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
Four home cooks compete to see who has the greatest burger recipe in the country. The winning cook takes home $25,000 and gets their recipe put on the menu at TGI Friday's nationwide.
The Hungry Detective takes viewers for a ride-along on his beat, the Los Angeles South Bay area. First stop: Rizzo's Pizza, where Chris developed his passion for food flipping pies as a teenager. Next, Chris follows the trail of fishing boats to fresh and delicious seafood dishes at the San Pedro Fish Market, which overlooks the Los Angeles Harbor. Day two of our ride-along starts with a hearty Hawaiian breakfast at Gardena Bowl, a little cafe hidden in a bowling alley! Here Chris and a loyal Gardena Bowl regular enjoy Loco Moco, an egg, rice and hamburger patty dish smothered in brown gravy, and a Hawaiian Royal, an amazing combination of Portuguese sausage, pork, green onions and scrambled eggs served over a bed of rice and topped with teriyaki sauce. Next, Chris spices up his hometown tour when he heads to Hermosa Beach for authentic Cajun cuisine at the Ragin Cajun. Finally, Chris takes us to Los Paisas, a little family-run stand located in a Mexican market, for the ultimate authentic tacos made from pork, carne asada and chicken. `
Noah Cappe takes his taste buds on an international tour. First, Noah heads to the center of the country at the Taste of Omaha for a taste of the Elote Corn Dog that tops a chorizo corn dog with corn salsa and Banh Mi Fries loaded with juicy marinated steak and tangy pickled vegetables. Then at the Rochester Lilac Festival in New York, Noah samples Birria Torta -- a Mexican sandwich stacked with delicious layers upon layers of slow-braised beef, Oaxaca cheese and avocado -- and Korean Tacos that pile soy-braised pork and gochujang crema on top of wonton nachos. For something closer to home, Noah tries a riff on a local Rochester delicacy, Garbage Rolls, that fries hamburger meat, meat sauce, macaroni salad and fries in an eggroll. Finally, it's strawberry season at the West Virginia Strawberry Festival, where Brody's BBQ Lasagna grills up a Southern take on a classic lasagna with layers of noodles, barbecue sauce, cheese, pulled pork and chicken. Plus, there's the Strawberry Cheesecake Calzone for dessert, fried fresh and loaded with local strawberries and sweet cream cheese.
Host Dan Ahdoot welcomes four chefs to a burger battle in the first round, as they raid fridges from a junk food foodie, fitness fanatic and more. Then, the competitors are challenged to make a meal for their vegetarian boss, and one chef finds their fridge to be a little "ruff." In the final round, the two remaining chefs face some puzzling fridges as they attempt to whip up a sweet and salty dessert that will impress judges Jamika Pessoa and Jordan Andino and win them a fridge full of $10,000.