Ep 1. Worth the Wait

The Best Thing I Ever Ate is a popular food show that features top chefs raving about the best dishes that they have ever eaten. Each episode is dedicated to a specific theme, such as comfort foods, guilty pleasures, or savory sweets. In season 8, episode 1, titled "Worth the Wait," the focus is on dishes that are well worth waiting for.

The episode begins with a visit to a bakery in Brooklyn, where chef Amanda Freitag describes the wait for their famous chocolate blackout cake. Despite waiting in line for up to an hour, Amanda says that the rich, chocolatey cake with its layers of pudding and frosting is "absolutely worth it."

Next up is chef Marcus Samuelsson, who takes us to a legendary barbecue joint in Charleston, South Carolina. The restaurant, Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ, is known for its slow-cooked, melt-in-your-mouth pork shoulder. Marcus describes the wait as "long, but oh so worth it," and says that the succulent pork is unlike anything he's ever tasted.

Moving on to seafood, chef Alex Guarnaschelli takes us to a hidden gem in San Francisco. At Swan Oyster Depot, customers line up for hours to try the fresh, shucked oysters. Alex describes the wait as "a rite of passage" for anyone visiting San Francisco, and says that the briny, buttery oysters are "the best thing ever."

We then visit chef Geoffrey Zakarian at a pizza joint in New York City. Di Fara Pizza is known for its hour-long wait time, but according to Geoffrey, the pizza is "worth every second." He raves about the hand-crafted crust, the perfectly spiced sauce, and the freshly grated cheese.

Heading down South once again, chef Jet Tila takes us to a Vietnamese restaurant in New Orleans. Ba Chi Canteen serves up Pho, the traditional Vietnamese soup made with slow-cooked beef broth and a mix of tender meats. Jet says that the wait for the soup is "totally worth it" for the comforting, savory flavors.

Next is chef Christian Petroni, who brings us to a sandwich shop in New Haven, Connecticut. At Sally's Apizza, customers wait in line for hours just to try the classic tomato and mozzarella pizza. Christian says that the wait is "insane," but once he tasted that first bite, he knew it was "absolutely worth it."

Finally, we visit chef Maneet Chauhan at a dessert shop in Nashville, Tennessee. The Grilled Cheeserie serves up warm, gooey grilled cheese sandwiches along with sweet, salty, and savory sides. Maneet says that the wait for the Sammich – the shop's famous grilled cheese – is "grueling," but once you taste that first bite, you'll understand why it's "the best thing ever."

Throughout the episode, the chefs agree that waiting for these dishes is well worth it, and the taste and experience are unforgettable. From slow-cooked meats and fresh seafood to warm grilled cheese sandwiches and classic pizzas, the dishes featured in "Worth the Wait" are sure to make any food lover's mouth water.