With mocktails being the latest craze, Kelsey learns firsthand how bartenders are reinventing cocktail favorites and turning them into innovative mocktails. Kelsey visits Geoff Bartakovics at the Tasting Table to get secrets on making trendsetting mocktails. She meets the ladies at Ovenly who make innovative bar snacks: spicy bacon popcorn and peanuts roasted in bacon fat. Kelsey heads back to her kitchen to make her own happy hour favorites: a blackberry, cucumber and ginger spritzer, homemade pork rind cheese puffs, chorizo-stuffed fried olives and spiced bar nuts with orange bitters. Kelsey's girlfriends stop by for a happy hour filled with delicious bar bites and an unexpected mocktail!
Kelsey discovers the latest trend in Japanese cuisine with a visit to Yuji Haraguchi, and his unique approach to ramen. Yuji bucks all trends and uses "mazemaen" a dry ramen, and no broth. His blend of dry ramen combined with American favorites like egg, bacon or lox and cheese has Yuji Americanizing a Japanese favorite dish. Kelsey also visits Mimi and Coco who have reinvented a Japanese savory favorite by making Americanized teriyaki balls. She then heads back to her kitchen inspired and makes a roasted shrimp, corn and bacon ramen. And then it's a mouthwatering grilled hamachi collar with a ponzu dipping sauce.
Guy Fieri is bringing Grocery Games grudge matches! Two worthy competitors are back to call out the opponents they lost to in a pair of highly-anticipated rematches. First, a Chicago chef calls out the opponent who bested her in a bacon brawl, and both competitors select a "must use" ingredient that will give their double knockout bacon dish the edge. Then, Food Network Star Damaris Phillips settles the score with the Arizona chef that defeated her in the "Beat the Judge: Vegetarian" game as both competitors attempt to create the best vegetarian diner classic. The victor of each winner-takes-all match earns a $10,000 prize and bragging rights.