Throwdown! with Bobby Flay is a Food Network television program in which celebrity chef Bobby Flay challenges cooks renowned for a specific dish or type of cooking to a cook-off of their signature dish. At the beginning of each show, Flay receives – via bicycle messenger – a package detailing the chef he is to compete against as well as the dish. Examples of opponents include a skilled chili maker or a famous wedding cake designer. After practicing and preparing the item in question, Flay shows up for a surprise competition (or "Throwdown"). During the competition, both chefs prepare their particular version of the dish, and both are then evaluated by local judges to determine a winner. [edit] Format Each show includes a mini-biography about the chef who is to be challenged, shown before the challenge takes place. The content for the biography is actually collected as part of an elaborate ruse or setup, where the chef or cook is told that they are going to be featured on a fictitious Food Network show. As part of the show, the featured chef (and their associated restaurant, if any) hosts a small party, which is then unexpectedly "crashed" by Bobby Flay. Upon Flay's arrival, he reveals the true nature of the show, and the "Throwdown" is initiated. Prior to the "Throwdown", in the Food Network test kitchen, Flay and his two sous-chefs (Stephanie Banyas and Miriam Garron) work to concoct their recipe for that particular dish or field of cooking. Since Flay realizes that he may be unable to win a straight "apples to apples" contest, he often opts for a variant of the dish which he feels will impress the judges. In many cases, multiple versions of the dish are tested and later prepared, with Flay deciding which one to submit to the contest only at the last minute. When Flay makes his appearance at a rival's event, he is usually greeted with surprise and confusion, although there has been one occasion where the challenged chef figured out that Flay would be appearing for a throwdown and ended up challenging him. Flay's comment was that he "had been set up."[1] However, the rival usually quickly gets over the initial shock and warms up to the challenge. Since the competition always takes place on the "home turf" of this rival chef, Flay generally has to bring his own ingredients and cooking devices, particularly since he sometimes makes use of ingredients which the other chef does not. After the dishes are prepared, the two chefs taste each other's creations and are usually quite complimentary towards one another. Finally, the dishes are evaluated by one or more connoisseurs or notable veterans in that field (via a blind taste test), with the winner then being announced. The format of the show does not edit or disguise Flay's lack of knowledge of technique regarding cooking for the challenge. He often makes use of New York City-area experts to teach him basic techniques. In other instances, he acknowledges the traditional approach to the dish but then explains how he will make it more modern or more his own style of cooking with various added ingredients. Flay's record is 22 wins, 1 tie, and 48 losses. Flay has had the most success with cake challenges, winning throwdowns for cheesecake and cupcakes in season 2, coconut cake and red velvet cake in season 5, and German chocolate cake in season 6. Flay's only cake throwdown loss was Wedding cake in season 1. Each episode ends with a challenge from Flay looking directly into the camera and saying, "All you chefs keep doing what you do, but ask yourself this..." Finished by his competition saying "are you ready for a Throwdown?" [edit] Episodes [edit] Season 1 | Episode | Show Number | Food | Chef | Restaurant | Location | Winner | | 1 | BT0101 | Chowder | Ben Sargent | Hurricane Hopeful Surf Bar | Brooklyn, NY | Bobby Flay | | 2 | BT0102 | Wedding cake | Michelle Doll | Michelle Doll Cakes | Brooklyn, NY | Michelle Doll | | 3 | BT0103 | Chili | Cindy Reed Wilkins | Cin Chili & Company | Houston, TX | Tie | | 4 | BT0104 | Jerk chicken | Angela Shelf Medearis | | Austin, TX | Angela Shelf Medearis | | 5 | BT0105 | Steak | Eric Dominijanni | | Twentynine Palms, CA | Eric Dominijanni | | 6 | BT0106 | Breakfast | Lynn Winter | Lynn's Paradise Cafe | Louisville, KY | Lynn Winter | | 7 | BT0107 | Burgers | Susan Mello | | Queens, NY | Bobby Flay | | 8 | BT0108 | Jambalaya | Emile Stieffel | | New Orleans, LA | Emile Stieffel | | 9 | BT0109 | Cocktails | Tobin Ellis | | Las Vegas, NV | Bobby Flay | | 10 | BT0110 | Doughnuts | Mark Israel | Doughnut Plant | New York City, NY | Mark Israel | | 11 | BT0111 | Cheesesteak | Tony Luke | Tony Luke's | Philadelphia, PA | Tony Luke | | 12 | BT0112 | Ice cream | Jeff Sommers | Izzy's Ice Cream | Saint Paul, MN | Jeff Sommers | | 13 | BT0113 | Fried chicken | Jasper Alexander | Hattie’s Restaurant | Saratoga Springs, NY | Jasper Alexander | | 14 | BT0114 | Barbecue | Butch Lupinetti | | Mount Laurel, NJ | Butch Lupinetti | | 15 | BT0115 | Pizza | Giorgio Giove | Brother's Pizzeria | Staten Island, NY | Giorgio Giove | [edit] Season 2 | Episode | Show Number | Food | Chef | Restaurant | Location | Winner | | 1 | BT0201 | Chocolate | Fritz Knipschildt | Knipschildt Chocolatier | Norwalk, CT | Fritz Knipschildt | | 2 | BT0202 | Chicken cacciatore | Keith Young | | New York City, NY | Keith Young | | 3 | BT0203 | Meatloaf | Jack and Rocco Collucci | Collucci Brother's Diner | Hyannis, MA | Jack and Rocco Collucci | | 4 | BT0204 | Macaroni and cheese | Delilah Winder | Delilah's | Philadelphia, PA | Bobby Flay | | 5 | BT0205 | Fish and chips | Mat Arnfield | A Salt and Battery | New York City, NY | Mat Arnfield | | 6 | BT0206 | Cheesecake | Alan Rosen | Junior's | Brooklyn, NY | Bobby Flay | | 7 | BT0207 | Cuban roast pork | Roberto Guerra | | | Roberto Guerra | | 8 | BT0208 | Spare ribs | Buz Grossberg | Buz and Ned's | Richmond, VA | Buz Grossberg | | 9 | BT0209 | Cupcakes | Terri Wahl | Auntie Em's Kitchen | Eagle Rock, CA | Bobby Flay | | 10 | BT0210 | Hot dogs | Richard, Gloria, and Beverly Pink | Pink's Hot Dogs | Hollywood, CA | Bobby Flay | | 11 | BT0211 | Buffalo wings | Drew Cerza | The Anchor Bar | Buffalo, NY | Drew Cerza | | 12 | BT0212 | Sticky buns | Joanne Chang | Flour Bakery | Boston, MA | Joanne Chang | | 13 | BT0213 | Hot Browns | Joe and John Castro | Brown Hotel | Louisville, KY | Joe and John Castro | [edit] Season 3 | Episode | Show Number | Food | Chef | Restaurant | Location | Winner | | 1 | BT0301 | Crepes | Nessa Higgins & Andrea Day Boykin | Flip Happy Crepes | Austin, TX | Nessa Higgins & Andrea Day Boykin | | 2 | BT0302 | Puffy tacos | Diana Barrios-Trevino | La Hacienda/Los Barrios | San Antonio, TX | Diana Barrios-Trevino | | 3 | BT0303 | Jerk ribeye | Nigel Spence | Ripe Kitchen and Bar | Mount Vernon, NY | Nigel Spence | | 4 | BT0304 | Chicken fried steak1 | Paula Deen | The Lady & Sons | Savannah, Georgia | Paula Deen | | 5 | BT0305 | Pie | Janet LaPosta & Ally Taylor | Pie Moms | Bangor, ME | Bobby Flay | | 6 | BT0306 | Crab cake | Mitch Weiss | The Lobster Dock | Boothbay Harbor, ME | Bobby Flay | | 7 | BT0307 | Muffuletta | Mike and Jack Serio2 | Serio's Deli | New Orleans, LA | Mike and Jack Serio | | 8 | BT0308 | Blondies | Tom Finney and Mark Ballard | Sugardaddy's Sumptuous Sweeties | Columbus, OH | Tom Finney and Mark Ballard | | 9 | BT0309 | Meatballs | Mike Maroni | Maroni Cuisine | Northport, NY | Mike Maroni | | 10 | BT0310 | Ice cream sundae | Julia Reynolds | Ice Cream Man | Greenwich, NY | Bobby Flay | | 11 | BT0311 | Lasagna | Mark Bove | Bove's Café | Burlington, VT | Bobby Flay | | 12 | BT0312 | Turkey and dressing | Renee Ferguson | | Geneva, IL | Bobby Flay | | 13 | BT0313 | Gingerbread | Johanna Rosson | | Macomb, IL | Johanna Rosson | Note 1: Highlights aired on Paula's Party
Note 2: Jack Serio passed away soon after this episode aired.[2] A remembrance graphic appeared at the end of the program. [edit] Season 4 | Episode | Show Number | Food | Chef | Restaurant | Location | Winner | | 1 | BT0401 | Biscuits and jam | Carol Fay | Loveless Café | Nashville, TN | Bobby Flay | | 2 | BT0402 | Ice pops | Irma and Norma Paz | Las Paletas | Nashville, TN | Irma and Norma Paz | | 3 | BT0403 | Chocolate chip cookies | Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald | Levain Bakery | New York, NY | Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald | | 4 | BT0404 | Eggplant parmesan | David Greco | Mike's Deli | Bronx, NY | David Greco | | 5 | BT0405 | Chicken and waffles | Melba Wilson | Melba's | Harlem, NY | Melba Wilson | | 6 | BT0406 | Pretzels | The Pretzel Boys | The Pretzel Boys | Philadelphia, PA | Bobby Flay | | 7 | BT0407 | Arroz con pollo | Jorge Ayala | La Fonda Boricua | New York, NY | Jorge Ayala | | 8 | BT0408 | Grilled cheese | The Pop Shop | The Pop Shop | Collingswood, NJ | Bobby Flay | | 9 | BT0409 | Dumplings | Sohui Kim | The Good Fork | Red Hook, NY | Sohui Kim | | 10 | BT0410 | Pulled pork | Lee Ann Whippen | Wood Chicks BBQ | Chesapeake, VA | Lee Ann Whippen | | 11 | BT0411 | Arepas | Maribel and Aristides Barrios | Caracas Arepas Bar | Manhattan, NY | Maribel and Aristides Barrios | | 12 | #BT04121 | Grilled pork tenderloin, vegetable skewers, grilled whole fish, cocktails | Butch Lupinetti, Delilah Winder, Nigel Spence and Tobin Ellis | | Miami, FL | Bobby Flay | Note 1: A special "Rematch on the Grill" episode featuring 3 former Throwdown contestants. Ellis showed up at the Throwdown itself to challenge Flay separately. [edit] Season 5 | Episode | Show Number | Food | Chef | Restaurant | Location | Winner | | 1 | BT0501 | Coconut cake | Robert Carter | Peninsula Grill | Charleston, SC | Bobby Flay | | 2 | BT0502 | Moules frites | Teddy Folkman | Granville Moore | Washington, DC | Teddy Folkman | | 3 | BT0503 | Seafood gumbo | Poppy Tooker | | New Orleans, LA | Poppy Tooker | | 4 | BT0504 | Paella | Gerard Nebesky | | Occidental, CA | Gerard Nebesky | | 5 | BT0505 | Chile rellenos | Ramiro Arvizu and Jaime Martin del Campo | La Casita Mexicana | Los Angeles, CA | Ramiro Arvizu and Jaime Martin del Campo | | 6 | BT0507 | Brown bag apple pie | Dan Scheel and John Bauer | The Elegant Farmer | Mukwonago, WI | Dan Scheel and John Bauer | | 7 | BT0506 | Red velvet cake | Raven Dennis | Cakeman Raven Confectionary | Brooklyn, NY | Bobby Flay | | 8 | BT0513 | Bûche de Noël | François Payard | Payard | New York, NY | François Payard | | 9 | BT0508H | Deep-dish pizza | Marc Malnati | Lou Malnati's | Chicago, IL | Marc Malnati | | 10 | BT0509H | Falafel | Einat Admony | Taim Falafel and Smoothie | New York, NY | Bobby Flay | | 11 | BT0510H | Chocolate bread pudding | Jerome Chang and Chris Chen | Dessert Truck | New York, NY | Jerome Chang and Chris Chen | | 12 | BT0512H | Cioppino | Phil DiGirolamo | Phil's Fish Market | Moss Landing, CA | Phil DiGirolamo | | 13 | BT0511H | Sushi | Philip Yi | Sushi Central | Los Angeles, CA | Philip Yi | [edit] Season 6 | Episode | Show Number | Food | Chef | Restaurant | Location | Winner | | 1 | BT0601H | Pad Thai | Nongkran Daks | Thai Basil | Chantilly, VA | Nongkran Daks | | 2 | BT0602H | Ravioli | Robert Durso Sr. & Robert Durso II | Durso's Pasta & Ravioli Company | Flushing, NY | Bobby Flay | | 3 | BT0603H | Chicken pot pie | Sandy Pollock & Crystal Cook | Casserole Queens | Austin, TX | Bobby Flay | | 4 | BT0604H | Blueberry Pancakes | Neil Kleinberg and DeDe Lahman | Clinton Street Baking Company | New York, NY | Bobby Flay | | 5 | BT0605H | Chicken matzah ball soup | Jeff Nathan | Abigael's | New York, NY | Jeff Nathan | | 6 | BT0606H | Shrimp and grits | Joe Barnett | | Washington, GA | Joe Barnett | | 7 | BT0607H | North Carolina Ribs & Baked Beans | Ed Mitchell | The Pit | Raleigh, NC | Ed Mitchell | | 8 | BT0608 | German Chocolate Cake | Aliyyah Smith | Make My Cake | Harlem, NY | Bobby Flay | | 9 | BT0609H | Fried Fish Escovitch | Sheron Barnes | Mo Bay Restaurant | Harlem, NY | Sheron Barnes | | 10 | BT0610H | Country Captain Chicken | Lee Bros | | Charleston, SC | Lee Brothers | | 11 | BT0611H | Fish Tacos | Cesar Gonzales | Mama Testa Taqueria | San Diego, CA | Cesar Gonzales | | 12 | BT0612H | Green Chile Burger | Bobby Olguin | Manny's Buckhorn Tavern | San Antonio, NM | Bobby Olguin | | 13 | BT0613H | Sloppy Joes | Andrew and John Schnipper | Schnipper's Quality Kitchen | New York, NY | Bobby Flay | [edit] Season 7 [edit] References [edit] External links |
