To get ready for the kickoff of this season of TOC, Guy Fieri takes a look at how Season 1 and 2 led to where we are today and gives a preview of the insanity to come in Season 3. With his sideline reporters Justin Warner and Simon Majumdar, Guy reveals this year's bracket, breaks down each matchup and gives sneak peeks of each battle.
This trip, Guy Fieri's rolling up to some joints pullin' out all the stops. In New York's East Village, the neighborhood spot plating up a standout burger worthy of a four star review, where he's joined by food writer Josh Ozersky. In Eureka, Calif., the popular hangout servin' up all kinds of local favorites fired up in the righteous oven, from roasted oysters to wild mushroom cobbler. And in Ridgewood, N.Y., the rocking Vietnamese joint in an obscure industrial park kickin' out authentic dishes like banh xeo and suon nuong xa.
The candidates travel to Branson, Mo., to market and host a Chicken Guy! pop-up at Guy Fieri's Branson Kitchen and Bar. Divided into three teams of two, each pair has to plan a menu, create a marketing strategy, train the in-house staff and execute it during a two-hour service. Guy Fieri is watching, tasting and taking notes on who can match his high standards for well-executed dishes as well as bring the sales and show they can rake in the money. Not all teams can handle the pressure, and there are serious breakdowns. Emotions run high, leaving Guy wondering if his star player needs to be benched.
The Kitchen is honoring beloved comfort foods, starting with Sunny Anderson's "Crazy Rich" Fried Chicken and Waffle Skewers. The hosts dip into Katie Lee's creamy Pimento Cheese Fondue and then announce the winner of the 49th Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest. Jeff Mauro makes a comfort classic, Gourmet Mac and Cheese, and baked potatoes get the star treatment times two in Geoffrey Zakarian's Loaded Bacon Truffle and Chive Baked Potatoes and Jeff's Reuben Loaded Baked Potato. Katie sauces up delicious Sticky and Sweet Sesame Meatballs, Jeff makes a Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, and Chef Zac Young stops by to share a luscious, layered Banana Pudding. Chef Anne Burrell tosses up a rich and flavorful Bucatini All'Amatriciana and pitches in with the hosts to build flavor-packed 5-Star Nachos. Katie wraps things up with a new fried favorite, Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls.