's one that got noticed on Triple D. Bub & Pop's was inspired by Jon's grandparents' old corner store, where they used to sell groceries and sandwiches. At the restaurant, Jon offers classic Philly-style sandwiches as well as some with global influences. Since the shop appeared on Triple D, customers have been coming from all around the world to try Jon's sandwiches.

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Part 2: Marcus Christiana-Beniger — Los Angeles

After having been open for only about a year, The Little Jewel of New Orleans got the call from Triple D producers, and the rest is history. Business has been booming ever since. But what makes the restaurant such a unique destination is that it's a Southern establishment in the middle of Los Angeles' Chinatown. Originally from New Orleans, Marcus turns out old-fashioned family recipes, smokes meats on premises and takes an all-around low-and-slow approach to his cooking.

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Part 2: Zane Caplansky — Toronto

When Guy stopped by Zane's deli, he tried the smoked meat sandwich, beef bacon doughnuts and knishes. Since the episode aired, the knishes have become so popular that Zane has to ship them all over the world. Caplansky's is a traditional Jewish delicatessen, with the utmost focus on quality food. Zane used to work in politics, but his passion for food led him to running the very popular deli.

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Part 3: Adam Sappington — Portland, Oregon

Adam and his wife met working in restaurants, but it was only after building a family that they decided to open one of their own. When Guy visited The Country Cat, he was blown away by the offerings. Because the restaurant was featured on Triple D, customers now even make trips from across the country to taste the food, which is all local and seasonally focused. Last year the restaurant's cookbook was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award.

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Part 3: Heather Ludzack — Cable, Wisconsin

After leaving her public relations job in Seattle and moving back home to a small town in Wisconsin, Heather decided to buy a brick house across the street from her grandma's and turn it into a restaurant. Once Guy visited, business took off; and to this day, people will make a pilgrimage to eat at the cafe, where everything is made from scratch. Heather's husband is the town's mayor, which means she's also its first lady.

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Part 3: Michell Sanchez — Miami

Born in Cuba, Michell moved to the States when he was 2 years old. Cooking is in his family's blood, so opening a restaurant seemed like the obvious choice for Michell, but he didn't want any part of it until he met his wife, Bella. They started with a food truck before opening Latin House in Miami. Now, thanks to the popularity that comes with being on Triple D, Michell is opening three new restaurants.

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Part 3: Tye Rhone Bauer — Modesto, California

Tye worked in real estate before he decided to follow his culinary passion. As a kid, Tye always spent his free time in the kitchen. Although he's not a trained chef, he cooks from his German and Portuguese roots to create a unique menu that also features vegan items that honor his wife. His business has benefitted from being on, and Tye is preparing to open up a new spot that will feature more vegan and vegetarian dishes.

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Part 4: Andres Barrientos — Miami

Andres runs Miami Smokers, which creates some of the best charcuterie, including bacon, ham, pancetta, guanciale, salami and sausages. A little over two years ago, Andres began the business selling bacon at local farmers markets, and now it's an entire operation. Because of Triple D, Andres had to buy out the business next door to expand the store and restaurant.

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Part 4: Bobby Marcotte — Raymond, New Hampshire

Bobby is the executive chef at Tuckaway Tavern, where he puts a twist on New England cooking. The restaurant was originally opened by a butcher and lasted for many years before the current management took over. Now Bobby and the owners are opening a new burger joint. When Guy was in town, he was more than impressed with Bobby's command of the kitchen.

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Part 4: Claudette Hutchinson — Colorado Springs, Colorado

Born in Jamaica, Claudette always dreamed of bringing the cuisine of the island to the mainland. While in the Air Force, she and her husband traveled the festivals and fairs, cooking wherever they went. Eventually they opened Spice Island Grill, cooking authentic Jamaican food, but they were close to closing the restaurant when Guy came in. After the Triple D episodes aired, their business shot through the roof.

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Part 4: Louie Finnan — Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

Born and raised in New Orleans, Louie grew up in the French Quarter, influenced by his Italian grandma and French grandpa. Now with a restaurant in Mississippi named to honor his wife, Louie continues to cook the foods he grew up loving. For him, the restaurant is his life, and he spends every waking hour there. Triple D has had a positive influence on the business, and Louie is currently preparing to move into a new location.

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