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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Episodes
See Episode GuideMexican 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.
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.
Rise and Dine
Wake up and get ready to dine on some of the country's best breakfast dishes starting with Martha Stewart's favorite biscuits and country ham found in Nashville. Scott Conant then brings a new take on French toast to the table and Jeff Mauro explains why beloved blueberry ricotta pancakes will change the breakfast game as we know it.
Bar-B-Que
Tyler Florence, Bobby Flay, Ted Allen and more get into the meat of things as they reveal the best barbecue they've ever eaten, from Memphis to San Francisco and from pulled pork cooked in a basement to beef brisket smoked in a giant armadillo!
Totally Fried
Food Network stars open up about the best fried foods they've ever eaten ... from Bobby Flay's favorite French fries, to Giada's passion for decadent fried doughnuts, and Guy Fieri's love affair with a Caribbean classic! We visit the locations where the fryers are hot and reveal how these dishes are totally fried to perfection.
With Bacon
What makes everything better? Bacon! Whether it's on a burger or a donut, Food Network stars including Guy Fieri, Duff, and Aida Mollenkamp talk about their favorite foods made with bacon. From San Diego to Atlanta, L.A. to New York, find out where to get the best pork-a-licious dishes, and why these accomplished chefs say it's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate ... with bacon!"
Ice Creamy
Alton screams, Duff screams, they all scream for ice cream! We've got the scoop on the coolest creamiest treats around. From a delectable homemade fudge-smothered vanilla sundae to a torte de gelato that will change your life and the best ice cream sandwich on the planet!
Street Food
Gone are the days of the roach coach! These food trucks and roadside stands have Tyler Florence, Sunny Anderson and Gail Simmons heading for the streets, to savor a Waffle of Massive Deliciousness, an ice cream called the Salty Pimp, buttery snails on a stick and more! Find out who's behind the wheel and delivering the fastest, fresh treats to your favorite food personalities.
Combos
On their own they're delicious, but put 'em together and they're irresistible. Spaghetti and Meatballs, Biscuits and Gravy, Fish and Chips, Chicken and Waffles. These are just a few of the classic food pairings Michael Symon, Ted Allen, Duff Goldman and others say are The Best Thing I Ever Ate ... COMBOS.
Extra Crispy
We're tracking down the crunchiest, flakiest and noisiest favorite foods. In New York, Justin Warner shares a pizza completely enclosed in the ultimate crispy crust. Alex Guarnaschelli heads down south to New Orleans for her favorite bite at Turkey and the Wolf, and Fanny Slater travels all the way to Hawaii for her favorite Crispy Tuna Roll.
Big Cheese
Jeff Mauro, Geoffrey Zakarian, Jamika Pessoa and Bobby Flay are just a few of your favorite food personalities sharing their all-time favorite ways to indulge in some cheesy goodness. Whether it's a cheese curd-stuffed bratwurst or a fried cheese work of art, macaroni and cheese or the most incredible Queso Fundido, these cheese dishes are sure to blow your taste buds.
On the Waterfront
Head outside for the best of both worlds: breathtaking scenery with fresh air, clear skies and the most-incredible waterfront dining in the U.S. Anne Burrell adores the sights with a meaty pasta from Cecconi's Dumbo in Brooklyn, N.Y., while Jeff Mauro treats himself to a delectable roast chicken from Chicago's River Roast. At Seafood Sam's in Sandwich, Mass., Duff Goldman enjoys a view of paradise with a fried lobster platter fit for a king.
More Than I Can Count!
Some special dishes are so good you can enjoy them over and over again. Andrew Zimmern has lost count of how many times he's indulged in the infamous barbecue chicken from Miss Myra's Pit Bar-B-Que in Birmingham, Ala. Aarti Sequeira can't stop ordering her favorite handmade ice cream at Salt and Straw in Los Angeles, and Duff Goldman can't keep track of all the jumbo lump crab cakes he has eaten at Faidley's Seafood in Baltimore.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
