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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Behold the best pizzas, burgers and more top food picks from the show.
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See Episode GuideThe Upper Crust
The best part of any dish is what holds it all together -- the crust! Chef Beau MacMillan's favorite pot pie in Phoenix, Arizona, takes on Duff Goldman's seafood pie pick in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Next, Jason Smith's favorite picture-perfect pork tenderloin boasts a clever crust that is sure to turn some heads.
Let's Do Lunch
The best lunchtime hot spots are sure to fill any craving, satisfy any hunger and generally just make you happy. Ali Khan makes a beeline for an over-the-top pistachio chicken salad creation in Austin, Texas. In Atlanta, Jernard Wells gets bad to the bone with finger lickin' good ribs, while in New York City, Martha Stewart has a lunchtime special you won't want to miss.
High Steaks
We're paying tribute to the best styles, cuts and steakhouses serving up the best steaks. Chef Jonathon Sawyer takes us on a trip to Dayton for a ribeye cut so incredibly, it's fit for a king. Jaynard Wells travels down to Atlanta for the best of both worlds -- the sea and land -- in a surf-and-turf combo of steak and shrimp. And Duff Goldman drools over a butter steak that melts in your mouth ... like butter!
The Closers
There's no better way to end a meal than with these delicious dishes. In New York City, Martha Stewart gushes over the most irresistible piece of lemon meringue she's ever had. Simon Majumdar travels all the way to Kentucky for a world-famous avocado dessert. And Chef Antonia Lofaso goes all out with a perfect puffy pastry known as the Napoleon.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Last Supper
Pizza, crispy fried chicken, succulent juicy duck, a pasta feast extravaganza and smoky sweet BBQ pork -- these are just a few of the meals that Michael Symon, Cat Cora, Sunny Anderson, Ted Allen and others say are, literally, to die for. Before they meet the Reaper, find out where your favorite Food Network stars will go for their ... LAST SUPPER.
Road Trip
Buckle up, because we're hitting the road with Emeril, Duff, Anne Burrell and others to hear about some of their favorite food stops around the country. Delicious chili spiced Apple Pie, succulent roast pheasant, buttery lobster mashed potatoes ... these are just a few of the dishes worth putting on the brakes for. So sit back and enjoy the ride on The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Road Trip!
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.
Best Meal Deal
You don't have to sacrifice incredible food experiences in order to save a buck! Antonia Lofaso keeps her wallet full with irresistible Mexican munchies in Venice Beach, Calif., Duff Goldman saves a ton as he takes on the enormous Orca Platter in Washington, D.C., and Ali Khan gets incredible bang for his buck with a one-of-a-kind meal in Des Moines, Iowa, that you have to see to believe.
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.
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.
Back to School
We're going back to school to learn once and for all what the ultimate nostalgic dish is. We're joining Chef Beau MacMillan in the cafeteria with his Supreme Boffa super-sub sandwich and heading down to homeroom where Jeff Mauro teaches us all about the best pepperoni pizza creation on the planet. And we're sticking around after class with Tregaye Fraser to learn about her irresistible ricotta cannoli.
New York
We're in New York City for a tour of the town's best eats. From Velselka's borscht in the East Village to smoked herring on the Upper West Side, we're criss-crossing the city in search of delicious food. We'll try some Tasty Hand Pulled Noodles in Chinatown and Cuban grilled corn at Café Habana in SoHo. It's not New York without Pizza, and Motorino's special round slice is the best of the best.
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.
Mexican Favorites
We're saluting magnificent Mexican food from all around the country starting with Alton Brown's favorite homemade salsa in Columbus, Ohio. Ali Khan then serves up a true Mexican original with beef carnitas tacos in Austin, Texas. Finally, Alex Guarnaschelli's favorite Al Pastor at Lene Brave in Chicago is so good, it has customers begging for more.
Serious Spice
Good food is the spice of life, and we're adding a little kick with our flavor-filled favorites! Jeff Mauro takes us to Chicago for 23 mole sauces, and Donal Skehan will have you sweating as he attacks the hottest taco in Los Angeles. Aaron Sanchez talks about his beloved barbecue with a surprise twist, while Duff Goldman's intricate 16-spice favorite is a can't-miss dish in New York.
Brilliantly Baked
It's time to indulge in some of the best baked goods imaginable as Martha Stewart shows off a beautifully perfect brioche she can't get enough of in New York City. Then, find out why Alex Guarnaschelli's favorite lemon bars are simply off-the-charts brilliant! Finally, Tregaye Fraser has a new take on an old classic in Atlanta.
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.
Key Ingredient
What's the one thing that can turn a good dish into a great dish? It's that special key ingredient that makes all the difference. Alton Brown reveals the surprise ingredient that goes into the best cinnamon roll ever, Alex Guarnaschelli loves sourdough bread made with pickle juice, and Monti Carlo heads to New Orleans for the most unique, irresistible oysters ever.
Borrowed Favorites
Sharing is caring, and the treats that family and friends love become personal favorites too! Robert Irvine takes his wife's advice and discovers the world's greatest omelet at Babystacks Cafe in Las Vegas, Nev. Sabin Lomac is a true believer after a close friend spills the secret of a genuine Philly cheesesteak from Boo's Philly in Los Angeles, and Duff Goldman borrows his brother's favorite spectacular surprise that awaits at the mysterious Magic Castle in Hollywood, Calif.
Layers of Goodness
Get ready to pile it on thick as we're talking layers of goodness that are stacked to the ceiling. We take a trip to Chicago where we meet up with Jeff Mauro to discover all the magic colors hidden inside the Rainbow Cake. We find Monti Carlo over in Seattle cutting right to the middle of a plantain lasagna. And we indulge in every delectable layer of Geoffrey Zakarian's grasshopper dessert.
Stacked
With layers upon layers stacked with flavor and ingredients, these favorite dishes seem too good to be true. Wolfgang Puck gushes about an unimaginable seafood platter at Cassia in Los Angeles. Down south in New Orleans, monstrous pulled pork nachos from Kingfish have Marc Murphy stunned, and Katie Lee unveils a massive sandwich that will overload your taste buds at Anna's Deli in Sarasota, Fla.