Ep 2. Celeryman

Good Eats is back with a brand new episode and in the second episode of the 12th season, host Alton Brown is on a mission to find the perfect recipe for celery. Aptly titled "Celeryman," the episode features a deep dive into the oft-underappreciated vegetable that can add a lot of crunch and flavor to a variety of dishes.

Celery may seem like a simple ingredient, but it has a long and storied history. Alton takes us on a journey through the origins and uses of celery, starting with the ancient Greeks and ending with modern-day recipes that showcase the vegetable in all its glory. From celery salad to grilled celery and even instructions on how to make your own celery salt, Alton covers it all in this comprehensive episode.

One of the most interesting parts of the episode is when Alton explores the science of celery. Did you know that celery is made up of mostly water and has negative calories? That means that it takes more energy to digest celery than it actually provides to your body. Alton also explains how celery gets its signature crunch and what to look for when buying celery at the grocery store.

In addition to sharing fascinating facts about celery, Alton also demonstrates how to prepare it in a variety of ways. He shows viewers how to properly wash and slice celery, as well as how to make a homemade celery-based seasoning blend that can be used to add flavor to any meal. Alton's recipes are always approachable and easy to follow, with plenty of tips and tricks to make cooking a breeze.

One of the standout recipes from the episode is Alton's celery soda. Using only a few simple ingredients, Alton demonstrates how to make a refreshing and unique soda that highlights the crisp, clean flavor of celery. It's a great way to use up any leftover celery you may have and is perfect for a hot summer day.

Throughout the episode, Alton also shares some of his personal experiences with celery, including his favorite childhood recipe for ants on a log. He even finds a celery recipe from one of his own cookbooks that he admits wasn't quite up to his usual standards and demonstrates how he's improved it over the years.

In typical Good Eats fashion, there are plenty of quirky moments and pop culture references scattered throughout the episode. Alton even dons a superhero costume at one point to become "Celeryman" and save the day with his vegetable powers.

Overall, "Celeryman" is a fun and informative episode of Good Eats that will have viewers looking at celery in a whole new light. Alton's easy-to-follow recipes and science-based explanations make it a great resource for anyone looking to incorporate more celery into their diet or experiment with new flavors in the kitchen.