For more than 60 years, Hattie’s Restaurant in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., has been an icon of southern cuisine and is known in particular for its fresh, hot and crispy fried chicken. At the head of the restaurant and kitchen is Jasper Alexander. Jasper’s planning a huge picnic at the Saratoga Race Track, on the final weekend of the horse race season. He’s thrilled that Food Network will be there to indulge in his famous fried chicken. But little does he know that Bobby’s at the track, ready to challenge Jasper to a Fried Chicken Throwdown. It’ll be up to some discerning jockeys to decide who wins, and who places.
Bobby and Sophie Flay start the day with a joy ride on bikes as they head to the Lower East Side for Sophie's favorite fried chicken at Sweet Chick. After the meal, they check out a gourmet ice cream parlor that Bobby has been dying to try, Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream. From there, they head to Bobby's pick for fried chicken, a nostalgic place where he spent a lot of time early in his career, Blue Ribbon.