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 GuideVegas
In Las Vegas better bet it all on find some amazing food. From the double ribeye at SW Steakhouse, to the langoustine at L'Atelier Joel Robechon, Vegas doubles down on dining out. And what's better for a late-night snack than a bowl of drunken noodles from Wazuzu. Or go for broke with the Gambler's Special surf and turf for a song at Mr. Lucky's 24/7. Who said everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? It's just too good to keep secret.
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.
Southern Charm
We're checking out the best rich, hearty, home-style cooking straight from the South. Roger Mooking can't pass up a simple yet magical Southern dish, while Food Network Star winner Jason Smith introduces the epitome of a Southern sandwich. If you've been looking for the best shrimp and grits, let Alton Brown tell you where to go. And Chef Beau MacMillan goes deep for a low-country boil you won't ever forget!
Special Occasion
Nothing makes a special occasion more memorable than having the best food! We're counting down the best meals for any special occasion, starting with Beau MacMillan's unforgettable gnocchi in San Diego. Tregaye Fraser casts her vote for a one-of-a-kind gourmet burger in Atlanta, and Martha Stewart celebrates with the most exquisite salmon in New York.
Genuine Legends
We're celebrating eats and eateries that have withstood the test of time. From America's best pancakes to the ultimate doughnuts, find out which dishes make the cut and go down in history as true legends. Legendary chef Wolfgang Puck writes history with the world's most perfect seafood dish ever, Geoffrey Zakarian tells the tale of the infamous Caesar salad and more.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Terrific Italian
Mangia! Mangia! Mangia! Celebrity chefs and Cooking Channel personalities are talking about the most sensational Italian food they've ever had. Alton Brown revisits a decadent, old-world pasta dish while Ali Khan chats up his favorite chicken parmigiana sandwich. Alex Guarnaschelli then gives a shout out to a not-to-be-missed lasagna and Duff Goldman reveals his pick for the best dish to end a perfect Italian meal.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sandwich Hall of Fame
We're honoring the all-time favorite sandwiches in the Sandwich Hall of Fame because it's all about the bread and what's in between! If you've never had a BL"G"T, Eddie Jackson will tell you where to go. Fanny Slater hasn't missed a week without her "Friday Special," and Katie Lee heads to a small shop in New York to get the best Italian hoagie she's ever eaten. And Southerners don't have to travel to Philadelphia for the best cheesesteak, as Alton Brown reveals a hidden gem in Atlanta.
Small Plates, Big Taste
Our favorite small plates are bursting with flavor. Chef Beau MacMillan dives into some scallops, while Roger Mooking takes you to Texas for succulent chicken. Don't miss out when food blogger Molly Yeh reveals the secret to her favorite fried pickles. And if you drink wine, save the cork as Monti Carlo unleashes the truth behind an old brining wives tale.
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.
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.
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!
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.
On Wheels
Ditch the four walls, head outside, and get your fill of those portable powerhouses known as food trucks. Jeff Mauro gets happy about an angry lobster sandwich from the Happy Lobster Truck in Chicago. Sabin Lomac puts the pedal to the metal for The Bacon Truck's bacon mac and cheese bites in Boston, and nothing is going to slow down Ali Khan as he speeds towards the best food on wheels at LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue in Austin, Texas.
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.
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.
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.
Decadent Donuts
We're paying respects to a treat that is universally loved and has stood the test of time -- the doughnut! Alton Brown takes us on a trip to Memphis to honor the original glazed doughnut that started it all. Alex Guarnaschelli goes weak in the knees for an apple doughnut from New York City. And we can't contain our taste buds as Scott Conant shows off all the tropical flavors of a coconut cream-filled delight.
