Ep 45. Crunch Time

Food Paradise is a show that explores the best food destinations and restaurants across America. In the thirteenth season's forty-fifth episode, titled "Crunch Time," viewers are taken on a journey to explore the tantalizing world of crispy and crunchy food.

The episode kicks off with a trip to Denver, Colorado, where we're introduced to one of the city's most celebrated chefs, Jeff Osaka. Jeff Osaka is the owner of two restaurants in Denver: Sushi Rama and Osaka Ramen. In the episode, we'll see how Jeff Osaka incorporates crunch into his dishes, from tempura-fried sushi to crispy pork belly ramen.

Next, we travel to Kansas City, Missouri, to visit the local favorite, Beignet KC. This is not your traditional beignet that you'll find in New Orleans; instead, Beignet KC offers a twist on the traditional New Orleans-style beignet by adding their own special touch, the "KC Crunch." This additional layer of crunch comes from a sweet and crunchy coating that is added to the beignets, making them irresistible.

Moving on to Hollywood, California, we're introduced to a restaurant called "9 Mile Station," which sits atop Ponce City Market. This restaurant offers stunning views of the city and a creative menu that highlights the executive chef's love of crunch. One dish, in particular, we'll see on the episode, is the "Pork Belly Burnt Ends," which features crispy pork belly that is cooked and caramelized in a way that offers a satisfying crunch in every bite.

From Hollywood, the episode takes us to Las Vegas, Nevada, where we visit the restaurant "Hattie B's Hot Chicken." Hattie B's is famous for serving up some of the crispiest and crunchiest hot chicken in the country. The restaurant prides itself on its signature three "heat" levels - mild, hot, and "shut the cluck up." We'll see how Hattie B's achieves this perfect level of crunch in their hot chicken dishes.

Moving on to San Francisco, California, we visit "Mister Jiu's," an upscale Chinese restaurant that offers modern interpretations of classic dishes. The restaurant's executive chef, Brandon Jew, takes pride in building flavors and textures in his dishes until they reach the ultimate level of crunch. One signature dish at the restaurant is the "Char Siu Pork Belly," which is served with a crunchy top layer that balances perfectly with the tender pork belly underneath.

Finally, we finish the episode in Atlanta, Georgia, where we visit "Hot Dog Pete's," a restaurant that specializes in hot dogs (naturally). However, these aren't your ordinary hot dogs; Hot Dog Pete's offers what they call the "crunchy dog," which features a hot dog that is wrapped in potato chips, offering a satisfying crunch in every bite.

Overall, Food Paradise's "Crunch Time" episode takes viewers on a journey across the country to explore the best crispy and crunchy dishes that America has to offer. From beignets to pork belly burnt ends, this episode is sure to tantalize your taste buds and inspire you to seek out your own crunchy food adventures.