On Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Cat Cora cools off with a Nitrogen frozen Strawberry Ice Pop at Mandarina in San Francisco, CA.
Zinc Bistro may be in Arizona, but the menu masterfully transports visitors to Paris, France, including Beau MacMillan who calls the French onion soup that starts and stops with cheese his favorite cheesy indulgence. Luckily, Zinc's Parisian indulgences don't stop. Hint: Try the duck confit.
Alton's Brown's love of ice cream knows no bounds. Except, when choosing his favorite he heads to Scottsdale, Arizona, for Sweet Republic's Toffee Banofi Sundae. Topped with a handmade toffee candy, it has the perfect crunch. Meanwhile, locals scream for basil lime to honey blue cheese ice cream.
Beau MacMillan isn't an early bird, but he will get out of bed for the Waffle Dogs at Over Easy. These corn dog imposters are made using sage-infused pork sausage, which are then dipped in waffle batter and fried. Beau dips his dogs in pure maple syrup for the ultimate flavor combo.
With spectacular mountain views, El Chorro Lodge is also home to Beau MacMillan's favorite (and completely free) sticky buns. The lodge has used the same sticky bun recipe since 1937 and continues its Southwestern-inspired menu with El Chorro's succulent Rocky Mountain Rack of Lamb.
Head to this spot for a hearty breakfast: a burrito stuffed with scrambled eggs, sauteed onions, peppers and tomatoes. This beauty comes topped with chipotle salsa and super-melty cheese. Prefer your breakfast at dinner? Try the Pasta Mama dish: a deliciously simple mix of pasta and scrambled eggs.
Emporio Rulli's dessert cases offer an array of delicious Italian treats, including mixed berry tortes and limoncello cakes. But come the holidays, Giada wants none other than the panettone Milanese. The sweet, buttery bread is unlike any other. As she says, "this is love."
Sometimes the need for a muffin gets outweighed by the hankering for a doughnut. Luckily, Candace Nelson found the perfect baked snack that combines both at Downtown Bakery and Creamery. Along with other treats, the doughnut muffin rolled in cinnamon sugar slays the biggest snack attack.
On The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Giada admits being addicted to the Matterhorn Cake at Sweet Surrender. It's no wonder, as Sweet Surrender layers three rich, fudgy cakes and covers them with buttercream frosting. Oprah's also in on the act, as she's in love with their Lemon White Chocolate Cake.
Although Loteria Grill opened as a farmers' market taqueria, they have since opened sit-down locations in Santa Monica, Hollywood, Studio City and Westlake Village, Calif. Luckily for Duff, they carry his favorite chocolate mole, used on enchiladas and burritos and made with 25 ingredients. The Hauchinango Estilo Ensenada tacos are also a standout.
The chicken pot pie at WoodSpoon isn't your typical pot pie. On The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Giada raves that this homey Brazilian meal is unbelievably tasty with olives, hearts of palm and juicy, tender chicken. For a mini version, try the coxinha, a yummy fried chicken croquette.
If you order the Office Burger here, don't ask for ketchup or mustard — they're considered contraband. As Adam Gertler says, this decadent burger featuring a dry-aged beef patty, bacon marmalade, Gruyère and blue cheese on French bread comes only one way, and that's "supremely delicious."
Sunny Anderson wanted to treat a friend to Valerie Confections' petit fours but instead, treated herself to Valerie's rose petal petit fours that were nothing short of an "edible orchestra." Valerie also makes symphonies with coffee cakes, toffees and even chili-infused chocolate truffles.
Bacon lovers rejoice. At Animal, the Bacon Chocolate Crunch Bar means you can have your dessert and bacon, too. On The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Duff had a "celebacon" for the bar's rich chocolate and bacon crumble. Animal's menu has plenty more bacon with pig tails, pig ear and even crispy pig's head.
Like a moth to a flame, Alex Guarnaschelli is drawn to A.O.C.'s lamb skewers. That's why she named them on The Best Thing I Ever Ate. A.O.C's dishes are served small (grilled albacore, lamb burgers, curried cauliflower) but they ooze big, luscious flavors. Like Alex, you'll be craving A.O.C., too.
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.