This trip, Guy Fieri's gettin' into stellar sammies and down-home delights! Asian fusion meets the-bomb baked goods in Avondale Estates, Ga., stacking crunchy Korean fried chicken on a kimchi biscuit and bringing big flavor to braised beef on milk bread. There's serious soul food in Los Angeles, cookin' up killer Cajun fried rice and a righteous ribs platter. And in Austin, Texas, scratch-made comfort food draws in locals and service industry workers alike, puttin' out prime-time pastrami on Texas toast, plus sweet-and-savory pancakes pairing brisket with blackberry.
Chef Ben Ford, owner of Ford's Filling Station, comes to Kitchen Stadium to challenge Iron Chef Flay. Will Ford's finesse win over the judges, or will Iron Chef Flay's flare burn the competition?
Judges
Cady Huffman
Andrew Knowlton
Jeffrey Steingarten
Challenger stats: Chef Ford
From: Los Angeles
Restaurants: Ford's Filling Station
Cuisine: Traditionally, it has been Iberian mixed with the influences of my home state of Calif. Ford's Filling Station is American Regional with some French feathered in.
Interests: Forging for almost anything is always good. But I love a fresh idea, architecture, design, golf, fine art and wine and good love.
Ideal secret ingredient: Bacon
Culinary inspirations: Paul Bertolli, Bradley Ogden, Paula Wolfert and the many people I have had the pleasure of working with.
Ideal judge: Jim Harrison, Meatloaf
Culinary secret weapon: My many types of vinegar.
Favorite restaurant: Azak in San Sebastian Spain, Babbo in N.Y. and The Joe Dirfuss Store in a swamp somewhere between Shreveport and New Orleans.
Favorite food: A great steak cooked over a good wood fire.
Food you won't go near: Raspberry vinegar
Weirdest thing you've ever eaten: A tie between a hot sauce made with termites produced by the Pimones Indians in Venezuela. Also, smoked scorpion.
Favorite food destination: San Sebastian, Spain and Japan
Alternative dream job: Architect
Ina’s friend is arriving late, so to welcome her she's creating a Cheese and Fruit Board with homemade Parmesan and Black Pepper Crackers for late night snacking. The next morning she prepares a show-stopping spread of Breakfast Bread Pudding, Garlic Herb Tomatoes and moorish Maple Roasted Bacon in her honor, all washed down with delicious Pomegranate Fizz. With food this good, her guests will never want to leave.
In an exuberant Pride-filled competition, extra-large personalities and seriously good food are sure to make it a meal to remember. In the first round, the energetic chefs turn PB&J pancakes into fantastic appetizers. Then, a rainbow-themed ingredient in the entrée basket is not a sunny surprise, and ice cream machine drama in the dessert round has the judges on the edge of their seats.
Ree Drummond is taking some of her favorite recipes over the top! Her Mac and Cheese Stuffed Peppers are beer-battered and served with Cilantro Lime Cream and her Grilled French Toast is finished with Grilled Strawberries and a fabulous range of epic toppings. Then two fast food favorites star in a spectacular Fried Chicken Pizza with Slaw and a freaktastic Funnel Cake Sundae gets piled high with the good stuff.
Six food truck teams meet up with Tyler Florence in Tampa, Fla., and are shocked to see a squadron of police officers arrive with sirens blaring. The officers are there to judge a contest based on Tampa's gift to the culinary world: the Cuban sandwich. After the challenge, the teams struggle with stormy weather and finding a good location to sell in the city, leading to one truck's elimination.
Good food is the spice of life, and we're adding a little kick with our flavor-filled favorites! Jeff Mauro takes us to Chicago for 23 mole sauces, and Donal Skehan will have you sweating as he attacks the hottest taco in Los Angeles. Aaron Sanchez talks about his beloved barbecue with a surprise twist, while Duff Goldman's intricate 16-spice favorite is a can't-miss dish in New York.
Robert Irvine heads to Costa Mesa, Calif., to help turn around the struggling Filomena's Italian Kitchen and Market. Despite a clean kitchen, an organized dining room and allegedly good food, the fiery owner, Linda, hasn't been able to pay herself one dime since the restaurant opened. Before Robert can do anything else, he first has to figure out the real problem with this restaurant and why it's in trouble.
Valerie Bertinelli's good friends and cutthroat card competitors, Kevin and Kristen, are visiting for a long weekend. In order to spend as much time with them as she can, Valerie is prepping all her foods in advance. Her menu includes Turkey and Swiss Sandwiches with Carrot Slaw, Chopped Salad Trifle with Homemade Ranch, Barbecue Potato Chips and Chicken Tetrazzini. The gang sips on Valerie's Sangria as they enjoy their time together.
Valerie Bertinelli and her husband, Tom, are creating a lazy Sunday meal that allows them to use up food in their fridge and pantry in order to save time and money. They entertain some good friends with a menu that includes Pa V's Pot Roast with veggies and potatoes, Green Beans with Shallots, and Stuffed Mushrooms. For dessert, there's Apricot Clafouti, topped off with a lovely Irish Coffee done Valerie's way.