Host Noah Cappe's taste buds are brought to life at the Día de los Muertos Festival in San Antonio. Noah does a deep dive into a Loaded Oaxacan Tamale -- a traditional tamale loaded with fried chicharron and sumptuous sauces -- and scarfs down the Elote Dog -- a house made bacon-wrapped wiener loaded with Mexican street corn -- that twist fair food staples together in the most satisfying way. The fantastic food fusion doesn't stop there as he tries the Smash Burger Taco -- seasoned beef pressed into a tortilla and loaded with burger toppings -- and the Breakfast de Muertos -- a sweet and savory breakfast sandwich on a traditional Pain de Muertos bun. Later on, Noah visits Florida for the Florida State Fair in Tampa, where series veteran Mama Jane serves up a Cubano sandwich on a funnel cake, and for the Brevard Renaissance Fair in Melbourne for the sweet, crunchy and fired up Dragon's Breath Brûlée.
It's nothing but hot, hot heat for Noah Cappe, who makes stops in some of the country's most sweltering states. First, Noah checks out the Florida State Fair's Temperamental Hog -- a spicy and savory funnel cake-- plus Philly Pizza Curls that dress ribbon fries with a mashup of pepperoni pizza and Philly cheesesteak. In the deserts of Tucson, Arizona, at the Pima County Fair, Noah makes a pitstop for the Truck Stop Burger piled high with roasted peanuts, bacon jam and a pink snowball cake, served with the Strawberry Shake-Up -- a sweet strawberry boba milkshake with a toaster pastry surprise. Things really heat up when Noah comes face-to-face with the Loco Elote Ramen and its spicy cheese puff dust atop grilled corn ramen. Then, there's more to munch on at Rodeo Austin with the Cajun flavors of the seafood-stuffed Swamp P'Boy and The Sunday Special that packs all the comforts of a roast dinner stuffed into a turkey leg.
If there's one ghoul with a passion for the freaky fun, food and sweets of Halloween, it's Jeff Mauro. And the scary good times are only fueled by the costumed excitement of his young son, Lorenzo. So Jeff heads downtown to do his homework at a place that makes a frighteningly large array of sweet cookies and delicious Halloween-themed ice cream sandwiches. He gets a lesson in some key autumn flavor combos, then heads home and gets busy with some sweet/savory Halloween combo sandwiches to feed Lorenzo and his friends before they head out to trick or treat the neighborhood. The classic flavors of a caramel apple go devilishly well with bacon in his haunted take on a Panini. Then, an eyeball-shaped ham sandwich that stares back at you and Mummy Aki Chicken Fingers straight from the tomb of King Tut will keep his little goblins fueled and focused to bring back bags stuffed with candy.
Ina Garten's favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal is the side dishes, and she's leaving no vegetable unturned for side dishes that will steal the spotlight at the big feast. There's everything from Mushroom and Leek Bread Pudding with Homemade Gravy and Cranberry Fruit Conserve to Haricots Verts with Dill and Hazelnuts. Then she shares tasty ideas for Sauteed Brussels Sprouts and Bacon, plus Celery Root and Apple Puree. Ina starts with Classic Mashed Potatoes and takes them in three new directions: Truffled Mashed Potatoes, Parmesan Mashed Potatoes and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. In the oven, a colorful Roasted Beet, Butternut Squash and Apple Salad bakes along with a make-ahead Root Vegetable Gratin. There are even some cool, side-inspired table setting ideas. Ina also asks friends to reveal their must-have Thanksgiving sides. For Nigella Lawson, its Red Cabbage with Pomegranate, and Chef Marcus Samuelsson has to have his Killer Collards. Ina's biggest fan, actress Jennifer Garner, makes her grandmother Exie Mae Garner's Sweet Potato Casserole in an episode of her "Pretend Cooking Show" shot especially for Ina.