Food Network searched for the Ultimate Comfort Food recipe. After a nationwide recipe contest, nine finalists competed in three rounds: Chili, Mac and Cheese and Sandwiches. A panel of food experts determined whose comfort food dish was the best. See who walks away the winner of $25,000!
COMPETITORS: Chili
Peg SchaeferRecipe: Mexitana Ancho-Lamb Chili Hometown: Bozeman, Mo.
Ray Isacsson -- Winner!Recipe: Spanish Influenced Chili with Collard Wrapped Pork, Chorizo and Sweet and Smoky Paprikas Hometown: Danbury, Conn.
Anne TegtmeierRecipe: Ultimate Veggie Chili
Mac and Cheese
Autumn ClementsRecipe: Black and Tan Irish Mac and Cheddar Hometown: Amelia Island, Fla.
Brett Greenberg -- WinnerRecipe: French Onion "Soup" Mac and Cheese
Jenny FlakeRecipe: Pepita Crusted Cheddar Jack Southwest Chicken Mac Hometown: Gilbert, Ariz.
SandwichIvan Aviles -- COMFORT FOODS GRAND PRIZE WINNER!Recipe: Boricua Plantain Sandwich Hometown: Holtsville, N.Y.
Anna Georgantonis-KeahRecipe: Squash Sandwiches Hometown: Austin, Texas
Michael GilettoRecipe: Germany's Version of the "South Philly Cheese Steak with a Twist" Hometown: Mickleton, N.J.
Celebrity chef Aarón Sánchez hits the Windy City and samples the best traditional and twisted tacos in town. First stop is the Pilsen Neighborhood — a hub for Hispanic culture that's home to Carnitas Uruapan, a place locals love for their succulent carnitas and crunchy chicharrones. Next up, Aarón hits Antique Taco for a Midwest twist on the nacho - poutine-style cheddar cheese curds in pork chorizo chili! Then it's on to Big Star in Wicker Park for a fabulous fish taco. And finally, get some authentically-prepared — and very tasty — goat tacos from Birrieria Zaragoza. Their closely guarded 150 year-old recipe from the Mexican State of Jalisco will have your mouth watering!
Food Network searched for the Ultimate Pasta Recipe. After a nationwide recipe contest, nine finalists competed in three rounds: Spaghetti and Meatballs, Stuffed Pasta and Lasagna. A panel of food experts determined whose pasta dish was the best. See who walks away the winner of $25,000!
COMPETITORS: Lasagna
Elizabeth Morath -- PASTA GRAND PRIZE WINNER!Recipe: Summer Eggplant Lasagna
Sonali RuderRecipe: Spanakopita Lasagna Hometown: New York, N.Y.
Laura KonenRecipe: Meat-za Hometown: Fond Du Lac, Wis.
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Ying CompestineRecipe: Spaghetti with Lion's Head Meatballs Hometown: Lafayette, Calif.
Elaine Jones -- Winner!Recipe: Mediterranean Pasta with Lamb Meatballs Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Cecelia WardRecipe: Chicken Gravy and Meatballs with Multigrain Spaghetti Hometown: Troy, N.Y.
Stuffed PastaMichelle Herrigel -- Winner!Recipe: Mama Mirabella's Ham and Cheese Ravioli Hometown: Pottstown, Pa.
Lorraine StevenskiRecipe: Stuffed Manicotti with Fresh Marinara Sauce Hometown: Clearwater, Fla.
Amy ThorsonRecipe: Stuffed Shells with Chicken and Arugula and Creamy Alfredo Sauce Hometown: Marietta, Ga.
Food Network searched for the Ultimate Cake recipe. After a nationwide recipe contest, nine finalists competed in three rounds: Chocolate Cake, Cupcakes and Birthday Cakes. A panel of food experts determined whose cake was the best. See who walks away the winner of $25,000!
COMPETITORS: Chocolate Cakes
Janice Kollar -- CAKE GRAND PRIZE WINNER!Recipe: "Really Good" Chocolate Layer Cake Hometown: Atlantic Highlands, N.J.
Erin Renouf MylroieRecipe: Anniversary Chocolate-Buttermilk Layer Cake with Toffee and Toasted Almonds Hometown: St. George, Utah
Jaclyn EspositoRecipe: Individual Molten Chocolate Coconut Cakes Hometown: Aventura, Fla.
Cupcakes
Kelly MadeyRecipe: Orange Chiffon Cupcakes with Meringue Buttercream Hometown: Quakertown, Pa.
Lorie Roach -- Winner!Recipe: Tres Leches Coconut Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Buttercream Hometown: Buckatunna, Miss.
Channon MondouxRecipe: Gingerbread Cake with Brandy Sauce and Whipped Orange Flower Cream Hometown: Portage, Mich.
Birthday CakesDoreen Howarth -- Winner!Recipe: Put the Lime in the Coconut Cake Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Marie BelfiglioRecipe: "Honey, I'm Peanuts About You!" Cake Hometown: Chandler, Ariz.
Debra ScruggsRecipe: Tropical Pound Cake Hometown: Toney, Ala.
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.
Food Network searched for the Ultimate Burger Recipe. After a nationwide recipe contest, nine finalists competed in three rounds: Beef Burgers, Poultry Burgers and Seafood Burgers. A panel of food experts determined whose burger was the best. See who walks away the winner of $25,000!
COMPETITORS: Beef
David KadagishviliRecipe: Biryani Burger in Naan Pocket Occupation: Owner/chef small neighborhood restaurant Hometown: Latrobe, Pa.
Jennifer SpardyRecipe: Harvest Burger with Caramelized Onion and Apple Occupation: Teacher Hometown: Canton, Ohio
Michelle Christensen -- Winner!Recipe: Rocket Science Reuben Burger Occupation: Rocket Science Combustion Grad Student Hometown: State College, Pa.
Poultry
Julie Ann Rhodes -- Winner!Recipe: Jewel’s Turkey Jasmine Burger Occupation: Personal Chef Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Michael CohenRecipe: Duck Duck Delicious Burger Occupation: Film Composer Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
Mary MontoyaRecipe: Pad Thai Chicken Burger Occupation: Stay-at-home Mom Hometown: St. Paul, Minn.
Seafood/VegetarianJamie MillerRecipe: Salmon Burger With Orange-Apricot Glaze Occupation: Cookbook Author Hometown: Maple Grove, Minn.
Cindy JarrottRecipe: Ultimate Seafood Croquette Burger Occupation: Owns baking business called "Cakes by Cindy" and works as a bookkeeper with The Texas Department of Criminal Justice Agriculture Division Hometown: Wheelock, Texas
Kristine Snyder -- BURGER GRAND PRIZE WINNER!Recipe: Island Ahi Burgers Occupation: Professional Harpist Hometown: Kihei, Hawaii
The battle on the gridiron may be rough when the Green Bay Packers take on the Seattle Seahawks, but it's nothing compared to the action going on outside the stadium. Guy Fieri has thrown down the gauntlet, searching for the best tailgate teams in the country. This round, the top tailgate team from Green Bay heads to Qwest Field to take on the top tailgate team from Seattle in a one-hour competition to see who has the most killer grub in the game!Tailgate Warriors with Guy Fieri Packers vs. Seahawks 49ers vs. Raiders Vikings vs. SaintsChicago Bears vs. Buffalo BillsChampionship FinaleFor more tailgating inspiration, check out our complete Tailgating Guide and our Tailgating Photo Gallery.
With multiple series and specials on Food Network, a New York Times best-selling book and millions of fans, Guy Fieri is on top of the world. But the ten-year old who just wanted to cook dinner for his family had no idea where his passion would lead him. From starting a pretzel cart business in fifth grade to running restaurants in his early twenties, it was clear that food was a driving force in Guy's life, but that was just the beginning. In 2005, he was picked as a finalist on the competition series "Next Food Network Star," and a new chapter began. Viewers fell in love with his infectious personality, and he won the competition, as well as his own cooking show, "Guy's Big Bite." Other successful series, like "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" and "Ultimate Recipe Showdown" soon followed, and Guy's status as culinary superstar was secured.
The battle on the gridiron may be rough when the San Francisco 49ers take on their neighbors, the Oakland Raiders, but it's nothing compared to the action going on outside the stadium. Guy Fieri has thrown down the gauntlet, searching for the best tailgate teams in the country. In this round, we're in Guy's own hometown, as the top tailgate team from San Fran heads across the bay to take on the top tailgate team from Oakland in a one-hour competition to see who has the most killer grub in the game!Tailgate Warriors with Guy Fieri Packers vs. Seahawks 49ers vs. Raiders Vikings vs. SaintsChicago Bears vs. Buffalo BillsChampionship FinaleFor more tailgating inspiration, check out our complete Tailgating Guide and our Tailgating Photo Gallery.
Jack asks Frederic to teach her some recipes for the crispiest, juiciest chicken cutlets ever. Recipes include: Italian Breaded Chicken Cutlets; Cajun Cornmeal Crusted Chicken Cutlets.
Episode Guide
Below you’ll find a helpful episode guide for cooking along with Frederic and Jack, as well as tips and recipe rescues.
Equipment List:
Baking sheet
Serrated knife
Chef’s knife
Cutting board
Food processor
Pepper mill
Rasp or box grater
Measuring spoons
Meat mallet
Wax paper
3 shallow pans or bowls
Large skillet
Liquid measuring cup
Tongs
Rack over baking pan
Dry measuring cups
Tips:Standard breading procedure:
An assembly-line procedure for items to be pan-fried or deep-fried that consists of dredging the item in flour, dipping it in beaten egg, and coating it with crumbs.
It works because the flour helps the egg wash adhere, and the egg wash allows the breadcrumbs to stick.
Shake off the excess flour before dredging in egg, and pack enough breadcrumbs on to fully and evenly coat the food, but shake off the excess before frying.
Frying oils:
Oils with a high smoking point work best for frying because the oil needs to be at a high temperature yet still below its smoking point when frying. Good frying oils include most vegetable oils, peanut oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, grapeseed oil, and canola oil.
Fats that are not good for frying (because they have low smoke points) include olive oil and butter.
Pan-frying:
Pan-frying is a cooking method in which items are cooked in deep fat in a skillet; generally involves more fat than sauteing, but less than deep-frying.
The goal of pan-frying is to produce an exterior with a crisp, golden brown crust, which acts as a barrier to retain juices and flavors.
Recipe Rescues:The breading is soggy – The temperature of the frying oil was not hot enough. Serve chicken over a salad or in a sandwich so that it is not as noticeable.
The breadcrumbs got too dark – Make sure to use a low-sugar content bread for making breadcrumbs. The sugar will cause the breading to burn in the high heat of the frying oil.
Your chicken is not cooked through – After slicing, return the chicken to the oven and continue cooking until the inside is no longer the least bit pink in color, and juices run clear.
The coating is too spicy – Serve chicken with mayonnaise, a yogurt sauce, or lemon wedges.