For an innovative take on ice cream head to Cow Tipping Creamery and sample the Southern Charm. Jeff and Audrey Dunham go bananas over the cinnamon-sugar doughnut cone packed with bananas Foster ice cream, rum-flavored caramel sauce, sweet pecans and chocolate cracker candy. “I’ve never had anything like this before. Absolutely delicious,” says Jeff between mouthfuls.
The brother duo behind The Carving Board is changing the sandwich game with innovative creations like the Spaghetti Meatballwich. Sliced meatballs are smothered in garlic marinara sauce and melty mozzarella cheese, then nestled between two crunchy slabs of baked spaghetti in place of bread. Jeff Dunham was impressed. “This is genius,” he gushed. “I have never had anything like this.”
Chef Tim Love has channeled his passion for BBQ into his restaurant on the banks of the Trinity River. Here, the native Texan grills, roasts and slow-cooks meat, fish and vegetables. Jeff and Audrey Dunham stopped into taste the smoked chocolate pie, reminiscent of a s'mores, and the 16-hour beef shin. The massive beef shin is served family-style with beans, fresh ricotta, kale salad and Mexican-style corn with tortillas on the side.
Guy Fieri's El Burro Borracho serves up authentic-Mexican cuisine with a twist. Jeff and Audrey Dunham came for the legendary Trashcan Nachos.
Fat Sal’s is everything health-conscious LA is not and deliciously so. Guy gets his hands on a Fat Jerry sandwich stacked with cheese steak, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, bacon, fried eggs and fries. He also indulges in the Meat Luv’rz pizza roll stuffed with beef, pepperoni and sausages. Jeff and Audrey Dunham were in to taste their 13-pound creation: Big Fat Fatty. This mega sandwich features five burger patties, five fried eggs, ribeye, pastrami and bacon topped with a basket of fries, onion rings, chicken fingers and mozzarella sticks.
This spot offers 120 different kinds of doughnuts 24 hours a day. It is also home to the mythical Wow-Nut, LA's first half-waffle/half-donut hybrid. The Red Velvet Lust Wow-Nut has fresh strawberries and fluffy tufts of whipped cream. Jeff and Audrey Dunham try a Wow-Nut ice cream sandwich filled with white chocolate ganache, chocolate cookies and cookie butter ice cream. “The little kid in me is doing backflips,” Jeff said between spoonfuls.
The Sugar Factory is like Candyland for adults. Jeff and Audrey Dunham showed up to taste The King Kong Sundae. The gargantuan creation features 24 scoops of ice cream with an avalanche of insane toppings including a whole doughnut, an entire chocolate chip cookie and red velvet cake. To top it off, sparklers herald the arrival of the gut-busting mountain of ice cream. Jeff dubbed it, “the ultimate dessert.”
If you’re looking for a true Austin vibe head to Odd Duck for Texas-inspired farm-to-table cuisine. If you’re looking for the weirdest dish Jeff Dunham and his wife, Audrey, have ever tasted, try the chicken-fried fish head. Oven-poached fish heads are deep fried and placed on a dish staring up at the diner. “We’ve been given some beautiful dishes … this is not one of them,” says Jeff. But with the first bite, he and his wife are won over by the crunchy, pumpkin seed crust and the tender fish.
Jeff and Audrey Dunham stopped at Cattleack Barbeque for the famous sandwich called The Toddfather. The irresistible creation is a three-meat medley of house-smoked brisket, sausage and pulled pork topped with cole sale, pimento cheese and house-made pickles. Serious enthusiasts order a one-pound beef rib on the side. “That is something special,” Jeff Dunham said of the meltingly tender meat.
If you’re craving something extra-sweet, stop in for Sublime’s creative riff on ice cream sandwiches (aka “burgers”). Richard Blais recommends the Oreo ice cream burger: A chocolate doughnut is sliced in half, stuffed with housemade Oreo ice cream, and then coated with vanilla fondant and crushed Oreos. Jeff and Audrey Dunham tried their Peach Extravaganza. For this creation, a peach fritter is doused in peach caramel sauce and served with sautéed peaches topped with a peach Riesling sorbet.
If you love tater tots, this is the place for you. The Macho Totcho took Jeff and Audrey Dunham back to childhood. The dish features a mound of tater tots topped with slow-cooked pork, mac and cheese, smoked chicken, queso, chili and barbeque sauce.
At Swift’s Attic, the food ranges from high-end cuisine to the wildest burgers ever. Jeff and his wife stop for the unbelievable creation dubbed The King. The edible homage to Elvis features a peanut butter cup-stuffed burger topped with bacon and grape jelly on a banana bread bun served with fried mac and cheese bites. “This is not normal,” says Jeff of the creation but after he and his wife sample the masterpiece he declares: “It actually works!”
Patrons head to Maple Leaf diner for bold Canadian flavors with Texas-sized portions. Their chicken fried steak and waffle dish is a fascinating combination of the two cuisines. Jeff and Audrey Dunham loved the crunchy deep-fried steak served over waffles and topped with sauteed peppers and onions, white gravy, Canadian bacon and a garnish of creampuffs.
Leave the buffet behind in favor of hearty comfort food from Hash House A Go Go. Jeff and Audrey Dunham stopped in for the Red Velvet Pancakes and the legendary Fried Chicken Benedict. "This is the most insane breakfast we have ever had,” Jeff said of the mountainous benedict.
Illegal Food is known for the unique, international spin it puts on Southern fare. Jeff and Audrey Dunham visited for a taste of the Korean fried chicken sandwich. The massive sandwich elicited a “wow” from both Jeff and Audrey. “My taste buds are just dancing right now,” Audrey said of the sweet and spicy chicken.
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.