Chef Robert Irvine has seen many dirty and neglected restaurants, but none have made him physically ill like Anna Maria's in Dunmore, Pa. The Italian eatery's glory days, and last apparent cleaning, were 25 years ago, and owners Jack and Mary, with their son Tucker, are in over their head trying to keep the doors open. Chef Robert Irvine's biggest challenge will be getting the kitchen up to code with only $10,000 and two days.
Alton Brown's cross-country road food motorcycle odyssey begins. Wandering westward from the South Carolina coast, Alton Brown and his crew gather everything from chocolate malts to pickled pigs feet. Alton even gets to race a lawn mower.
Drake Bell, Lori Greiner, Bob Harper and Heather Morris battle to prove their celebrity cupcake dominance and create show-stopping cupcakes for a party celebrating the wonder and whimsy of Roald Dahl's classic story, Matilda. They'll be eliminated one by one with help from guest judge Chloe Dahl, granddaughter of Roald Dahl, until the last celeb standing walks away with bragging rights and a donation to their favorite charity.
Famed steel town Pittsburgh is going through a food renaissance and Chuck is on a tour of Penn Avenue starting at Meat & Potatoes where Richard DeShantz pays homage to his hometown's culinary roots with updated comfort food like pot roast with horseradish gremolata. Chuck's next stop is at Penn Avenue Fish Company where Chef Henry Dewey runs a wholesale fish market and eatery and uses the belly of a yellowfin tuna to make a barbecued tuna sandwich with guacamole and sweet potato chips. Chuck goes inside an 1860s firehouse and one of the hottest restaurants in town, Bar Marco, where Chef Jamilka Borges makes imaginative food like gemelli pasta with stinging nettle pesto and ricotta. At the stylish restaurant, Salt of the Earth, Chef Chad Townsend figured that the formula for success comes from using Western Pennsylvania ingredients from a local farm.
Alton Brown examines the laminated pastry that's always fast and always tasty. Don't be afraid, the store bought stuff can deliver the puff. Recipe includes Fruit Tart, Stacked Puff Pastry with Cherries and Salmon Turnovers.
The nation's most crave-worthy combinations are highlighted, from hearty biscuits and gravy and deliciously sinful mac 'n' cheese to carb-happy spaghetti and meatballs and crispy fish and chips.
Donut-makers Bryan from Sacramento, Jacey from Salt Lake City and donut mogul Mark from Seattle compete in a mystery ingredient elimination round. The final two standing have to impress the judges by making three donuts with a "Camping" theme. The winner takes home $10,000.
Get cozy for a full hour of Wintertime Treats Unwrapped. Visit Harry and David, Swiss Colony and Martinelli's sparkling cider for a look at how they prepare for the holidays. See how Candy Cane trees, ribbon candy and Yule logs are made. Join in a fruitcake toss, and see how popcorn is prepared for pails and in a kettle. Warm up with a visit to the Campbell Chicken Soup factory, and a restaurant serving up only grilled cheese. Plus, see how Halls drops are cooked up for coughs.
Giada De Laurentiis visits the mythical Greek island of Santorini for a passionate discovery of the food, culture and breathtaking scenery that make up this ancient paradise. She journeys through the idyllic beaches and whitewashed cliffside villages that dot the island while experiencing the ultimate in Mediterranean cuisine.
With the kids' room finished, Jackie Sorkin and her team race to "candify" the kitchen and dining room to bring their holiday house to life. But with just five weeks left, a national gummy shortage puts the project in danger of not finishing on time.