Ever wonder what the biggest food stars and chefs eat in their free time — when they're paying? Find out on The Best Thing I Ever Ate! It's the ultimate guide to the country's most-amazing meals, eats and treats as told by the pros who spend their lives obsessing over food.
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The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Top 5 Highlights 7 Videos
Behold the best pizzas, burgers and more top food picks from the show.
Take a Bite Out of These Best Things 26 Photos
Find your favorite flavors with the most-popular recipes from CookingChannelTV.com.
The Best Of The Best Thing
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Best Savory Flavors
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The Sweetest Things
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Episodes
See Episode GuideObsessions
Find out what Giada will do for just one more bite of Lemon-Scallion Dungeness Crab, how many spicy Buffalo Wings Aaron McCargo Jr. can eat in a day! Chefs including Bobby Flay and Tyler Florence reveal dishes that have become their obsessions.
Feast of the Middle East
Middle Eastern cuisine comes from more than ten countries, making it some of the most diverse and popular food on the planet. Alton Brown loses control over a jewel of deliciousness in Los Angeles. Alex Guarnaschelli raves about a classic Middle Eastern delight in New Orleans, and Monti Carlo finds meat-pie perfection in Phoenix.
Bold Brunch
Too late for breakfast and too early for lunch means it's time for the biggest and boldest brunches around. Andrew Zimmern heads to his happy place in Houston, Texas, for a remarkable brunch buffet while Anne Burrell says goodbye to hunger in Los Angeles with homemade sausage, eggs and cakes. Then, in Chicago, Jeff Mauro fuels up with an entire meal packed into one giant glass.
Atlanta
We're headed to Atlanta, one of the largest cities in the South, for some of the best things we ever ate. From barbecued rib tips and top-secret burgers, to "angry" mussels that will make your day, we've got the guide to some of Atlanta's most popular places. And what's better than having a local show you around? Atlanta native Alton Brown takes us to some of his favorite spots and lets us in on locals-only secrets.
Filled With Envy
Sure, Food Network chefs have their own recipes but in this episode we'll find out what dishes they covet from other chefs! See the delicious delicacies Duff, Tyler Florence, and Sandra Lee wish they had thought of ... and just how far they will go to get secret recipes? From Wolfgang Puck's Shanghai Lobster to Thomas Keller's Salmon Rillettes, we travel across the country to reveal the foods that leave Food Network chefs filled with envy.
Asian Sensations
Take your taste buds on a trip to the Far East with a list of America's best Asian dishes. Martha Stewart shares a perfect meaty powerhouse in New York City. Alex Guarnaschelli uncovers a heavy-hitting pork bun in Minneapolis, and Wolfgang Puck reveals where he gets his favorite crispy Asian dish.
Ooey Gooey Goodness
These favorite dishes are literally oozing with cheesy and creamy goodness. Andrew Zimmern pulls apart a melty meatball parmigiana hero in Portland, Ore. Antonia Lofaso finds a super-soft creme brulee doughnut in Washington, D.C., while Anne Burell heads to the city of sin for a breakfast sandwich packed with ooey, gooey deliciousness.
NOLA
We're headed to New Orleans for some seriously delicious, world-renown food. From Po' Boys at Johnny's to Drago's amazing oysters, the Big Easy charms us with its distinct culinary style. It's not a trip to NOLA without having a Muffaletta at Domilises. The gumbo at Dooky Chase's is not to be missed, but the best way to start the day is with the namesake pastries from local favorite, Café Beignet.
Filled With Envy
Sure, Food Network chefs have their own recipes but in this episode we'll find out what dishes they covet from other chefs! See the delicious delicacies Duff, Tyler Florence, and Sandra Lee wish they had thought of ... and just how far they will go to get secret recipes? From Wolfgang Puck's Shanghai Lobster to Thomas Keller's Salmon Rillettes, we travel across the country to reveal the foods that leave Food Network chefs filled with envy.
Asian Sensations
Take your taste buds on a trip to the Far East with a list of America's best Asian dishes. Martha Stewart shares a perfect meaty powerhouse in New York City. Alex Guarnaschelli uncovers a heavy-hitting pork bun in Minneapolis, and Wolfgang Puck reveals where he gets his favorite crispy Asian dish.
Ooey Gooey Goodness
These favorite dishes are literally oozing with cheesy and creamy goodness. Andrew Zimmern pulls apart a melty meatball parmigiana hero in Portland, Ore. Antonia Lofaso finds a super-soft creme brulee doughnut in Washington, D.C., while Anne Burell heads to the city of sin for a breakfast sandwich packed with ooey, gooey deliciousness.
NOLA
We're headed to New Orleans for some seriously delicious, world-renown food. From Po' Boys at Johnny's to Drago's amazing oysters, the Big Easy charms us with its distinct culinary style. It's not a trip to NOLA without having a Muffaletta at Domilises. The gumbo at Dooky Chase's is not to be missed, but the best way to start the day is with the namesake pastries from local favorite, Café Beignet.
Made Table Side
Ditch the kitchen for the most amazing dishes made table side. Anne Burrell gets up close and personal with her favorite prime rib in Chicago. Next, Duff Goldman heads to Southern California for an entire multi-course meal cooked right at the table while Richard Blais goes weak in the knees for an out-of-this-world ice cream made before his very eyes.
Desert Island Dish
Mayday! Mayday! The chefs and foodies are stranded on a desert island with nothing but an appetite, and they're sharing the one dish they simply can't live without. Duff Goldman turns to an irresistible doughnut from Baltimore's Paradise Donuts, Alex Guarnaschelli brings along her must-have paella from Black Bull in Chicago, and Wolfgang Puck chooses one dessert above all others from Angelini Osteria in Los Angeles.
Dipped
Everything from savory roast beef to creamy, sweet gelato is better when dipped. Andrew Zimmern dives into a sensational hot pot in Las Vegas while Alex Guarnaschelli dunks and devours the original French dip in Los Angeles. Plus, Brad Miller lights up his taste buds with an explosively dynamite crab dip.
Kids' Menu
From macaroni and cheese to milkshakes to pizza, these are the greatest dishes found on -- and inspired by -- the kids' menu. Alex Guarnaschelli shares her comfort food lunch favorite from Ted's Bulletin in Washington, D.C., while Claudia Sandoval shows how fun it is to play with your food at CUCINA urbana in San Diego. No kid could forget about dessert, so Jet Tila has it covered at the Legendairy Milkshake Bar in Nashville.
Feats of Meat
Who doesn't love a juicy hunk of meat? Our favorite carnivores are sharing the most mouth-watering meat dishes they've ever eaten. Chef and butcher Justin Brunson shares where gets his favorite meatballs, while Monti Carlo digs into her heritage and discovers the best chicharron in Los Angeles. Chef Bobby Flay doesn't joke around when it comes to meat, so he reveals the steak he says is the best around.
Hamburger Heaven
It's burger time, and your favorite food personalities are pointing you in the right direction. Carla Hall unveils an unbelievable burger masterpiece, while Tregaye Fraser will have you traveling to New York to grab the ultimate cheeseburger and fries. Ali Khan showcases a traditional burger, but Eddie Jackson's favorite is decidedly nontraditional.
Better with Booze
Whether it's on the side or cooked right in, the bold flavors of booze bring new levels of terrific taste. Alex Guarnaschelli guzzles down beer-battered cheese curds in Chicago while Jason Smith devours boozy bourbon balls in Kentucky. Plus, in Wisconsin, Elena Besser proclaims her love for chicken Parmesan with vodka sauce.
Sugar Rush
Giada De Laurentiis, Duff Goldman and Sandra Lee reveal what satiates their sweet tooth. From s'mores to a handmade chocolate crunch bar covered in bacon, these best-ever desserts are sure to give you a sugar rush!
Yummy in the Middle
It's that ooey-gooey goodness in the middle that we just can't get enough of, so we're heading straight to the middle of things to see what greatness awaits. Jeff Mauro indulges in a 100-layer vanilla creme doughnut that's full of surprises. Antonia Lofaso cracks the yolk on ricotta and egg ravioli in Los Angeles, and Chef Lee Anne Wong heads to Hawaii for a unique and irresistible quesadilla that packs a powerful punch.
Low and Slow
Patience is a virtue, and the greatest mouthwatering dishes can't be rushed. Wolfgang Puck admires APL Restaurant in Los Angeles for making a sandwich that's well worth the wait. On the opposite coast, Antonia Lofaso finds the cavatelli truly irresistible at Coppa in Boston, and Geoffrey Zakarian shares his love for the smoked brisket at Hill Country Barbecue Market in New York City.
New England
We're in New England, the birthplace of the American Revolution, for some of our favorite food. From Bostonian classics like the Boston cream pie, to sticky buns that'll sway your loyalties, we're taking you on a tour of the best that New England has to offer. Whether it's for the Szechuan sliced fish in Chinatown or the ultimate roast chicken in Cambridge, when it comes to revolutionary food, you're going to want to put New England on your bucket list.
Memphis
Memphis is home to Elvis, the birthplace of rock and roll, and some of the best things we ever ate! From sweet deals on steak dinners at The Butchershop, to the guilty pleasure of indulgent surf and turf at Iris, Memphis will have you singing with joy. And what's a southern city without barbecue! We found some of the best at Rendezvous, where the pulled pork sandwich will make you feel like the king.
Worth the Wait
Some things in life are worth standing in line for, and we're sharing the foods we think are worth the wait. Alton Brown talks up his favorite beef Wellington, while Jamika Pessoa melts over buttery biscuits. Chef Beau MacMillan says there's nothing worth waiting for more than Tratto's pasta in Phoenix, and Duff Goldman is okay with waiting in line for hours at this special hot chicken joint.
