Food Network October 2016 Highlights Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins
Fresh Origins is America’s leading producer of Microgreens and Edible Flowers. Combining the benefits of an ideal climate with a deep passion for quality and innovation, Fresh Origins products are sought after by the finest restaurants and top chefs. The farm is located in the picturesque rolling hills of San Diego County, where the near perfect weather allows for production and harvest all year. Fresh Origins produces almost 400 Microgreens, Petitegreens, Edible Flowers, Shoots, Tiny Veggies™ and related items. Many are not available anywhere else, with new introductions nearly every month. Fresh Origins products are on top of the finest cuisine in the world! Fresh Origins supplies distributors of specialty produce who serve fine dining restaurants and resorts nationwide. There are also a few online sources of their products available to private chefs and home cooks. Read our first Culinary Queen interview with Kelly Sasuga:
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Hapless Bakers Are Put to the Test This October in New Series ‘Worst Bakers in America,’ and Stakes Are High in Culinary Mashup ‘Chopped: Beat Bobby Flay'
Plus: New Seasons of 'Halloween Baking Championship' and 'Halloween Wars' and Specials 'All-Star Halloween Spectacular' and 'Kids Halloween Baking Championship'
FoodNetwork.com Serves Up Game Day Tips, Halloween Party Ideas and Fall Recipes Perfect for All Occasions
Food Network gets spook-tacular this October with all-new seasons, themed episodes and specials just in time for Halloween. First, Halloween Wars is back for a new season on Sunday, October 2nd at 9pm with host Jonathan Bennett as master of ceremonies as six teams get the chance to impress the judges with incredible edible Halloween displays to win the ultimate prize of $50,000. Following at 10pm, twelve challenged bakers will head into the kitchen for a baking boot camp with hosts Duff Goldman and Lorraine Pascale in the series premiere of Worst Bakers in America. Then, comedian Jeff Dunham hosts a new season of Halloween Baking Championship with judges Damiano Carrara, Carla Hall and Sandra Lee, giving seven talented bakers the chance to compete in creepy culinary challenges for the $25,000 grand prize on Monday, October 3rd at 9pm. Next, don't miss the premiere of Kids Halloween Baking Championship on Wednesday, October 5th at 8pm when four fan-favorites fromKids Baking Championship return to bake their way through spooky new challenges and prove to hosts Duff Goldmanand Alison Sweeney they have what it takes to win the $10,000 grand prize. More tricks and treats follow onSaturday, October 8th at 8pm with special All-Star Halloween Spectacular hosted by Egypt Sherrod and featuring some of Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel's biggest stars, Duff Goldman, Tia Mowry, Adam Richman, Drew and Jonathan Scott teaming up for a haunted house competition right on the Las Vegas strip. Next up, it's the ultimate crossover event with the tournament premiere of Chopped: Beat Bobby Flay on Thursday, October 20th at 9pm when Bobby Flay sits at the judges' table for three preliminary rounds, the winner of which has the chance to compete against Bobby himself in the finale. Then, don't miss as host Alton Brown's sabotages get scarier in theCutthroat Kitchen: Tournament of Terror finale on Wednesday, October 26th at 10pm. Also premiering in primetime are new episodes of Beat Bobby Flay, Burgers, Brew & 'Que, Cake Wars, Chopped, Chopped Junior, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Guy's Grocery Games, Star Plates and Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition. In daytime, Ina Garten is back in the kitchen cooking up a whole new batch of delicious recipes for Jeffrey in a new season of Barefoot Contessa beginning Sunday, October 16th at 10:30am. Then, Ayesha Curry, cookbook author, foodie, mother of two and wife of NBA star Stephen Curry, is opening up her home and cooking up her favorite recipes for friends and family on the series premiere of Ayesha's Homemade on Saturday, October 22nd at 12pm. Finally, Giada De Laurentiis is a pro at holiday entertaining and she's sharing her secrets, tips and, of course, delicious holiday recipes on a new season of Giada's Holiday Handbook on Sunday, October 30th at 12pm. Also premiering in daytime are new episodes of Brunch @ Bobby's, Farmhouse Rules, Guy's Big Bite, The Kitchen, The Pioneer Woman, Trisha's Southern Kitchen and Valerie's Home Cooking. FoodNetwork.com is the go-to guide for game day tailgating tips, Halloween-themed recipes and party ideas and fall comfort food. Join the Food Network conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
PRIMETIME PREMIERE EPISODES
All-Star Halloween Spectacular - Premiering Saturday, October 8th at 8pm - HALLOWEEN SPECIAL!
Egypt Sherrod hosts All-Star Halloween Spectacular featuring some of Food Network, HGTV and Travel Channel's biggest stars teaming up for the ultimate Halloween adventure, right in the heart of Sin City! Drew Scott and Tia Mowry team up against Jonathan Scott and Duff Goldman to create two life-sized haunted houses and over-the-top desserts right on the Las Vegas strip. Travel Channel's Adam Richman joins to help out both teams, with the team with the most frightful haunted house winning money for the charity of their choice.
Beat Bobby Flay
Premiering Thursday, October 6th at 10pm - "Howdy Halloween" - HALLOWEEN EPISODE!Two Texan pastry chefs, Katherine Clapner and Joe "The Baker" Baker cross their fingers that they get less tricks and more treats as The Kitchen's Sunny Anderson and Cooking Channel's Laura Vitale try to spook Bobby Flay into a horrifying defeat.
Premiering Thursday, October 13th at 10pm - "Bobby-Bing Bobby-Boom!"HGTV's Kitchen Cousins, Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri, and Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli have brought in tough-as-nails Toni Sapienza and Rodney Murillo to make Bobby Flay see red, white and green. Think Bobby can survive this Italian onslaught? Fuggetaboutit!
Premiering Thursday October 20th at 10pm - "Che-Sing Glory"Chef Andres Dangond puts his Colombian flair on display against Asian fusion maestro Tony Nguyen for a shot at one of America's best chefs, Bobby Flay. Saturday Night Live's Michael Che teams up with Cooks Vs. Cons hostGeoffrey Zakarian in hopes that they will be the ones laughing at the end of the night.
Premiering Thursday, October 27th at 10pm - "Hold On For One More Flay"Music legend Carnie Wilson joins The Kitchen's Katie Lee in the quest to burst Bobby Flay's bubble. Philly's sausage king Jeremy Nolen and Indian grill master Vijay Sadhu vie for the chance to deliver the knockout punch.
Online, find out what it takes to beat Bobby when Food Network chefs reveal the skills and tactics needed to defeat him. Check out behind-the-scenes photos and videos, relive highlights, tour the set and much more. Join the conversation with #BeatBobbyFlay.
Burgers, Brew & 'Que
Premiering Friday, October 7th at 10pm - "Motor City's Mouthwatering Meats"Michael Symon takes reality television star Kendra Wilkinson on a whirlwind food and beer tour of Detroit to introduce her to one of the country's most resurgent cities. She falls in love with the area through its wide array of local microbrews and rich history of great food, from classic Coney Island dogs to spicy Korean sliders to pulled pork enchiladas. These diehard football fans end their day with a head-to-head beer-laden throwing competition.
Premiering Friday, October 14th at 10pm - "Comedy and Cooking in the City of Angels"Michael Symon and hilarious TV star Billy Gardell embark on an uproarious adventure in Los Angeles filled with laughter, hijinks and visiting a perfect balance of legendary food joints and new spots on the scene. They compare a famous old-fashioned chili burger with an imaginative contemporary take, swing through the city's Koreatown for table-side barbecue and tour downtown's best brewery where they have a bar games faceoff.
Premiering Friday, October 21st at 10pm - "Decadent D.C. Dining"Michael Symon and Jenni "JWoww" Farley, reality TV star and season one winner of Worst Cooks in America:Celebrity Edition, team up to tackle the best classic barbecue, freshest farmhouse burgers and most outrageous microbrews our nation's capital has to offer. Along the way, they hook up with one of the area's best-known chefs for his take on the local food scene and to compete in a unique and heated 'que contest.
Premiering Friday, October 28th at 10pm - "Beers, Burgers and Bocce in Baltimore"Actor and proud Baltimore native Josh Charles meets up with Michael Symon at his favorite place for crab cakes in a town where everyone fights over where to find the very best. After a heated round of bocce ball in the city's Little Italy neighborhood, Michael introduces Josh to some of Baltimore's best new spots for juicy, inventive burgers, sweet and savory desserts and refreshing craft brews to wash it all down.
Online, viewers can flip through photos and restaurant listings to find out more about Michael's favorite destinations. Plus, his adventures continue online in a new video series, Can't Leave Without It, where Michael makes one last stop at can't-miss spots in each town. Join the conversation with #BurgersBrewQue.
Cake Wars
Premiering Monday, October 10th at 8pm - "The Addams Family"It's about to get a little creepy and kooky, because Morticia, Gomez, Uncle Fester and the rest of the Addams Family are on their way to the Cake Wars kitchen! Four incredible bakers battle to have their amazing cake creations as the centerpiece of the party, but only one will take home $10,000. Kevin Miserocchi, director of the Tee and Charles Addams Foundation, joins host Jonathan Bennett and judges Waylynn Lucas and Richard Ruskell.
Premiering Monday, October 17th at 8pm - "Magic"Grab a hat and wand and prepare to cast a spell as Cake Wars takes on magic! Renowned magician Mat Franco is on hand with host Jonathan Bennett and judges Waylynn Lucas and Richard Ruskell to help choose which of four amazing bakers will have their cake appear at an amazing party celebrating magic and win $10,000 -- and which will disappear.
Premiering Monday, October 24th at 8pm - "Trolls"Cake Wars joins Poppy and her friend Branch for an epic adventure, as four bakers go to battle to have their cake at the center of a party celebrating the DreamWorks animated movie Trolls! Walt Dohrn and Mike Mitchell, directors ofTrolls, serve as special guest judges with host Jonathan Bennett and judges Waylynn Lucas and Richard Ruskell.
Online, check out the images and recipes of the winning cake artists' magical creations, hilarious behind-the-scenes videos of Jonathan and the judges on set and more. Plus, weigh in on your favorites on Twitter using #CakeWars.
Chopped
Premiering Monday, October 3rd at 8pm - "Best Halloween Ever" - HALLOWEEN EPISODE!Four one-of-a-kind cooks have dressed up for Halloween in the Chopped kitchen, and the judges are eager to see what a drag queen, a witch, a medieval re-enactor and a bloody-faced warrior will cook for them using a wild collection of appetizer ingredients! Some frightening sights in the second basket turn out to be pretty nice picks for a pork tenderloin entrée, and a spiky fruit and clever cookie-crumb creation are two of the ingredients that the final competitors get to scare up a dessert.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag
Premiering Thursday, October 6th at 9pm - "On The Quack Burner"Quack if you love duck tongues! The chefs must make use of this unusual meat in their appetizers, and a seaweed pasta product may be the weirdest item in the second basket. Then, spicy alcohol and a sweet cream are two of the components that the finalists have to work into their desserts.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Scott Conant, Alex Guarnaschelli, Marcus Samuelsson
Premiering Tuesday, October 11th at 10pm - "Web Stars"Competitors with successful online cooking shows arrive in the Chopped kitchen ready to put their web-honed culinary skills to the test. There are smiley faces all around when the cooks find emoji cookies in the first basket, but round two has the judges monitoring the clock with doubts that all three chefs will be able to get a particular basket ingredient cooked in time. Then, a familiar boxed ingredient is one of the first things the finalists need to tackle for dessert.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Alex Guarnaschelli, Marcus Samuelsson, Laura Vitale
Premiering Thursday, October 13th at 9pm - "Smorgastarta Your Engines"The chefs learn all about the wonders of savory Swedish layer cake when they get the competition underway with some smorgastarta appetizers. A sweet powder and prickly produce make the entrée round more complicated than the competitors wished it would be. And eggplant seems like a doozy for dessert, but preserved in sugar, the veggie is easier for the finalists to incorporate into their sweet plates.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag, Aarón Sánchez
Premiering Tuesday, October 18th at 10pm - "Tailgate Greats"Four devoted football fans are super proud of their can't-fail tailgating games, but in the Chopped kitchen, only one can become a champ. Handy sandwiches and sweet popcorn are two of the ingredients the competitors face in the first round. Will a strange take on mimosa be hard for the chefs to swallow in the second round? Then, the two finalists hustle to figure out the correct technique to execute their creative ideas for dessert.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Amanda Freitag, Marc Murphy, Chris Santos
Premiering Tuesday, October 25th at 10pm - "Midnight Snack Attack"The four chefs in this special competition are tasked with making the perfect midnight meal. In the first round, fried foods and a trendy cocktail are creatively reimagined in appetizers. Prized mushrooms and a much-craved street food are part of the basket challenge in the second round. And the finalists hope breakfast flavors wake up the judges' palates in the last round.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Maneet Chauhan, Amanda Freitag, Aarón Sánchez
Online, check out photo and video highlights and compete like a Chopped champion for a chance to win prizes. Get culinary inspiration from the Chopped experts and learn the tricks contestants have successfully deployed to transform exotic ingredients, international spices and even wintry leftovers into winning dishes. Join the action with #Chopped.
Chopped: Beat Bobby Flay - Premiering Thursday, October 20th at 9pm
Two great Food Network forces collide in one incredible, four-part event! To take this tournament and get the chance to win up to $40,000, someone will have to take down legendary chef Bobby Flay! Twelve returning champions, some of the boldest and best ever seen, will bring their bravado and "A" games back to the Chopped kitchen. No-nonsense Bobby will throw down critiques as a judge in the preliminary competitions, where each basket features a surprise ingredient that he has selected. The winner of each of the three preliminary battles will move on to a spectacular grand finale and have the chance to go head-to-head against Bobby in a huge bonus round, where both chefs will be making the challenger's signature dish, with the added twist of having to use Chopped basket ingredients.
Premiering Thursday, October 20th at 9pm - "Chopped: Beat Bobby Flay, Part 1" - TOURNAMENT PREMIERE!In the appetizer round of this premiere competition, the champions are tested with a Scandinavian fish and a sugary cereal. A flowery syrup and an onion with sprinkles appear in the second basket, while sandwiched between a cheesy sandwich and some jelly in the dessert basket, the chefs find an ingredient that Bobby Flay particularly likes.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Bobby Flay, Marc Murphy, Chris Santos
Premiering Thursday, October 27th at 9pm - "Chopped: Beat Bobby Flay, Part 2"Four more returning champs battle for their chance to go head-to-head against Bobby Flay in the Chopped: Beat Bobby Flay tournament. A seafood that needs tenderizing and a canned product that needs to be creatively incorporated are two of the ingredients found in the appetizer basket. A king of the sea and a cake of the ice box are found in the entrée basket. In the dessert round, an ingredient that Bobby loves ends up in one chef's ice cream recipe, but trouble with the machine has everyone wondering how it will turn out.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Scott Conant, Bobby Flay, Amanda Freitag
Online, get more insight on the Chopped: Beat Bobby Flay tournament, where you'll uncover photo and video highlights. Relive top moments and hear from the winning contenders, and join in on the conversation using #Chopped.
Chopped Junior
Premiering Tuesday, October 4th at 8pm - "Halloween Party!" - HALLOWEEN EPISODE!With gory surprises in every basket, the costumed competitors have much to fear and $10,000 to gain in this Halloween showdown. A vial filled with something deceptively familiar and some spicy mummies are weird surprises in the first basket, then the entrée round has the junior chefs digging into a spooky casserole. Finally, the last two competitors confidently craft desserts from an odd collection of goodies!
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Scott Conant, Jackie Sorkin, Michelle Trachtenberg
Premiering Tuesday, October 11th at 8pm - "Ears For Fears"In round one, the junior chefs encounter pigs' ears and potatoes as they strive to impress chefs. Then, a container of soup and a can of truffles make for strange basket fellows in the entree round. Finally, the pair of kids left in the dessert round get to monkey around with monkey bread and queso fresco.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Katie Lee, Chris Santos, Alan Thicke
Premiering Tuesday, October 18th at 8pm - "Fish Tale"A serious seafood challenge plus a healthy frozen dessert are two of the ingredients that the junior chefs encounter out of the gate. In round two, a pork chop plate will get a young cook chopped, then major setbacks in the dessert round keep the finalists working furiously on their rainbow pancake dishes until time is up.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Debbie Matenopoulos, Chris Santos, Dale Talde
Premiering Tuesday, October 25th at 8pm - "Snapper Snafus"In round one, the junior chefs have to hustle to do their best with duck and some wild-flavored cupcakes. The young cooks all take different routes with the snapper in the entrée basket, then the finalists find a playful pie and a tart surprise in the dessert round.
Host: Ted Allen Judges: Scott Conant, Danica Patrick, Jamika Pessoa
Online, super fans can find a huge treat with entertaining behind-the-scenes footage of the talented kid chefs and all their antics in between takes. Additionally, hear from the amazing panel of judges in interviews captured on set and upgrade your brown-bag lunch with ideas captured from the competition. Join the conversation on Twitter using #ChoppedJunior.
Cutthroat Kitchen: Tournament of Terror
Premiering Wednesday, October 5th at 10pm - "Tournament of Terror: Heat Two"In the second heat, the chefs must make deviled eggs while wearing monster costumes, followed by a spider web-themed spider roll challenge. Finally, one chef has to make a flambéed dessert in a twisted kitchen.
Host: Alton Brown Judge: Antonia LoFaso
Premiering Wednesday, October 12th at 10pm - "Tournament of Terror: Heat Three"Round three kicks off with a frog's leg challenge in a graveyard, then the chefs must make a witch's stew while riding around on a witch's broom. Finally, one chef has to make devil's food cake with spooky tools.
Host: Alton Brown Judge: Jet Tila
Premiering Wednesday, October 19th at 10pm - "Tournament of Terror: Heat Four"In the fourth heat, the chefs have to cut their steak tartare with deadly weapons and dig up their Fra Diavolo ingredients in a graveyard. Then one chef has to make a pumpkin dessert inside a chamber filled with autumn leaves.
Host: Alton Brown Judge: Simon Majumdar
Premiering Wednesday, October 26th at 10pm - "Tournament of Terror: Finale" - TOURNAMENT FINALE!The four heat winners return for the tournament finale, which begins with the chefs shopping for Bloody Mary ingredients in a dark, haunted pantry. Then a bone-in dish must be prepared on a flaming organ, followed by a candy challenge on a possessed, spinning bed. The last chef standing is named winner of the Tournament of Terror.
Host: Alton Brown Judge: Anne Burrell
Online, get an extra taste of eviliciousness with FoodNetwork.com's original digital series. In Alton's After Show, Alton reveals the sabotages to the judges, who discuss the cutthroat tasks. Follow the mischief and strategy on Twitter using #CutthroatKitchen.
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Premiering Friday, October 7th at 9pm - "Burgers, Buns and Bagels"This trip, Guy Fieri is picking up everything from burgers to buns to bagels. In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, there is an amped-up deli serving up lights-out lamb burgers and righteous ribs. In Los Angeles, California, Guy stops at a Koreatown favorite loading up Asian buns and a unique bacon-corn bar dish. And in Plainsboro, New Jersey, he eats at a world-class bagel shop spicing up their specialty and topping things off with Jersey's famous pork roll.
Premiering Friday, October 14th at 9pm - "Big Food, Small Towns"This trip, Guy Fieri is stopping in small towns to dig in to big-time eats. In Raymond, New Hampshire, there's a blow-your-mind butchery loading up their burgers and cranking out scratch-made corn dogs. In Vincentown, New Jersey, Guy visits a multi-generational diner making mile-high meatloaf and a triple-decker apple pie French toast. And in Rocky Hill, New Jersey, he stops at a 1700s inn turned gastropub dishing out a tomato twist on burgers and a funky spin on disco fries.
Online, go behind-the-scenes with Guy, check out full recipes and scan the best diners, drive-ins and dives across the country. Hop along for the ride on Twitter with #DDD.
Guy's Grocery Games
Premiering Sunday, October 2nd at 8pm - "Halloween Spook-Tacular&am
