Carla Hall has her table set for a food-filled holiday. Whether it's a Christmas tree made from a tower of waffles, a turducken turned into a mammoth po' boy or even the entire Feast of the Seven Fishes atop one pizza, 'tis the season for eating!
It's finally time for the clan to head to Tuscany, but the preparations are anything but relaxing. Before they go, Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos want to teach their daughters the value of a dollar so they'll have their own money for souvenirs and keepsakes, so they open their very first bruschetta stand. For dinner Gabriele makes a meal straight out of the country traditions of Tuscany, with dishes like Turkey Sausages With Beans (Sausages with Fagioli All'uccelletta), Fried Artichokes and a traditional Florentine cake for dessert called Schiacciata alla Florentina.
Nothing says sweet celebration like a cake - the food we use to mark marriages, births, anniversaries, engagement, promotions, and every other American rite of passage. Jeffrey Saad will explore a world of cake that includes incredible gourmet reinventions right along with straight-up party cakes. And in the shocking conclusion, he'll encounter the ultimate cake decorator and his most disturbing creation.
Lita is short for the Spanish word "abuelita" which means "little grandmother" -- but there is nothing little about her personality. Lita, 82, who lives in Hoschton, Ga., is a cheerleader for her homeland Costa Rica and its hearty cuisine. Lita shows Mo Rocca how to make some Central American staples including rice and beans and plantains maduros. She also introduces him to the furry loyal friend Canela.
Noah Cappe discovers new carnival eats, like the Mini Donut S'more Stick and the Pineapple Split, in the California orange groves at the Cloverdale Citrus Fair. Then his adventure continues with a Key Lime Funnel at the Highlands County Fair in Florida.
On his quest to unlock the power of the cauliflower, Jason Wrobel learns how this superfood contains important anti-oxidants and fights the buildup of toxins and inflammation in our body, all to keep illnesses at bay and help us live to 100. Jason shows just how scrumptious cauliflower can be with enticing dishes like Buffalo Cauliflower "Wings" and Cauliflower Lentil Tacos. And he amps up the spicy with a visit to Atlanta restaurant, Bhojanic, where he and chef Archna Becker whip up Alu Gobhi, a classic Indian dish.
At La Stanza, in Philadelphia, Pa., Robert finds an old-world Italian restaurant being ruined by the owner's young daughter. 24-year-old Lucia has no restaurant experience and she's running the dark, funeral parlor-looking place right into the ground. Robert has his hands full on this mission teaching her everything there is to know about managing a restaurant, updating the menu, brightening up the decor and getting the word out about the restaurant on live TV. With countless ups and downs and a design that may prove too challenging to get finished, this mission could very well be ... impossible.
Roger Mooking loves a great sandwich. After all, it's a full-fledged meal you can hold in your hands. Geography means variety, and sometimes size matters. As he searches for the country's fifteen best sandwiches, he also learns about techniques and the grand assortment of culinary delights one can place between two slices of bread. These are the amazing people and establishments that offer up something so simple that can be so good.
Alton Brown goes undercover for an in depth look at Lemon Meringue Pie. He also uncovers sweet, but tart, recipes for this citrus pie's filling and Crust.
Teddy Folkman is acclaimed for his Belgian specialty, Mussels and Fries, or Moules Frites. At his bistro-style restaurant, Dr. Granville Moore's in Washington, DC, Chef Folkman whips up several different varieties of Moules Frites, each one garnering rave reviews. Teddy eats, lives and breathes this dish so he's excited to share his skill with the Food Network. He has no idea that the moment he gets his mussels ready for the broth and his potatoes ready for the fryer, Bobby Flay will roll in and issue him a Moules Frites Throwdown! Who will win over the crowd and the judges in this competition? Watch and find out.