The six competitors' first challenge is to create their single best bite of barbecue. They can smoke up whatever they want, but the judges will only take one single bite. In the next round, the competitors find out that they have another chance to stay in the game. They have to cook cocktail party fare for an art gallery show in Chelsea. One pitmaster is eliminated at the end of the show.Buckhead BeefBest in SmokeBest BiteChild's PlayVendor WarsTriple Play
Host David Guas travels to Asheville, North Carolina, a scenic arts community, as four rough-and-tumble grillers battle it out using local cuisine like scuppernongs and liver mush, to take home $10,000 and the title of grill master. Here, tucked between the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains, it's all about homegrown foods, the great outdoors and beer. In this episode, there's Will Smith, a self-proclaimed refined redneck caterer, Shawn "Tiny" Townsend, a part-time caterer and full-time grill lover, Jeff Banister, a process server who hunts and grills whole animals and Dillon Black, the youngest in the group but perhaps the most experienced in the BBQ circuit. Some of the final plates are wildly creative. Some are overly ambitious. And one is incomplete. The clock keeps watch and waits for no one. David is joined by guest judges Elizabeth Karmel, owner of Hill Country BBQ restaurants and Jason Sandford, a food writer and journalist from Asheville. Some of the food exceeds the judges' expectations. And some literally go up in flames. It's a high-heat, high-intensity rush to the finish. And only one will survive. The Starters Challenge round required the use of bison loin and Ellington cheese, a stinky goat cheese. After some hectic, hair raising grilling, Dillon Black was sent home due to his bland dish. The Butcher's Choice round required the use of guinea fowl, scuppernongs, a large grape native to the Southern United States, and microbrew beer. After a tense, last minute grill, Will Smith's scorched guinea fowl resulted in his elimination. The Monster Mains round determined who walked away with $10,000. Jeff and Tiny used ribeye, red Russian kale, peaches and liver mush. Tiny was unable to finish is sauce in time, but ultimately the judges decided that he best represented both the grill and Asheville. As a result, he took home $10,000 along with the title of Asheville grill master.
The remaining five competitors are thrown when they are told that, instead of cooking up traditional ribs or brisket, they have to grill or smoke a salad and dessert for the judges. In the next round, the pitmasters have to cook up kid-friendly barbecue for a child's birthday party without using old stand-bys like hamburgers and hot dogs. But the competitors better make the kids happy, because the kids' favorite is safe from elimination. Everyone else is at risk of going home. One pitmaster is eliminated at the end of the show.Buckhead BeefBest in SmokeBest BiteChild's PlayVendor WarsTriple Play
It's another faceoff between the Italian Stallion, Michael Chiarello and the Ragin' Cajun, Jan Birnbaum. The challenge this time? We're going all American with a contest to make the best burgers ever. Gentlemen, start your grills!
GameplanDay Before Party:
Put 2 ½ cups of water in bowl, with salt, and lemon juice for Poached Peaches Della Nonna.
Cut vanilla beans in half for the boiling water.
Peel peaches and poach for 4 or 5 minutes.
Cut potatoes into 6 wedges for steak fries.
Put potatoes in cool water, with salt and bring to boil.
Remove peaches and let cool.
Put pint of raspberries and poaching liquid into a blender and puree. Strain.
Mix hamburger meat with olive oil, and pre-peeled roasted garlic pieces. Cover with plastic wrap and place in fridge.
Toss potatoes into mix of olive oil and barbeque spice.
2 Hours Before Party:
On a pre-heated pan place potato wedges into a 450 degree oven for 20 minutes.
Cut up portabella mushrooms and put in pan with 6 tablespoons of olive oil.
Mix Dijon mustard, garlic paste, thyme, salt, pickle juice, pickles, and peppers for a condiment.
Add a ¼ cup of shallots, 2 tablespoons of sliced garlic, and two teaspoons of thyme, salt, and pepper. Add a cup of red wine.
Toss in a ½ cup of parsley.
Cut onions. Marinate with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and red wine.
Mix hamburger meat with tobassco sauce. Mold into patties.
At Party:
Put hamburgers and onions on grill. Baste hamburger with garlic oil.
Top burger with blue cheese.
Mix Wet n’ Slippery.
Top burger with condiment and sautéed mushrooms.
Top burger with onions.
Eat and Enjoy!
Are you ready for some chips, dips and a hearty meal that will score with your friends? It's easy. Bring your team spirit and your appetites; we're watching the big game from the back of the pickup!
Gameplan
Day Before Game:
Mix and refrigerate Spiedini sausage
Coat and caramelize meat for the Chiarello Chocolate Chili con Carne
Mix and stew broth for chili, recombine it with the meat, simmer for 1 and 1/2 hours
Strain and add black beans and chocolate to chili, simmer, cool and refrigerate
Day of Game:
Pop popcorn for both flavored popcorn
Coat and mix Basil-Parmesan Flavored Popcorn
Coat and mix Chocolate-Orange Flavored Popcorn
Mold Spiedini sausage onto soaked skewers, wrap in foil to ready for grill
Grill Avocados, mash and mix Rockamole
Heat up chili on stove, transfer to pot, that is portable, to get to party
Pack up foods and popcorns to go to party
At Game:
Grill Skewers on BBQ
Heat up chili in pot on grill
Wine Recommendation
Garguilo Vineyard Pinot Grigio; beer
We're pickin' and grinnin' in this fun outdoor party featuring our favorite slow cooked pork and other summer delights for a hot day of blues and barbecue. Invite the neighborhood!
Gameplan
Day Before Party:
Cut, boil and cool potatoes for Roasted Potato Salad.
Blend ingredients for Blue Cheese Compound Butter. Roll into a log and refrigerate.
Roast cooled and dried potatoes for Roasted Potato Salad.
Shave fennel and celery hearts for Roasted Potato Salad.
Whisk together vinaigrette for Roasted Potato Salad.
Layer potatoes over vinaigrette, top with fennel and celery, do not toss. Cover and refrigerate.
Morning of Party:
Mix Roasted Garlic Rub for Slow Cooked Pork. Coat pork with rub, place in oven.
Dissolve sugar in water to make simple syrup for Spiked Sweet Tea.
Brew concentrated tea for Spiked Sweet Tea. Add room temperature water and simple syrup. Cover and refrigerate.
At the party:
Pour sweet tea over ice, top with bourbon and garnish.
Grill corn and coat with compound butter.
Shred the pork.
Toss the roasted potato salad.
Eat and Enjoy!
Food Network searched for the Ultimate Chicken Recipe. After a nationwide recipe contest, nine finalists competed in three rounds: Fried Chicken, Soups and Stews, and Whole Roasted. A panel of food experts determined whose chicken dish was the best. See who walks away the winner of $25,000!
COMPETITORS: Chicken (Fried)
Michelle AndersonRecipe: Chipotle Chicken Tenders with Cucumber Slaw Occupation: Local Food Column Writer Hometown: Eagle, Idaho
Jenni DeyliusRecipe: Where's the Beach? Chicken Katsu Occupation: Satellite Systems Engineer Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Eboni Williams -- Winner!Recipe: Chicken Wings w/ Pomegranate & Mango BBQ Sauce Occupation: Stay-at-Home Mom/Writer Hometown: Damascus, Md.
Chicken (Soups/Stews)
Lauren Wyler -- Winner!Recipe: Chicken Tasso & Andouille Gumbo Occupation: Stay-at-Home Mom Hometown: San Marcos, Calif.
Rita LindaRecipe: Rita's Family Matzo Ball Noodle Soup Occupation: Operates an online clock business Hometown: Coral Springs, Fla.
Miriam ChaikenRecipe: African Ground Nut Stew Occupation: Anthropologist Hometown: Penn Run, Pa.
Chicken (Whole)Amparo Alam -- CHICKEN GRAND PRIZE WINNER!Recipe: Roasted Chicken with Yucca Root Occupation: Works in bakery Hometown: Syracuse, Utah
Steven PayneRecipe: St. Nino's Chicken Occupation: Student Hometown: College Station, Texas
Catherine WilkinsonRecipe: Roasted Pineapple Chicken with Cilantro Cream Sauce Occupation: Assists husband with his business Hometown: Dewey, Ariz.