Ep 9. Small Plates, Big Flavor

Guy Fieri hosts a cooking show that takes place in his ranch kitchen, filled with all the necessary ingredients and equipment to make delicious dishes. In season 5 episode 9, entitled "Small Plates, Big Flavor," Guy is joined by three talented chefs who are experts at creating tasty small plates that pack a punch.

The first chef to join Guy in the kitchen is the owner of Atlanta's popular restaurant O-Ku, Chef George Yu. Chef Yu whips up a Korean-inspired dish that features marinated steak accompanied by tangy pickled vegetables and crispy rice. Guy is impressed by the freshness of the dish and notes that it has a perfect balance of flavors, from the acidity of the pickled veggies to the savory spice of the steak.

Next up is San Diego-based Chef Claudette Zepeda, who brings her Latin-infused flavors to the table with a seafood dish consisting of avocado, mango, and lobster with a zesty citrus aioli sauce. Guy and the other chefs commend Zepeda's creativity and her perfect cooking of the lobster - it's juicy and flavorful, without being overcooked.

Finally, Guy welcomes Chef Michael Symon, a frequent contributor to the show and co-host of the Food Network's "The Chew." Symon takes a classic dish - bacon-wrapped dates - and gives it a flavorful twist by stuffing the dates with goat cheese and marinating them in a sweet pomegranate sauce. The result is a dish that is both sweet and savory, with a nice contrast of textures between the bacon and the creamy cheese.

Throughout the episode, Guy and the chefs share tips and tricks for creating flavorful small plates, from balancing out spicy dishes with cooling yogurt sauces to using microgreens to add a burst of flavor to any dish. They also discuss the importance of plating and presentation when it comes to small plates, as a well-presented dish can often be just as impressive as its taste.

In addition to the cooking demonstrations, Guy also takes viewers on a virtual tour of his ranch and shares some of his own favorite small plate recipes, including smoked brisket sliders with homemade BBQ sauce and a tasty veggie dish featuring the often-overlooked root vegetable, parsnips. He also shares his go-to cocktail recipe - a spicy margarita with fresh lime juice and jalapeno-infused tequila.

As the episode comes to a close, Guy and the chefs raise a toast to the great dishes they've created and the fun they've had in the kitchen. Viewers are sure to be inspired by the creativity and skill on display in "Small Plates, Big Flavor," and will likely find themselves eager to try out their own small plate creations in their own kitchens.