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 Of The Best Thing
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Episodes
See Episode GuideYummy 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.
On A Date
Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, bellies are full and love is in the air as we celebrate the best meals for any romantic occasion. Alex Guarnaschelli wines and dines with the most amazing gnocchi ever made in New York City. Jeff Mauro is dressed to impress and ready to swoon over a mouthwatering, 14-karat gold cake in Chicago, and get ready for a date with Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski as they light the night on fire with simply perfect pasta.
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.
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.
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.
Los Angeles
We're headed to Los Angeles, where the weather is warm and the food is fantastic. From the famous French dip at Phillipe's to local favorite Roscoe's for their chicken and waffles, you'll see why we love LA! And, in a city of cars, it's no surprise we found some of the best tacos in a truck, and a crave-worthy chili dog that came straight from a train. Los Angeles is the home to Hollywood, so of course. even the popcorn is perfect. We head to Arclight Cinema where the main attraction isn't always the movie!
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.
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.
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.
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.
#Throwback
We're talking about throwback dishes that are better now than ever before! Alton Brown takes a field trip to Richmond, Va., to get his favorite boxed lunch, while Chef Tregaye Fraser pulls up to a memorable drive-in for a slice of cake. Jeff Mauro shares the oldest pedigree of Chicagoan cuisine, and Alex Guarnaschelli slips into a food coma over her pigs in a blanket.
Voted 'Most Popular'
We're sharing seven of the most popular go-to dishes from restaurants across the country. Jason Smith takes us down south to an irresistible ice cream shop, while Bobby Flay reveals his secret neighborhood joint. Chef Beau MacMillan keeps it simple with his favorite salad, and Katie Lee admits that a nontraditional grilled pizza is her ultimate favorite.
Culinary Revolutions
There's no denying that some foods have revolutionized the culinary game while making stomachs happy. Scott Conant gives new meaning to an old favorite with an updated take on classic potato tots. Jernard Wells devours a delectable dish of salt and pepper calamari in Atlanta, while Tregaye Fraser changes the game forever with the Belly Benedict.
In the Last Place You'd Expect
Sometimes the best dishes are in the last place you'd ever expect to find them. We've scoured the globe, searched far and wide, and the hunt stops here. Alex Guarnaschelli ends the debate over where to find the best bagel -- it's in North Yarmouth, Maine! Jeff Mauro finds a game-changing falafel in the back of a jewelry store, and Geoffrey Zakarian unearths hidden Mexican treasure in Buffalo, New York.
Culinary Revolutions
There's no denying that some foods have revolutionized the culinary game while making stomachs happy. Scott Conant gives new meaning to an old favorite with an updated take on classic potato tots. Jernard Wells devours a delectable dish of salt and pepper calamari in Atlanta, while Tregaye Fraser changes the game forever with the Belly Benedict.
In the Last Place You'd Expect
Sometimes the best dishes are in the last place you'd ever expect to find them. We've scoured the globe, searched far and wide, and the hunt stops here. Alex Guarnaschelli ends the debate over where to find the best bagel -- it's in North Yarmouth, Maine! Jeff Mauro finds a game-changing falafel in the back of a jewelry store, and Geoffrey Zakarian unearths hidden Mexican treasure in Buffalo, New York.
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.
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.
Chicago
Chicago may be famous for its architecture, but we're here for the food! We've got a deep love for Gino's deep dish pizza, and the pork rinds at Publican are some of the best ever. And who doesn't love a hot dog? The classic Chicago Dog at Weiner Circle can't be topped. And in a city where the river turns green, don't be surprised to find that some of the best chocolate is white!
Dallas
We're in Dallas to show you some of the hottest spots in town. Barbecue is big in Texas, and the brisket at North Main BBQ bowls us over with its world-famous brisket. Fried chicken is one of our favorite foods so you bet we went to Babe's to satisfy our crunchy cravings. And for those of you with a sweet tooth, we find some of the best desserts in Dallas, from the Pecan Ball at Café Pacific to the classic fruitcake at Collins bakery. It's time to dig in to Dallas!
Mid-Atlantic
We're touring the amazing Mid-Atlantic, sampling seafood like crab cakes in Baltimore and paella in Washington, DC. We found the perfect breakfast at Golden West Café, and some of the best beef we've ever had at Baltimore favorite, Chap's Pit Beef. And don't think we didn't save room for dessert! From a chocolate, marshmallow, peanut creation called the CMP at Woodberry Kitchen, to Baltimore's own bomb pie, we're trying it all on our Mid-Atlantic mission.
Miami
We are headed to Miami for a little fun in the sun and some truly epic eats. We're trying it all, from stone crabs at Joe's, to the lamb shank at Sardinia. The piping hot oven at Fratelli La Bufala is turning out pillowy calzones, while the folks at Ola are cooling off with a nice and icy pear granita. And don't let the fabulous physiques of Miami Beach fool you, this city loves their sweets. With a trifecta of treats at Michaels Genuine and the chocolate peanut butter s'more from Prime 112, Miami has some of the best desserts around.
Life Changers
We're revealing all the unforgettable dishes that changed our lives. Alex Guarnaschelli names the dish that resulted in her being born, and Fanny Slater explains why she wouldn't get married without catfish and grits. Chef Jonathon Sawyer discusses how one dish changed the lives of over 200 inmates, while cake ace Duff Goldman talks about the slice of pie that makes him weak in the knees.
Picture Perfect
We're going after picture-perfect dishes that taste as good as they look. Carla Hall shows off beautiful beets from Michigan, and Molly Yeh reveals the surprise inside the ultimate breakfast muffin. Aaron Sanchez shares his warm cookies and milk, while Alton Brown talks about his favorite dish at Destroyer in Los Angeles.
Philadelphia
We're going to Philadelphia to show you some of the best things we ever ate. There's impossibly delicious pasta at Vetri and perfect mashed potatoes at Parc. Check out the crepes at Creperie Beau Monde for one of our favorite Francophile treats, but leave room for the Mexican tiramisu at Lolita. From the namesake Philly cheesesteak at Tony Luke's to the down, dirty, and delicious Junkyard Special at Sarcone's Deli, Philly's got it all.
