Ben Sargeant likes to call himself the Brooklyn Chowder Surfer. He has been making chowder since the age of seven, and has surfed waves worldwide. Based in Brooklyn, he serves his acclaimed soups at the Hurricane Hopeful Surf Bar. When Ben gathers his friends together in a local park to celebrate his Food Network debut, he has no idea that Bobby Flay will be arriving fashionably late to challenge him to a Throwdown.
When it comes to hot, new wedding cake designers, Brooklyn’s Michelle Doll is at the top of the list. Michelle creates elegant and beautiful cakes for New York’s hippest brides and she’s preparing to show off her skills to wedding planners and engaged couples at New York’s Tavern on The Green. Little does she know that Bobby is the uninvited guest who will go tier to tier against her in a wedding cake Throwdown.
Self proclaimed chili queen Cindy Reed Wilkins is the only competitor to win the coveted Terlingua International Chili championship two years in a row. So will she be just as tough when she learns she’s going to compete against an Iron Chef? When Bobby rolls up on her Mother’s Appreciation Brunch, it will be time to figure out whose chili really reigns supreme and who will get the Throwdown crown.
"Who says a feather boa doesnt belong in the kitchen," says Angela Shelf Medearis, a.k.a. The Kitchen Diva. Although known for her zany sense of humor and her award-winning childrens books, what makes Angela really special is her passion and skill for jerk chicken. The Diva is in for a surprise when Bobby rolls up on her family picnic for a Jerk Chicken Throwdown. Will it be Bobbys spicy dry rub or Kitchen Divas hot marinade that takes the top prize? A group of tough judges in a blind taste test will be the ones to dole out the highest honor.
Eric Dominijanni, a.k.a. Captain D., is a proud Marine with a mission--to grill his award-winning steaks as a morale booster to his men. What nobody knows is that Bobby Flay will roll up and challenge him to a steak Throwdown. Will Bobby be able to stand the heat and come out victorious, or will Captain D. and his Marines have ultimate command of the grill?
When Lynn Winter opened Lynn’s Paradise Cafe in the early 1990s she had no idea it would become known for having the best breakfast in Louisville. She combines her immense love of food, charismatic personality and boundless creativity to serve thousands of loyal customers her amazing egg dishes every week. She has no idea that Bobby is showing up to her "Customer Appreciation Day" for a Breakfast Throwdown! Bobby’s betting his Tex-Mex flair can trump Lynn’s country style, but it’s anyone’s game until an expert judge does a blind taste test to determine who’s the short-order champ.
Susan Mello is an extraordinary opera singer who has been able to turn an all-American dish—the hamburger—into a multicultural eating experience and has the awards to prove it. She gets her inspiration for her award-winning burgers from her neighborhood of Queens, N.Y., the most ethnically diverse county in the U.S. In this episode, Susan will host friends and family for a backyard birthday celebration, serving up her famous burgers. Little does she know that there’ll be one unexpected guest—Bobby Flay—who challenges her to a Burger Throwdown. It’ll be up to a secret judge to decide who’s got the best burger in town.
Emile Stieffel, known far and wide throughout New Orleans, brings a party wherever he goes, and nothing gets the crowd going more than his jambalaya. Once a stiff competitor, with shelves of awards to prove it, he’s settled into a sweet life as everyone’s favorite caterer. When Bobby Flay shows up looking for a jambalaya jam, the tables are turned and he’s in for a big surprise. Bobby might know his way around a kitchen, but Emile’s got authentic, hometown secrets that will make this Throwdown one for the ages.
Nobody loves bartending more than Tobin Ellis! Tobin is a master Mixologist. , Toby will be unveiling his new signature drink that he created just for the Food Network! What he doesn't know is that the Food Network's own Bobby Flay will be visiting Toby's bar to wet his whistle and throw down the ultimate cocktail challenge.
Everyone loves doughnuts, but no one knows them like Mark Isreal, the genius behind Doughnut Plant. Starting out in his tiny apartment kitchen, with a fryer made of coat hangers, Mark knows doughnuts inside and out. With stores in New York, Japan and Korea, and flavors inspired by Elvis and the Yankees, Mark's latest 'nutty' idea is a Doughnut Disco, where he's making doughnuts for his friends and spinning tunes. Bobby Flay's gotten himself on the guest list, with his regional-inspired treats, but will they be enough to beat Mark's groovy bites of heaven?
No American sandwich is more iconic than the Philly Cheesesteak. Invented in 1930, the cheesesteak is a sandwich of legendary proportions, steeped in rivalry, controversy and mouth-watering self-indulgence. When Tony Luke Junior opened Tony Luke's in 1992, everyone thought he had no chance to survive against the three kings of cheesesteaks: Pat's, Gino's and Jim's. But in 1994, Tony's steaks were ranked "Best of Philly" by Philadelphia Magazine, thus placing him and his deliciously decadent sandwich atop the coveted Philly Cheesesteak throne. In this episode, Tony Luke Jr.'s having a blowout bash for all of his customers. He doesn't know that Bobby's rolling into town to Throwdown against the Cheesesteak King. Will it be Bobby's sliced sirloin or Tony's aged rib eye that will reign supreme?
Nothing's better than ice cream on a hot summer day, and Jeff Sommers of Izzy's Ice Cream has cornered the market on everyone's favorite frozen treat. Creator of the Izzy's Scoop, a little sample-sized scoop on top of each order, Jeff loves to give out samples and, more important, lots of smiles. Completely run on solar power, Izzy's experiments with great flavors, from its top-rated vanilla to the more outrageous Red Zinfandel. Bobby Flay loves ice cream more than anything else and is always looking for something new. He's looking forward to showing off his frozen creations to Jeff's loyal customers in hopes of tasting sweet victory.
For more than 60 years, Hattie’s Restaurant in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., has been an icon of southern cuisine and is known in particular for its fresh, hot and crispy fried chicken. At the head of the restaurant and kitchen is Jasper Alexander. Jasper’s planning a huge picnic at the Saratoga Race Track, on the final weekend of the horse race season. He’s thrilled that Food Network will be there to indulge in his famous fried chicken. But little does he know that Bobby’s at the track, ready to challenge Jasper to a Fried Chicken Throwdown. It’ll be up to some discerning jockeys to decide who wins, and who places.
Butch Lupinetti, an award-winning BBQ Pit Master who knows everything about pork, beef and BBQ chicken, thinks he's being profiled by Food Network. Little does he know, Bobby Flay is about to challenge him. Chef Bobby Flay, competitive by nature and always ready for a challenge, knows he's got to be prepared. Will Butch maintain his award-winning title or will Chef Flay come out the winner?
Giorgio Giove is the pizza king at Brother's Pizzeria in Staten Island. In fact, he has just come back from Italy where his special pizza won second place in the World's Best Tasting Pizza competition. To celebrate his award-winning pies and his return from Italy, Giorgio is throwing a big family reunion. He doesn't realize that Bobby's been secretly brushing up on his pizza-making skills in order to crash Giorgio's party and challenge him to a Throwdown. Bobby's up against a seasoned pro in Giorgio, not to mention the entire Giove family, so he might have to change his whole strategy for this competition.