Ep 11. Livin' Large

The Best Thing I Ever Ate is a food-based television series that features popular chefs and food enthusiasts sharing their favorite dishes from different restaurants across America. In the 13th season's 11th episode, titled "Livin' Large," the focus is on meals that deliver big flavor and big portions.

We start off with host Alex Guarnaschelli, who visits a pizza joint in Brooklyn, New York, called Di Fara Pizza. She talks about how pizzerias are always competing for the title of the "best pizza in New York," but for her, there's no competition when it comes to Di Fara. She introduces us to the owner, Dom DeMarco, who has been making every pizza single-handedly for over 50 years. Alex savors each bite of his famous Di Fara pizza that's loaded with sausage, peppers, and mushrooms.

Next up is Duff Goldman, a cake enthusiast who takes us to a Chicago-based bakery called Portillo's. While Portillo's might be famous for their hot dogs, Duff has a soft spot for their chocolate cake shake. He explains how it's a thick, creamy, and incredibly satisfying milkshake with chunks of moist chocolate cake in it.

Aarti Sequeira, a chef and cookbook author, takes us to eat in Los Angeles, at a restaurant called Pacifique. She divulges that her favorite thing is the Uni Butter Pasta, a dish that has a light citrusy and seafoody taste, thanks to the generous use of sea urchin, butter, and lemon.

Next, Lisa Lillien, the founder of hungry-girl.com, introduces us to a Korean fried chicken recipe that she adores from Oiji, a restaurant in the East village of Manhattan, New York. She demonstrates how it's well fried, super crunchy, and sprinkled with generous amounts of seasoning. She tells us that it's a testament to how the simplest dishes can often be the most satisfying.

In another part of New York City, Ali Khan, a food blogger and TV personality, takes us to Momofuku noodle bar, a fusion restaurant that's famous for their unique concoctions of ramen and other Asian-inspired dishes. Ali dives into steaming bowls of pork ragu ramen, which he feels is a hearty and flavorful meal that leaves him stuffed to the brim.

Lastly, we visit Food Network's Molly Yeh in Grand Forks, North Dakota, at a popular brewery called Rhombus Guys. Molly tells us about one of her favorite pizzas, called the "Mac 'n Cheese Pizza." It's a delicious combination of creamy cheese sauce, smoky bacon, and crunchy breadcrumbs atop a perfectly baked pizza crust that she savors every time she visits the brewery.

In conclusion, "Livin' Large" is an episode that is sure to leave viewers feeling satisfied, and perhaps a little bit hungry. It's an exploration of the diversity in American cuisine and showcases delicious meals that are hearty as well as delicious.