Brothers Jamie and Bobby Deen head off to Northern California to sample three local and undiscovered delicacies. First stop is a Napa Valley favorite, a bakery called Sweetie Pies, which is known for its Cabernet Grape Pie. The boys pick the grapes and watch how the "only one month out of the year" pie is made. Then the boys visit the Santa Cruz boardwalk favorite, Marini’s, home of the original Salt Water Taffy. Making taffy the old-fashioned way, Marini’s secret process has been passed down for generations. Finally, we show up at Phil’s Fish Market, where the owner, Phil, creates before our eyes a very old and simple Italian seafood fish stew called Ciopino.
New York, here we come! Jamie and Bobby Deen take on the Big Apple by sampling traditional Italian dishes. First stop, Arthur Avenue in the Bronx and Robert DeNiro’s favorite joint, Mike’s Deli, home of the original Sicilian stuffed bread. David Greco shows the boys how to make the special dough and fresh mozzarella, which becomes one of the ingredients in the Greco (G-Bread) stuffed bread. It’s off to Mill Basin, Brooklyn to meet John Jr. at Landi’s Pork Store, home of the original rice balls. A dry mixture of different meats, cheese, herbs, spices and rice, the balls are deep fried and served piping hot. And finally, the boys check out the 110-year-old Veniero’s, a pastry shop located in Manhattan’s East Village and home of the unbelievable Almond Torte, a Veniero’s original. Carlo, a master baker, hand crafts 40 tortes in a day.
Whoever said you can do New York in a day has obviously never been to New York. Jamie and Bobby Deen head back to the Big Apple to sample some other ethnic fair. First stop, Astoria Queens, home to thousands of Greek Americans. The boys drop in on Artopolis Bakery and home of the Galaktoboureko—say that three times fast! This delicious delicacy is a phyllo dough dessert where, in the process, time is of the essence due to the delicate nature of the 12 layers of phyllo. The boys then head to Zozo’s, where they meet with Kyria, the creator of her famous Mint Chocolate Brownie Gelato. Creator of many other flavors as well, Kyria, a trained pastry chef, is very particular about her ingredients and educates the boys on the art of making gelato. And if that wasn’t enough, the boys check in on Richard, the head pastry chef at David Burke and Donatella’s, where they watch gourmet salmon, cheescake and goat cheese "lollipops" get made. Created by David Burke to entice his children to eat, these "gourmet pops" are sold at a rate of approximately 500,000 each year!
Key West, baby! Jamie and Bobby Deen go as far south as they can and land in what many call the Conch Republic. First up, the boys hit the Blonde Giraffe and sample Key Lime Pie on a stick dipped in chocolate and frozen. Owner Tania Beguinati, a native of Brazil, won her first Key Lime pie contest in 1999, which led her to open up six more Blonde Giraffe’s in Key West alone! What better way to truly sample Key West than with some fresh seafood taken directly from the waters off the keys! Master chef Dave, of the Conch Republic Seafood Company, treats the boys to fresh grouper in Juju sauce with callaloo. The pan-seared grouper is drizzled with a passion juice reduction sauce and served with a side of callaloo, a vegetable native to the Bahamas. The boys never had it so good—and it only gets better. They head to Henrietta’s, where the coconut strip was born. Just like folks eat only the top of a muffin, Henrietta learned early on that family and friends ate only the top portion of her coconut cake, hence the coconut strip was born. A small strip of dough and coconut is baked into a crispy yet most delicious dessert.
Jamie and Bobby Deen hit the country capital of the world—Nashville, Tenn. Rivaling their fried chicken, the boys are introduced to Neely’s BBQ and watch how Patrick Neely creates his famous BBQ sauce and dry rub! Then it’s off to sample some good old Tennessee T-Cakes created by Frances Barkley. Francis describes her T-Cakes as "not a cookie, cake or candy—it’s a confection!" So gooey, it is like biting into a moist brownie. And finally, Jamie and Bobby head to Lynchburg, Tenn., to sample the famous Lynchburg Whiskey Cake—a cake soaked in whiskey!
Jamie and Bobby Deen head off to the Gateway to the West, tackling middle America and all it has to offer. First stop, Swiss Meats and their famous bratwurst. A family business since 1969, Swiss Meats controls its products from beginning to end. Then it’s off to Volpi’s located on "The Hill"—a famous area in St. Louis that is St. Louis’ own version of Little Italy. Here the boys will sample the best prosciutto in the country. And finally, we go to the Blue Owl, where Mary Hostetter has created the Great Levee High Apple Pie, named for the devastating flood that ravaged the Midwest in 1993. Made with 18 apples and weighing 16 pounds, this pie honors the levee that held back a catastrophic flood by 0.1 inches!
Austin, Texas, here we come! Jamie and Bobby Deen head off to Austin to sample an eclectic mix of foods. They begin at the famous County Line BBQ, where the boys meet the owner, Skeeter, and sample some beef and pork ribs! Then it’s off to former ballerina Mary Louise Butters’ kitchen to make Aztec God and Aphrodite brownies made with chipolte and rosewater, respectively. And finally the boys check out Bud Royer at his infamous Royer’s Round Top Cafe, approximately an hour and a half outside Austin in Round Top, Tex. Here the boys will sample Bud’s famous Chocolate Chip Pie! Bring your appetite and let Texas take care of the rest!
Emerald City, here we come. Jamie and Bobby Deen head to the Great Northwest and sample of Seattle’s tastiest fare! First stop, Pike’s Place Fish Market, where Dan Bugge creates a mouth-watering seafood paella. Then it’s off to hang with Phyllis Buzzini at the Alaska Silk Pie Company, where she creates a seven-layer silk pie! Her recipe is so secret she refuses to let the boys see how it is made! And finally it is off to a Seattle staple—Macrina Bakery, where Leslie Mackie shows off her culinary skills by making her delicious Lemon Sour Cherry Coffeecake.
Jamie and Bobby land in Colorado, where a relaxed outdoor lifestyle contrasts the unique places they visit. First up, the boys visit the Dushanbe Teahouse and sample their House Tea Gingerbread. This gingerbread is made with a special brewed tangerine tea created specifically for and found only at the Dushanbe Teahouse. Then it’s off to meet Chef Mark Monet at his Flagstaff restaurant, where he creates a three-lamb dish using world-renowned Colorado lamb; it’s a shank, loin and rack all on one plate! Finally, the boys hang with William Poole at Wen Chocolates, where they learn how the most delicious, amazing and unique chocolate truffles are made--the Savannah Truffle (infused with four different peppers) and the mint julep truffle.
The Deen boys head to the Midwest and sample three delicious and different foods. What would a trip to Wisconsin be without cheese! The boys begin with a visit to a cheese-making business, where the specialties are uniquely flavored cheeses like chicken-soup cheese. Then it's off to the Sprechers', where some brew masters create the most mouth-watering root beer, and the boys soon find out that root beer can go on just about anything, from BBQ sauce to dessert sauces! Finally, Jamie and Bobby check out a Danish delicacy called the Kringle--a buttery pastry whose recipe has been passed down from generation to generation.
The Deen boys head to Chicago for a taste of the great Midwest windy city! What better way to start than with Chicago Style Pizza from Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, home of the original deep-dish pizza. Then it's off to Solomon's cookies, where brothers Adam (a former lawyer) and Jason (a recently crowned Ph.D.) gave up their aspiring careers to bake cookies from their grandmother's recipe! The Deen boys sample the Turtle and the Sandies cookies that made the Solomon brothers' grandmother famous! Finally, Jamie and Bobby land at a place where they dive into gourmet pretzels stuffed with mixed berries and chocolate crumb.
Jamie and Bobby soak in a bit of New England hospitality by checking out quintessential Maine dishes. Jamie and Bobby are blown away by Eminger's locally famous Dessert Stuffed Strawberries. Susan Eminger takes a New York cheesecake and stuffs it inside a strawberry--and the taste is unbelievable! Then it's off to a Maine staple and favorite: Morrison's. It is here the boys dig into some traditional, straight-from-the-ocean Maine Lobster Stew. And last but certainly not least, the boys hang with Any Bouchard and her famous Whoopie Pies, a delicious soft chocolate cake with fluffy whipped icing.
Jamie and Bobby head to our nation's capital to experience the local flavor. What better way to kick off the day than to head to Mom's Apple Pie Company to sample Doublecrust Blackberry Crumb Pie! But before they start eating, the boys must head into the fields to pick the fresh berries to make the pie. Then they head off to the Market Inn and sample a Maryland favorite: Maryland Style crab cakes. And finally it's off to Sticky Fingers Bakery to try some delicious Sticky Cinnamon Buns. The nation's capital will never be the same.
Georgia brothers Jamie and Bobby Deen sample the ultimate tastes of Georgia’s capital city, Atlanta. It is melt-in-your-mouth "Papa Don’t Peach" Bread replete with whole slices of fresh peaches within the body of a buttery loaf, one treat locals definitely have no problem waiting in line for. And if you’re hankering for BBQ, the boys get their rib fix at Dreamland BBQ, a rib experience like no other, especially since Dreamland does their ribs the old-fashioned way: over an open pit to seal in every tasty drop of juice, just the way the founder, Big Daddy, likes it. Within the city limits the boys find a taste of Italy with Via Elisa’s fresh spinach and ricotta ravioli, made with recipes from the president of Italy’s pasta chef himself. Along the way Jamie and Bobby uncover a velvety slice of Southern tradition with Sweet Auburn’s Sweet Potato Cheesecake. It’s the best of the ATL Deen boys’ style, and of course everything can be shipped right to your door!
In a city that celebrates like no other, brothers Jamie and Bobby Deen set out to discover some secrets behind the spectacular New Orleans cuisine scene. Like the locals, they start their day with a Hubig Fried Pie. Made from scratch, fried to perfection, and coated with sugar icing, these fruit pies have been a favorite for 100 years. The boys really soak up the Cajun spirit with a cup of Tee-Eva’s Seafood Gumbo, a succulent and uniquely New Orleans dish that has graced the tables of Hollywood stars and in-the-know locals alike. Of course, the King Cake is an absolute must-have dessert when celebrating New Orleans' style, and Haydel Bakery is the place to be. They’ve been baking this royal pastry from scratch for generations. And after all that sweet, the boys go in search of salty and happen upon the great taste of award-winning Zapp’s Potato Chips, which are kettle-cooked with Cajun flavor that will leave you longing for more. All their favorites can be shipped directly to you!
Jamie and Bobby Deen head to the heart of candy country in search of the best tasting delights that "Kentuckiana" offers. At Bauer’s Candy the boys try their hand at making -- and eating -- the famous Modjeska, a homemade marshmallow wrapped in caramel, a sweet that has charmed the region for over a century. They sample the official cake of the Kentucky Derby at Mert’s Cakes. It’s a to-die-for concoction of buttery vanilla cake drizzled with praline, chocolate and then finally doused in Kentucky bourbon. Historical Madison, Indiana, is home to Mundt’s Candies, where Jamie and Bobby find the definitive hard candy experience in the shape of fish! The boys' Kentucky trail also leads to Rebecca Ruth’s. She is rumored to be the first to put the bourbon in the bourbon ball, and her confection recipe is still winning awards. Follow the Deens as they seek out the region’s best-kept sweet secrets. All of which can be sent straight to your home!
Miami’s sunny beaches and spicy cuisine has come-a-callin’ again. There is no getting enough of the taste of Key lime, and this time around Jamie and Bobby roll up on We Take the Cake for a Bundt cake with Key lime frosting that leaves the brothers begging for more. For seafood they stop into Laurenzo’s Italian Market to sample an authentic local delicacy – Stone Crab Bisque. The boys never get enough of chocolate so they pop into Romanico’s for Venezuelan "Art Chocolates" and truffles; every divine morsel is made from the world’s purest chocolate. Caribbean culture is big in Miami, and year after year Sonia’s Jamaican Patties are voted as the best by Miami locals and of course Jamie and Bobby now agree, hands down, Sonia’s patties are the best. To sample your own get a few shipped to your door.
Jamie and Bobby Deen discover Houston is more than just the energy capital of America.
In the city of brotherly love, the Deen brothers discover the best of Philadelphia's traditional foods and a few items new to the scene.