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.
Four talented chefs are thrilled to compete in a battle celebrating Chinese cuisine! When an item in the first basket prompts the chefs to make very similar appetizer plates, the cooks scramble to distinguish themselves. In the entrée round, the judges are happy when the chefs take the opportunity to showcase their unique styles, but they must still send someone's salmon plate to the chopping block. In the end, the final two competitors find noodles and a cool candy in the dessert basket.
Chef Jet Tila breaks down two classic Chinese takeout dishes. From shopping at the market to plating at the table, Jet walks through every step of these mouthwatering recipes. First, he makes a flavorful feast of Yang Chow Fried Rice, a combination fried rice that makes for an all-in-one meal. Then, Jet cooks up a crunchy flavor-bomb dish of Kung Pao Chicken, showing how to velvet the meat to achieve that perfect tender texture in your home kitchen.
Chef Jet Tila breaks down two distinct Thai recipes, all the way from shopping for ingredients to plating like a pro. First, Jet cooks up Thai Cashew Chicken, a stir-fry dish that evolved out of Thai, Chinese, and American cuisines, making it a perfect homage to the culinary traditions Jet grew up with. Next, Jet makes a citrusy, savory Tom Yum Soup and walks through the Thai trinity of ingredients and the five flavors that make up the backbone of Thai cuisine.
Fire! The chefs are burning to jump to it when they see the inspiration for the first test. And a Sweet Genius should know just how to make cheese puffs work perfectly in a frozen dessert. Then in the second test, multi-colored treats are a mandatory ingredient and multiple techniques are utilized by a creative crew of chefs. And in an intense final test, the chefs are inspired by a Chinese Dragonhead and required to use an unusual Mexican delicacy.