Unique Eats Season 1 Episode 8 Americana
- TV-G
- July 18, 2010
- 20 min
Unique Eats is a show that takes its viewers on a culinary journey across the United States, exploring the most unique and delicious restaurants that the country has to offer. In season 1, episode 8, entitled "Americana," the show focuses on some of the most quintessential American foods.
The episode begins in Austin, Texas, where host Tamara Reynolds visits Franklin Barbecue, a restaurant known for its mouth-watering brisket. Tamara meets with the restaurant's founder, Aaron Franklin, to learn about the process of smoking the meat and what makes it so special. She watches as the briskets are rubbed with spices and placed in the smoker for hours before finally being chopped and served with sides like coleslaw and potato salad. The result is a tender, flavorful brisket that is worth waiting in line for hours to try.
Next up, Tamara heads to Los Angeles to visit Animal, a restaurant that specializes in meat-centric dishes. Chef Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo take Tamara through their menu, highlighting some of the most popular dishes like the BBQ pork belly slider, the foie gras biscuit, and the crispy rabbit legs. Tamara is impressed by the care and attention that the chefs put into each dish, from using locally sourced ingredients to preparing them with precision and skill.
Moving on to New York City, Tamara visits the Doughnut Plant, a bakery that creates artisanal doughnuts in a variety of flavors. The founder, Mark Israel, explains the process behind creating the perfect doughnut, from mixing the dough to frying it to adding the fillings and toppings. Tamara tries a few different flavors, including the popular creme brulee and the seasonal pumpkin, and is blown away by the creativity and taste of each doughnut.
Continuing the theme of sweets, Tamara makes her way to Portland, Oregon to visit Salt & Straw, an ice cream shop that prides itself on using unique, locally sourced ingredients in its flavors. She meets with Tyler Malek, the founder and head ice cream maker, to learn about the inspiration behind some of the shop's most popular flavors, like Pear and Blue Cheese and Honey Lavender. Tamara tries a few scoops and is impressed by the rich, creamy texture and bold flavors.
Finally, the episode ends in Nashville, Tennessee, where Tamara visits Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, a restaurant that specializes in spicy fried chicken. Tamara meets with the owner, Andre Prince Jeffries, who explains the history behind the dish and how it has become a staple in the city. Tamara tries several levels of spice, from mild to extra hot, and is blown away by the heat and flavor of each piece of chicken.
Throughout the episode, Tamara showcases some of the most unique and delicious foods that America has to offer. From BBQ brisket to artisanal doughnuts to spicy fried chicken, each dish is prepared with care and attention to detail, making for a truly unforgettable culinary experience.