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.
Web-Exclusive Videos
See All Videos
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
See All Videos
Best Savory Flavors
See All Videos
The Sweetest Things
See All Videos
Episodes
See Episode GuideLet'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.
Holiday Delights
Nothing says "Happy Holidays" like having all your favorite festive foods in one place. Brad Miller finds the Yuletide spirit with his favorite holiday steak from Harry's Savoy Grill in Wilmington, Del. Andrew Zimmern delivers a dim sum favorite from New York City's Nom Wah Tea Parlor, and no holiday is complete without Geoffrey Zakarian, who stops by with a sack full of goodies from Sift Bake Shop in Mystic, Conn.
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.
Hometown Favorites
There's no place like home, there's no place like home ... at least according to Giada, Alton, Ina, and Emeril. They're among the Food Network favorites who reveal the best thing they've ever eaten in their hometowns, from a savory West Coast burger to an out-of-this-world Southern-style hot dog, not to mention the pasta, pizza and Portuguese soup in between.
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.
Snack Attack
It's just past lunch and not quite dinner ... hmmmm, must be time for a snack! From pickles to tacos, nachos to nuts, we reveal the snackalicious snacks craved by Giada, Ted Allen, Alex Guarnaschelli, Curtis Stone and more! These bite sized treats are perfect to kick-start the Super Bowl and satisfy any SNACK ATTACK.
Buttered Up
It's official: Everything is better with butter! Chefs and food experts are revealing the richest, creamiest buttery dishes out there. Alex Guarnaschelli brings on the butter with a one-of-a-kind shrimp-and-grits combo from Tillie's in Short Hills, New Jersey. Jeff Mauro hits the streets of Chicago to satisfy his butter craving with an amazing honey butter chicken sandwich from the aptly named restaurant Honey Butter Fried Chicken. Then Marc Murphy travels north to Eventide Oyster Co. in Portland, Maine, for a signature buttered delight.
Game Changer
Food Network stars indulge in unexpected flavor combinations from around the country. Michael Symon is in Cleveland for blue cheese guacamole and John T. Edge gets his pistachio fix on pizza in Arizona.
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.
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.
Season's Eatings
The best gift this holiday season is a festive feast, with no return receipt needed for chefs and food lovers! Unwrap some dumplings in D.C. with Antonia Lofaso, enjoy chestnuts sauteed on an open fire with Michael Voltaggio in Los Angeles, and join Brooke Willamson as she "lox" in on a special treat in New York City.
Fried Favorites
Fire up the fryer for the crispiest and crunchiest dishes this country has to offer. From gravy-smothered french fries in Cleveland, Ohio, to tempura-battered bacon in New York City, it's all getting deep-fried. Alton Brown finds his favorite fried chicken, Sunny Anderson stumbles upon a deep-fried candy bar, and Aarti Sequeira savors an international spin with samosas. This lineup is fabulously fried and GBD -- golden, brown and delicious.
Chocolicious
Calling all chocolate lovers! We're getting the inside scoop on all things chocolate. Alton Brown takes a trip to Charleston, S.C., for some heavenly chocolate pudding, while Aaron Sanchez has some not-so-classic New York pizza ... for dessert! Grab a glass of milk and make sure you leave room for 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Season's Eatings
The best gift this holiday season is a festive feast, with no return receipt needed for chefs and food lovers! Unwrap some dumplings in D.C. with Antonia Lofaso, enjoy chestnuts sauteed on an open fire with Michael Voltaggio in Los Angeles, and join Brooke Willamson as she "lox" in on a special treat in New York City.
Since Sliced Bread
Get ready for some seriously spectacular sandwiches! Alton Brown relives his childhood with a slaw dog in South Carolina, while Alex Guarnaschelli treks to Nantucket for a terrific turkey sandwich.
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.
Pasta Perfection
Anyone can cook pasta, but the perfect pasta dish can take years of practice and dedication. Andrew Zimmern has nothing but praise for a pristine fusilli pasta in New York. Marc Murphy is in love with legendary lasagna in Scottsdale, Ariz., while Geoffrey Zakarian finds perfection in an unbelievable combination of pasta, pears and cheese.
Sensational Surprises
These unexpected and delicious food finds are no longer a secret. Robert Irvine is in for the surprise of his life with one-of-a-kind dumplings in Philadelphia. Geoffrey Zakarian is left stunned and speechless by a tropical sundae in New York while Ali Khan uncovers marvelous Mexican food in St. Petersburg, Florida.
