Michael Symon heads to Plainview, N.Y., where a chocolate bacon burger is loaded from top to bottom with sweet and savory indulgence. A restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, has a soy-marinated pineapple hanger steak draped over spicy kimchi fried rice that will set your taste buds on fire. In Pittsburgh, fried potato cakes loaded with brisket burnt ends, mustard hollandaise sauce and a perfectly runny egg take breakfast to a whole new level.
Michael Symon digs into a spicy burger that uses four different types of peppers to fire up even the most adventurous eaters in Hell’s Kitchen, New York before heading to Nashville, where he finds Southern comforts infused with Latin flavors in saucy and sweet chicken fried steaks and beer belly tacos. Michael then hits in Northeast Ohio where a former NFL star’s top secret de-boning ribs process was inspired by his wife who doesn't like getting messy.
Michael Symon is joined by his good buddy Michael Strahan at their favorite New York City burger spot for juicy, award-winning creations. Then, they bounce around The Big Apple dining on meatball sliders, succulent St. Louis style ribs, pastrami-topped pizza and barbecue as authentic and anything found in Texas. Finally, Michael attempts to work it off by donning a cowboy hat and throwing himself into his first ever lesson in the Texas Two-Step.
For Anthony Anderson, Chicago represents great childhood memories and outrageous adult shenanigans. He hooks up with his old pal, Michael Symon, to discover some of the city's legendary food institutions for sensational smoked sausages and indulgent burgers, and to discover some of its best new treasures for phenomenal pork and rare brews. Along the way, he helps settle a dispute Michael has with a local chef by refereeing a wild and hilarious sumo-style wrestling match.
Michael Symon starts in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, at his very own restaurant where he enjoys a tender, juicy and hulking pastrami beef rib and a gets a special look at his grandfather's recipe for scratch-made spaetzle and spicy sauerkraut. Then, in Pittsburg, he hits a food truck that serves up a beer-marinated, oven-roasted pork loin sandwich. Finally in Buffalo, chicken and waffles gets a burger makeover with a spicy maple-bourbon glaze and waffle buns.
In Memphis, Michael Symon sits down with four generations of barbecue royalty for the scoop on their most delicious family secrets, with a side of smoked turkey and sweet potato fried pie. In Portland, Ore., an insane burger is stacked over a foot tall with three beef patties, mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, onion rings, bacon, ham, eggs and more! And finally, in Atlanta, chile-rubbed duck breast gets top billing as some of the best Latin food north of the border.
Michael Symon heads to Providence, where a traditional Rhode Island hot wiener in a crepe topped with chili is the ultimate local comfort food. In Indianapolis, a steak patty topped with Chinese char siu slaw and nestled inside a soft steamed bao bun is a delicious burger fusion. Finally, a smokehouse in Columbus, Ohio, serves their cold-smoked baby back ribs on a bed of flaming hay for total smoke saturation, and their 18-ounce bacon steak is pork belly perfection.
Alex Guarnaschelli joins Michael at one of his favorite Manhattan spots, where they combine a bottomless beer selection with the most high-octane hot dog known to man. Next, he shoots down to Nashville where his culinary father figure created a restaurant in his own mother’s honor, the woman who first taught him to appreciate the purest burgers and ingredients on earth. Finally, in rural Ohio, he discovers a husband and wife team who use chorizo to give their smoked meatloaf a crazy kick.
In Queens, N.Y., Michael Symon gets in touch with his Greek heritage with a classic lamb and feta cheeseburger, and then he sinks his teeth into an Italian-style burger stuffed with smoky mozzarella and prosciutto. In Houston, Texas, he finds a rabbit-meat hot dog with chile pepper toppings so spicy there's a release waiver to sign when ordering it. And finally, in Phoenix, Ariz., Michael places an order at a food truck that hitches up a custom smoker to deliver hot smoked meats inside inventive grilled cheese sandwiches across the Arizona desert.
Cooking Channel's Haylie Duff joins Michael Symon at one of his most treasured New Orleans spots, where they use the city's Cajun flavors in new and unique ways in crunchy po' boys and spicy barbecue shrimp. Next, he heads to a husband- and wife-owned pizza place in Brooklyn where the chef whips up a burger so delicious, he put it on the menu and named it after his bride. Finally, in Kansas City, Mo., Michael meets a team that smokes some of the best burnt ends around!