Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Season 2012 Episode 8 Outside the Box

In the eighth episode of the 2012 season of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, host Guy Fieri takes his viewers on a culinary journey that will take them outside of their usual food comfort zones. This episode, titled Outside the Box, features a diverse array of restaurants that are serving up unique and unexpected twists on classic dishes.

The first stop on Guy's journey is a restaurant in Long Beach, California called The Attic. This establishment is known for their take on classic Southern cuisine, with dishes like fried chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits taking center stage. However, The Attic also offers some unexpected menu items, like their mac and Cheetos dish, which is made with macaroni and cheese coated in crunchy Cheetos crumbs.

Next up, Guy heads to The Floridian in St. Augustine, Florida. This restaurant has a menu that is inspired by the local cuisine of the Sunshine State and features dishes like alligator tail and smoked fish dip. However, the standout dish at The Floridian is their shrimp po'boy, which is made with fried shrimp, pickled vegetables, and a spicy sauce.

From Florida, Guy travels to a restaurant in Ypsilanti, Michigan called The Wurst Bar. As the name suggests, this establishment is all about sausage, but not just any sausage. The Wurst Bar serves up inventive takes on classic sausages like bratwurst and chorizo, as well as unexpected varieties like duck sausage and crawfish andouille.

Guy's next stop is at a restaurant in Durham, North Carolina called Scratch. This establishment is all about fresh, local ingredients and features a constantly changing menu based on what is in season. Scratch is known for their biscuits, which are made fresh every day and served with a variety of toppings like local honey and whipped butter.

The final stop on Guy's culinary journey is at a restaurant in San Antonio, Texas called The Monterey. This establishment is known for its modern take on classic Tex-Mex cuisine, with dishes like cornmeal fried oysters with jalapeno tartar sauce and queso flameado. However, The Monterey also offers a unique take on a classic cocktail with their beer margarita, which combines Mexican beer with freshly-squeezed lime juice and tequila.

Overall, this episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives offers viewers a diverse look at the ways in which restaurants are pushing the boundaries of classic dishes and creating unique and unexpected flavor combinations. From classic Southern cuisine with a twist to inventive takes on sausage, this episode showcases the creativity and passion that goes into every dish served at these establishments.