Ep 5. Best Breakfasts

Iron Chef Eats is a food show where celebrity chefs from the popular cooking competition, Iron Chef, take viewers on a culinary journey to discover the best dishes and hidden gems in cities across America. In season 1 episode 5, titled "Best Breakfasts," host and Iron Chef America winner, Michael Symon, indulges in the most important meal of the day at three top breakfast spots in Los Angeles.

The first stop on Symon's breakfast adventure is the newly-opened Poppy + Rose. The restaurant prides itself on using locally-sourced and organic ingredients, and their breakfast menu is no exception. Symon tries their signature dish, the Fried Chicken and Waffle, which features a golden brown, crispy fried chicken breast on a fluffy waffle, drizzled with maple syrup and hot sauce. Symon declares it a "game changer" and a breakfast that would get him out of bed early every day.

Next, Symon heads to HomeState, a popular restaurant that serves up Texas-style breakfast tacos. Symon meets with the founder of HomeState, Briana Valdez, who shows him how they make their famous bacon and egg breakfast tacos. Symon is impressed with the homemade tortillas made fresh every day and the generous amount of crispy bacon in each taco. He also tries their breakfast quesadilla, which is filled with chorizo, scrambled eggs, and cheese. Symon says the dish is "mouthwatering" and "unbelievable."

The final stop on Symon's breakfast tour is The Griddle Cafe, a Hollywood hotspot known for their gigantic fluffy pancakes. Symon meets with owner and chef, Betty Fraser, who shows him how they make their famous pancakes, like the "Black Magic" - a stack of chocolate chip pancakes topped with whipped cream. Symon is blown away by the size of the pancakes and the creative flavor combinations available, including the "Green Tea" pancakes and the "Panookie," a pancake cookie combo.

Throughout the episode, Symon also meets with the chefs and restaurant owners to learn about the inspiration behind their dishes and the history of their establishments. He also provides cooking tips and tricks for viewers to try at home, like using corn starch to make crispier bacon and letting pancake batter sit for a few minutes before cooking to create a fluffier texture.

Overall, "Best Breakfasts" is a mouthwatering episode of Iron Chef Eats that highlights some of the best breakfast spots in Los Angeles. Symon's infectious personality and love of breakfast make this episode a must-watch for foodies and breakfast enthusiasts alike.