Ep 11. Grind It Out!

Beat Bobby Flay is a long-running cooking competition show on Food Network, where talented chefs from all over the country come in to try their hand at defeating celebrity chef Bobby Flay in a head-to-head cook-off. Each episode features two competitors, chosen by the show's producers, who are given an hour to prepare a dish of their choice that will impress a panel of guest judges. The winner of the preliminary round then moves on to face off against Bobby Flay himself in a second cook-off, using a secret ingredient that he chooses.

Season 20, episode 11 of the show is titled "Grind it Out!", and it features two chefs who are experts at using a tool that is essential in any kitchen: the mortar and pestle. The first round of the competition sees them using this tool to create flavorful dishes that incorporate interesting spice blends and freshly ground herbs. In round two, they must interpret a secret ingredient chosen by Bobby Flay, and use the mortar and pestle to make a dish that will beat his own version of the same ingredient.

The guest judges for this episode are Valerie Bertinelli and Duff Goldman, two familiar faces on Food Network who are known for their own cooking shows. They will be judging each chef on their use of the mortar and pestle, as well as the overall taste, presentation, and creativity of their dishes.

The first competitor is Chef Yana Gilbuena, a Filipino-American chef who is known for her style of "kamayan" dining, where guests eat with their hands and share dishes family-style. Yana grew up in the Philippines, and her dishes are inspired by the flavors and ingredients she remembers from her childhood. For the first round of the competition, she decides to make an adobo-rubbed steak with bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) butter, and a side of pancit bihon (rice noodles).

Yana is up against Chef Andre Fowles, who is originally from Jamaica and now lives in Miami. Andre is a self-taught chef who has worked in some of the best kitchens in his city, and is known for his bold, spicy flavors and his use of fresh herbs and spices. For the first round of the competition, he decides to make a jerk-grilled pork chop with a tamarind glaze, and a side of coconut rice.

Both chefs use the mortar and pestle to grind fresh herbs and spices for their dishes, and the judges are impressed with the flavors and presentation of each dish. However, there can only be one winner, and the judges must choose between Yana's Filipino-inspired dish and Andre's Jamaican-inspired dish. The winner moves on to face Bobby Flay in the second round, where they will have to use a secret ingredient and the mortar and pestle to create a dish that is better than his own version.

The secret ingredient for this episode is revealed to be garlic, which Bobby Flay has chosen because it is an ingredient that almost every savory dish can benefit from. Yana and Andre both have 45 minutes to prepare a garlic-inspired dish that will impress the judges and beat Bobby Flay's own version of the dish.

Yana decides to make a garlic-crusted salmon with a garlic-ginger vinaigrette, and a side of roasted garlic and sweet potato mash. She uses the mortar and pestle to grind together fresh ginger, garlic, and other spices to make the vinaigrette, and also uses garlic in the crust for the salmon. Andre decides to make a garlic and herb-crusted rack of lamb with a garlic-butter sauce, and a side of garlic-roasted carrots. He also uses the mortar and pestle to grind together fresh herbs and garlic for the crust.

The judges taste each dish and give thoughtful feedback on the flavors, texture, and presentation of each dish. They also compare the chefs' use of the mortar and pestle, and how it has influenced the overall taste of the dishes. Finally, they make their decision on which chef has created a dish that is better than Bobby Flay's own version, and who will be crowned the winner of this week's episode of Beat Bobby Flay.

Overall, "Grind it Out!" is a fun and exciting episode of Beat Bobby Flay that showcases the talent and creativity of two skilled chefs who are both experts at using the mortar and pestle. The use of the secret ingredient adds an extra layer of challenge to the competition, and the guest judges provide valuable feedback that helps viewers understand how to improve their own cooking skills. Fans of the show and of cooking competitions in general will enjoy watching this episode and rooting for their favorite chef to win.