Throwdown! with Bobby Flay
2006 American TV series or program
Throwdown! with Bobby Flay Genre Reality television Cooking show Starring Bobby Flay Country of origin United States Original language English No. of episodes92 Running time 30 minutes (with commercials) Network Food Network Release July 13, 2006 (2006-07-13 ) – March 10, 2010 (2010-03-10 )
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.
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.
In the Food Network's test kitchen, Flay and his two sous-chefs (Stephanie Banyas and Miriam Garron) experiment and prepare a particular dish, often opting for a variant of the dish.
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. 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.
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 with the featured chef saying "are you ready for a Throwdown?"
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 32 wins, 1 tie, and 68 losses. Flay has a winning record (5 wins and 4 losses) 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 lost throwdowns for a wedding cake in season 1, Bûche de Noël in season 5, and carrot cake and pineapple Upside-down cake in season 8.
As of 2021, Bobby Flay wins about 66% of the time on Beat Bobby Flay.
Episodes
Season 1
Episode
Show number
Food
Chef
Restaurant
Location
Winner
1
BT0101
Chowder
Benjamin Sargent
Hurricane Hopeful Surf Bar
Brooklyn, New York
Bobby Flay
2
BT0102
Wedding cake
Michelle Doll
Michelle Doll Cakes
Brooklyn, New York
Michelle Doll
3
BT0103
Chili
Cindy Reed Wilkins
Cin Chili & Company
Houston, Texas
Tie
4
BT0104
Jerk chicken
Angela Shelf Medearis
Austin, Texas
Angela Shelf Medearis
5
BT0105
Steak
Eric Dominijanni
Twentynine Palms, California
Eric Dominijanni
6
BT0106
Breakfast
Lynn Winter
Lynn's Paradise Cafe
Louisville, Kentucky
Lynn Winter
7
BT0107
Burgers
Susan Mello
Queens, New York
Bobby Flay
8
BT0108
Jambalaya
Emile Stieffel
New Orleans, Louisiana
Emile Stieffel
9
BT0109
Cocktails
Tobin Ellis
Las Vegas, Nevada
Bobby Flay
10
BT0110
Doughnuts
Mark Israel
Doughnut Plant
New York City, New York
Mark Israel
11
BT0111
Cheesesteak
Tony Luke, Jr.
Tony Luke's
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tony Luke
12
BT0112
Ice cream
Jeff Sommers
Izzy's Ice Cream
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Jeff Sommers
13
BT0113
Fried chicken
Jasper Alexander
Hattie's Restaurant
Saratoga Springs, New York
Jasper Alexander
14
BT0114
Barbecue
Butch Lupinetti
Mount Laurel, New Jersey
Butch Lupinetti
15
BT0115
Pizza
Giorgio Giove
Brother's Pizzeria
Staten Island, New York
Giorgio Giove
Season 2
Episode
Show number
Food
Chef
Restaurant
Location
Winner
1
BT0201
Chocolate
Fritz Knipschildt
Chocopologie / Knipschildt Chocolatier
Norwalk, Connecticut
Fritz Knipschildt
2
BT0202
Bulos Flavored Ice Cream
Keith Young
New York City, New York
Keith Young
3
BT0203
Meatloaf
Jack and Rocco Collucci
Collucci Brother's Diner
Hyannis, Massachusetts
Jack and Rocco Collucci
4
BT0204
Macaroni and cheese
Delilah Winder
Delilah's
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Bobby Flay
5
BT0205
Fish and chips
Mat Arnfield
A Salt and Battery
New York City, New York
Mat Arnfield
6
BT0206
Cheesecake
Alan Rosen
Junior's
Brooklyn, New York
Bobby Flay
7
BT0207
Cuban roast pork
Roberto Guerra
Roberto Guerra
8
BT0208
Spare ribs
Buz Grossberg
Buz and Ned's
Richmond, Virginia
Buz Grossberg
9
BT0209
Cupcakes
Terri Wahl
Auntie Em's Kitchen
Eagle Rock, California
Bobby Flay
10
BT0210
Hot dogs
Richard, Gloria, and Beverly Pink
Pink's Hot Dogs
Hollywood, California
Bobby Flay
11
BT0211
Buffalo wings
Drew Cerza
The Anchor Bar
Buffalo, New York
Drew Cerza
12
BT0212
Sticky buns
Joanne Chang
Flour Bakery
Boston, Massachusetts
Joanne Chang
13
BT0213
Hot browns
Joe and John Castro
Brown Hotel
Louisville, Kentucky
Joe and John Castro
Season 3
Episode
Show number
Food
Chef
Restaurant
Location
Winner
1
BT0301
Crepes
Nessa Higgins & Andrea Day Boykin
Flip Happy Crepes
Austin, Texas
Nessa Higgins & Andrea Day Boykin
2
BT0302
Puffy tacos
Diana Barrios-Trevino
La Hacienda/Los Barrios
San Antonio, Texas
Diana Barrios-Trevino
3
BT0303
Jerk ribeye
Nigel Spence
Ripe Kitchen and Bar
Mount Vernon, New York
Nigel Spence
4
BT0304
Chicken fried steak [ a]
Paula Deen
Uncle Bubba's Oyster House
Savannah, Georgia
Paula Deen
5
BT0305
Pie
Janet LaPosta & Ally Taylor
Pie Moms
Rockland, Maine
Bobby Flay
6
BT0306
Crab cake
Mitch Weiss
The Lobster Dock
Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Bobby Flay
7
BT0307
Muffuletta
Mike and Jack Serio[ b]
Serio's Deli
New Orleans, Louisiana
Mike and Jack Serio
8
BT0308
Blondies
Tom Finney and Mark Ballard
Sugardaddy's Sumptuous Sweeties
Columbus, Ohio
Tom Finney and Mark Ballard
9
BT0309
Meatballs
Mike Maroni
Maroni Cuisine
Northport, New York
Mike Maroni
10
BT0310
Ice cream sundae
Julia Reynolds
Ice Cream Man
Greenwich, New York
Bobby Flay
11
BT0311
Lasagna
Mark Bove
Bove's Café
Burlington, Vermont
Bobby Flay
12
BT0312
Turkey and dressing
Renee Ferguson
Geneva, Illinois
Bobby Flay
13
BT0313
Gingerbread
Johanna Rosson
Macomb, Illinois
Johanna Rosson
^ Highlights aired on Paula's Party
^ Jack Serio died soon after this episode aired.[ 2] A remembrance graphic appeared at the end of the program.
Season 4
Episode
Show number
Food
Chef
Restaurant
Location
Winner
1
BT0401
Biscuits and jam
Carol Fay
Loveless Cafe
Nashville, Tennessee
Bobby Flay
2
BT0402
Ice pops
Irma and Norma Paz
Las Paletas
Nashville, Tennessee
Irma and Norma Paz
3
BT0403
Chocolate chip cookies
Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald
Levain Bakery
New York
Pam Weekes and Connie McDonald
4
BT0404
Eggplant parmesan
David Greco
Mike's Deli
Bronx, New York
David Greco
5
BT0405
Chicken and waffles
Melba Wilson
Melba's
Harlem, New York
Melba Wilson
6
BT0406
Pretzels
The Pretzel Boys
The Pretzel Boys
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Bobby Flay
7
BT0407
Arroz con pollo
Jorge Ayala
La Fonda Boricua
New York
Jorge Ayala
8
BT0408
Grilled cheese sandwich
The Pop Shop
The Pop Shop
Collingswood, New Jersey
Bobby Flay
9
BT0409
Dumplings
Sohui Kim
The Good Fork
Red Hook, New York
Sohui Kim
10
BT0410
Pulled pork
Lee Ann Whippen
Wood Chicks BBQ
Chesapeake, Virginia
Lee Ann Whippen
11
BT0411
Arepas
Maribel and Aristides Barrios
Caracas Arepas Bar
Manhattan, New York
Maribel and Aristides Barrios
12
BT0412[ a]
Grilled pork tenderloin vegetable skewers grilled whole fish cocktails
Butch Lupinetti Delilah Winder Nigel Spence Tobin Ellis
Miami, Florida
Bobby Flay
^ A special "Rematch on the Grill" episode featuring 3 former Throwdown contestants. Ellis showed up at the Throwdown itself to challenge Flay separately.
Season 5
Episode
Show number
Food
Chef
Restaurant
Location
Winner
1
BT0501
Coconut cake
Robert Carter
Peninsula Grill
Charleston, South Carolina
Bobby Flay
2
BT0502
Moules frites
Teddy Folkman
Granville Moore
Washington, D.C.
Teddy Folkman
3
BT0503
Seafood gumbo
Poppy Tooker
New Orleans, Louisiana
Poppy Tooker
4
BT0504
Paella
Gerard Nebesky
Gerard's Paella
Occidental, California
Gerard Nebesky
5
BT0505
Chile relleno
Ramiro Arvizu and Jaime Martin del Campo
La Casita Mexicana
Los Angeles, California
Ramiro Arvizu and Jaime Martin del Campo
6
BT0507
Brown bag apple pie
Dan Scheel and John Bauer
The Elegant Farmer
Mukwonago, Wisconsin
Dan Scheel and John Bauer
7
BT0506
Red velvet cake
Raven Dennis
Cakeman Raven Confectionery
Brooklyn, New York
Bobby Flay
8
BT0513
Bûche de Noël
François Payard
Payard
New York
François Payard
9
BT0508H
Deep-dish pizza
Marc Malnati
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
Chicago, Illinois
Marc Malnati
10
BT0509H
Falafel
Einat Admony
Taim Falafel and Smoothie
New York
Bobby Flay
11
BT0510H
Chocolate bread pudding
Jerome Chang and Chris Chen
Dessert Truck
New York
Jerome Chang and Chris Chen
12
BT0512H
Cioppino
Phil DiGirolamo
Phil's Fish Market
Moss Landing, California
Phil DiGirolamo
13
BT0511H
Sushi
Philip Yi
Sushi Central
Los Angeles, California
Philip Yi
Season 6
Episode
Show number
Food
Chef
Restaurant
Location
Winner
1
BT0601H
Pad Thai
Nongkran Daks
Thai Basil
Chantilly, Virginia
Nongkran Daks
2
BT0602H
Ravioli
Robert Durso Sr. & Robert Durso II
Durso's Pasta & Ravioli Company
Flushing, New York
Bobby Flay
3
BT0603H
Chicken pot pie
Sandy Pollock & Crystal Cook
Casserole Queens
Austin, Texas
Bobby Flay
4
BT0604H
Blueberry pancakes
Neil Kleinberg and DeDe Lahman
Clinton St. Baking Company & Restaurant
New York
Bobby Flay
5
BT0605H
Chicken matzoh ball soup
Jeff Nathan
Abigael's
New York
Jeff Nathan
6
BT0606H
Shrimp and grits
Joe Barnett
Washington, Georgia
Joe Barnett
7
BT0607H
North Carolina ribs and baked beans
Ed Mitchell
The Pit
Raleigh, North Carolina
Ed Mitchell
8
BT0608
German chocolate cake
Aliyyah Smith
Make My Cake
Harlem, New York
Bobby Flay
9
BT0609H
Fried fish escovitch
Sheron Barnes
Mo Bay Restaurant
Harlem, New York
Sheron Barnes
10
BT0610H
Country Captain
Lee Bros
Charleston, South Carolina
Lee Brothers
11
BT0611H
Fish tacos
Cesar Gonzales
Mama Testa Taqueria
San Diego, California
Cesar Gonzales
12
BT0612H
Green chile burger
Bobby Olguin
Manny's Buckhorn Tavern
San Antonio, New Mexico
Bobby Olguin
13
BT0613H
Sloppy Joes
Andrew and John Schnipper
Schnipper's Quality Kitchen
New York
Bobby Flay
Season 7
Episode
Show number
Food
Chef
Restaurant
Location
Winner
1
BT0701H
Fajita
Father Leo Patalinghug
Emmitsburg, Maryland
Father Leo Patalinghug
2
BT0702H
Barbecue chicken
Brad Turner
Fort Lee, Virginia
Bobby Flay
3
BT0703H
Lobster club sandwich
Lynn Archer
The Brass Compass Cafe
Rockland, Maine
Lynn Archer
4
BT0705H
Pumpkin pie
Michele Albano
Michele's Pies
Norwalk, Connecticut
Bobby Flay
5
BT0704H
Feast of the Seven Fishes
The Pellegrino Family
Rao's
Las Vegas, Nevada
The Pellegrino Family
6
BT0706H
Manhattan fish chowder
John Addis
Fish Tales
Brooklyn, New York
Bobby Flay
7
BT0707H
Liege Belgian waffles
Thomas DeGeest
Wafels & Dinges Truck
New York
Thomas DeGeest
8
BT0708H
Brownies
Shawna Lidsky & Katherine Hayward
Vermont Brownie Company
South Hero, Vermont
Shawna Lidsky & Katherine Hayward
9
BT0709H
Burritos
Victor & Miguel Escobedo
Papalote Mexican Grill
San Francisco, California
Victor & Miguel Escobedo
10
BT0710H
Omelets
Misty Young
Squeeze In
Truckee, California
Bobby Flay
11
BT0711H
Stuffed French toast
Omar Giner
La Isla Restaurant
Hoboken, New Jersey
Omar Giner
12
BT0712H
Cuban Sandwich
Nick Vazquez
Azucar Cuban Cuisine
Jersey City, New Jersey
Nick Vazquez
Season 8
Episode
Show number
Food
Chef
Restaurant
Location
Winner
1
BT0801H
Hot dogs
Nick Suarez
Brooklyn's Cheesiest Dog
Brooklyn, New York
Nick Suarez
2
BT0802H
Quiche
Rodney Henry
Dangerously Delicious Pies
Baltimore, Maryland
Bobby Flay
3
BT0803H
Chicken Tikka Masala
Chef Marianna
Saffron
Hudson, New York
Bobby Flay
4
BT0804H
Pineapple upside-down cake
Marilyn and Sheila Brass
Cookbook authors
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Brass Sisters
5
BT0805H
Carrot cake
Vera Stewart
Very Vera
Augusta, Georgia
Vera Stewart
6
BT0806H
Huevos rancheros
Teresa and David Matias
Mosaic Cafe
Tucson, Arizona
Bobby Flay
7
BT0807H
Banana cream pie
Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito
Baked Bakery
Brooklyn, New York
Bobby Flay
8
BT0808H
Chicken wings
Colette Burnett
Super Wings NY
Brooklyn, New York
Colette Burnett
9
BT0809H
Chicken-fried steak
Kent Rollins
Red River Ranch Chuckwagon Catering
Texas
Kent Rollins
10
BT0810H
Whoopie pies
Carol Ford and Karen Haase
Cranberry Island Kitchen
Portland, Maine
Carol Ford and Karen Haase
11
BTO811H
Moussaka
Diane Kochilas
New York
Bobby Flay
12
BT0812H
Lobster Mac and Cheese
Cal Hancock
Hancock Gourmet Lobster Company
Cundy's Harbor, Maine
Cal Hancock
References
External links
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