The Hungry Detective hits the streets of Charleston to investigate Low Country cuisine and the best off-the-beaten path BBQ. He begins his investigation by tracking down Jeff Allen, the food writer for the Charleston city paper. With Jeff as his informant, Chris learns about a locals-in-the-know restaurant way off the beaten path called Bowens Island. Here Chris uncovers roasted oysters served on a shovel, and a local concoction of shrimp, crabs, sausage and corn known as Frogmore Stew. Next, Chris shows us how to stake out the suburbs for good breakfast bargains as he heads to the Mount Pleasant suburb and the Charleston Café. Here he finds a family-run restaurant serving up delicious breakfasts with Southern twists like shrimp and grits and Southern Benedict, a variation on eggs Benedict made with fried green tomatoes. While still in Mount Pleasant, Chris discovers the Boulevard Diner, another hidden gem featuring unique appetizers such as fried pickles, crab cake sliders and a sundae made from chili, cheese and sour cream. Next, while sightseeing, Chris gets a hot tip from a local rickshaw driver about Fig, an upscale restaurant that encourages patrons on a budget to come in just for dessert. Fig’s specialty? Carolina Gold Rice Pudding. Finally, Chris shares a hot tip: look for archived articles online that appeared in the city’s weekly paper. Objective articles written by bona fide food writers are a better bet than the paid listings often found in the back of local papers. He refers back to an article about Charleston BBQ entitled "Chucktown ‘Q" written by Jeff Allen. This leads Chris to the One of a Kind Smokehouse, which uses pecan wood to smoke their meat.
Ming makes an East meets Morocco lamb dish and then shows how to turn its leftovers into Greek style Gyros: Rosemary Honey Braised Lamb Shoulder and Mint Jasmati Rice; Sesame Lamb Gyros; Fresh Mint Tea.
Get out your notebooks and pens because tonight we're cooking for the college students. Dorm-friendly, do-it-yourself dishes are on the menu. Recipes include Chicken in a Crock Pot, Garlic-Ginger Barbequed Baby Back Ribs, Quick and Easy Stewed Okra, Crockpot Beef Stew and Lamb, Sausage and White Bean Stew.
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
Bobby Flay challenges three teams of the best home cooks in New York to throw a melting pot-themed dinner party. While best friends Cat and Noelle draw upon their world travels to impress Bobby, best friends Nappy and Craig take-on frying their dessert, a first time risk for them both and husband and wife Chris and Sarah attempt to grind and create their own sausage. Who will be named the best home cooks in New York and take home the coveted Bobby's Dinner Battle trophy?