Pat and Gina Neely are spicing up their hometown, living 'La Vida Memphis!' First, Pat's making Pulled Pork Tacos with Zesty Cabbage Slaw. Then, it's Gina's Mexican Rice and Fresh Tomato Salsa with Homemade Spicy Tortilla Chips. Finally, to wash it all down is a drink that'll blow your mind; it's Gina's San-Grita, a margarita with a sangria swirl. This is one meal that will truly take you away!
An over-reduced sauce and undercooked venison are two of the potential problems that threaten the chefs as they try to make appetizers. Salmon in the second basket seems like a good draw, but no Chopped round is ever straightforward and easy. Then, with Mexican chocolate in the dessert basket, it seems like the judges are in for a treat, but one of the chef's time management woes are worrying.
Things are cookin' all kinds of ways in Flavortown. First, Guy Fieri checks in on a diner in San Diego where law enforcement hones their skills and stuffs their gills. Then, a French-trained-chef-turned-barbecue-expert teaches Guy a thing or two about smoking sausage in Mission, Kan. And finally, in Phoenix, a Triple D legend serves up a Mexican-Asian mashup that has never been matched.
This trip, Guy's tasting his way through the day. In Tampa Bay, Fla., authentic Mexican street food for the lunch crowd is served out of bus, crankin' out favorites like butternut squash tostadas. In Virginia Beach, Va., dinner at this popular seafood joint includes totally fresh oysters Rockefeller. And in San Antonio, a breakfast joint servin' up waffles filled with bacon and an old school pfannkuchen from a decades-old recipe.
Guy Fieri visits a Mexican restaurant and tortilla factory in San Diego where father and daughter work side-by-side. Next, a real-deal diner in Massachusetts, where father and son have been cranking out classic plates together for 20 years, then a legendary Chicago burger joint where folks are lining up for the char-burgers a couple of brothers are cranking out along with three-layer fries.
Paige Davis unleashes the three bakers on a challenge to make gingerbread showpieces that tell quite a "tail," and they also have to create holiday treats delicious enough to prove the bite is as big as their bark. Judges Mary Berg, Maneet Chauhan and Adam Young have a "ruff" time choosing a winner after tasting a Key lime fudge bite, gummy snowmen and a Mexican wedding cake dog bone.
Guy Fieri and his son Hunter enlist some of their favorite chefs to play grocery delivery games, making chicken dinners and Mexican feasts in their own kitchens using ingredients sent to them. In addition to the mystery ingredients, Guy and Hunter make the chefs play some of Flavortown's classic limitation games to add to the fun. The winning chef gets to spin the Money Wheel for a chance to win $20,000.
Willie is called in to Lake Las Vegas to assist Chanthy, owner of Sonrisa Grill, where the once lively Mexican restaurant is suffering at the hands of the staff. Chanthy has borrowed over $300,000 from relatives and sacrificed splitting up her family to keep this desert oasis alive. Can Willie help Chanthy save Sonrisa Grill so she can pay her relatives back and get her family reunited for good?
The Kitchen is getting spicy with Marcela Valladolid's classic Mexican Chili Rellenos, and chef and restauranteur Ming Tsai demonstrates fall-flavored Fried Wontons with Dipping Sauce. Then, learn how to prepare two comforting fall soups, and Jeff Mauro teaches actress Raven-Symone how to make Cavatelli and Vodka Sauce. Plus, holiday baking gadgets are tested and Geoffery Zakarian toasts to fall with a Vanilla-Scented Pear and Bourbon Spritz.
Inspired by a margarita at one of her favorite bars, Damaris invites the mixologist back to the kitchen with Mexican Food on the brain. On the menu: easy-to-make spicy, homemade "Fauxrizo" Taco Filling, Coconut Lime Black Beans and to finish the plate off, a simple, aromatic Jicama and Cilantro Creme Slaw. Damaris's fiery menu is cooled down with a Blackberry and Sage "Heart of Darkness" Margarita.