Katie Lee is hitting California's famed Pacific Coast Highway to find delicious, international beach food in a beautiful coastal setting. In Monterey, she discovers rich Italian influences in cioppino with local Dungeness crab. Then she finds an almond croissant in Carmel that makes her think she's been transported to France. Mexican fare in California is always authentic and unbeatable, and Katie samples a perfect pork mole, smooth Mezcal and a Mexican specialty snack, grasshoppers! She can't leave wine country without pairing some vino with local seafood, and sweet treats like fudge and candy apples are always in order.
Host Eric Adjepong welcomes three award-winning chefs specializing in Mexican cuisine to the arena. Ray Garcia, Claudette Zepeda and Gustavo Romero are ready to take on Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli in a battle celebrating America's neighbors to the South. Chef Alex fights to maintain her dominance against skilled chefs in a cuisine she loves to eat but rarely cooks, but will these skilled chefs be too spicy for Alex to handle? Respected chefs Daniela Soto-Innes and Bricia Lopez judge whether Alex has the expertise to get the better of these Mexican experts in her own house.