The finale. In the dark hours before dawn, the three remaining pitmasters find out that they have a marathon day of barbecue ahead. First, the competitors have to cook up and deliver a pre-game ballpark snack for season ticket holders at Yankee Stadium. Then, they have to cook up healthy barbecue for the cast of the musical, Mama Mia, and serve it on Broadway. Finally, they've got to deliver late night bar food for a crowd of Brooklyn bar-hopping hipsters. The winner earns the title of Best in Smoke and fifty thousand dollars.Buckhead BeefBest in SmokeBest BiteChild's PlayVendor WarsTriple Play
Are you ready for some chips, dips and a hearty meal that will score with your friends? It's easy. Bring your team spirit and your appetites; we're watching the big game from the back of the pickup!
Gameplan
Day Before Game:
Mix and refrigerate Spiedini sausage
Coat and caramelize meat for the Chiarello Chocolate Chili con Carne
Mix and stew broth for chili, recombine it with the meat, simmer for 1 and 1/2 hours
Strain and add black beans and chocolate to chili, simmer, cool and refrigerate
Day of Game:
Pop popcorn for both flavored popcorn
Coat and mix Basil-Parmesan Flavored Popcorn
Coat and mix Chocolate-Orange Flavored Popcorn
Mold Spiedini sausage onto soaked skewers, wrap in foil to ready for grill
Grill Avocados, mash and mix Rockamole
Heat up chili on stove, transfer to pot, that is portable, to get to party
Pack up foods and popcorns to go to party
At Game:
Grill Skewers on BBQ
Heat up chili in pot on grill
Wine Recommendation
Garguilo Vineyard Pinot Grigio; beer
Eating low carb isn’t tough, especially when it comes to snacks. Chef George Stella makes easy low carb options like turkey and Swiss BLT roll-ups, "Mock Raisinettes" with unsweetened chocolate and blueberries, and cinnamon pecans and almonds. George’s youngest son, Christian, also joins in to make his favorite, Philly Steak Salad with cheese. George finishes it off with a beverage everyone will love, a lemon lime slushee, perfect for after school or work.
Top 5 Tips
1. Use whole or real mayonnaise. Low-fat or lite is usually an indication that sugar has added to make up for the loss of body and flavor from fat.
2. Most nuts are low carb, but overeating them is a problem. Avoid this by portioning them out.
3. Frozen blueberries can be used as a substitute for raisins.
4. You can set a good example for your kids by eating the right foods. It's also fun to cook with your kids.
5. Keep your fridge full of good low carb foods such as cheese and sliced meats. When anybody in the house is hungry or having a craving, they can just go and find some great low carb selections.
No room for a party? No problem! Invite your friends for a giant cookout at your local state park. This party is as easy as it is fun as Michael gives tips for simple cooking in an outdoor fire. Because you eat it all with your hands, you won't even have to wash dishes!
Gameplan
Day Before Party:
Make and refrigerate caponata
Puree Basil Chive butter, refrigerate
Soak and wrap radicchio leaves
2 Hours Before Party:
Clean and cut crabs for cooking
Pack cooler for campground
At the Party:
Fill radicchio lettuce cups and serve
Shuck corn
Heat Olive Oil for crab
Roast corn, coat with butter, serve
Finish cooking crab
Clean up campsite
Roast Marshmallows
Assemble and serve S’mores over fire
Wine Recommendation
Garguilo Vineyard Pinot Grigio; Gargiulo Vineyard Cabernet
Michael may not read anything but cookbooks, but he's on hand to help a friend put together a Book Club dinner. Easy foods that can be eaten around a coffee table with one hand on the food and the other on the books. It’s a classic!
Gameplan
Day Before Party:
Mix dough for Shortbread, place in refrigerator.
Season and poach the salmon for the Smoked Salmon Rilettes, place in refrigerator to cool.
Roll out chilled Shortbread dough, cut into squares and bake.
Break up chilled poached salmon and mix with remaining Smoked Salmon Rillette ingredients. Blend, cover and refrigerate.
1 1/2 Hours Before Party:
Slice, salt and drain eggplant for Stuffed Foccacia.
Mix Fennel Spice Rub for Fennel Spice Chips.
Heat potato chips in oven and then sprinkle generously with Fennel Spice Rub.
Bake eggplant for Stuffed Focaccia.
Assemble Stuffed Focaccia, place in oven to bake.
At the party:
Prepare and assemble tea and steamed milk for Tea-Chino.
Eat and Enjoy!