Ep 4. Brilliantly Baked

The Best Thing I Ever Ate is a food-based television series that, as its name suggests, features some of the most amazing dishes that people have ever tasted around the world. In the show, a number of celebrities and food critics share their favorite dishes, and where to find them. This show has become incredibly popular and is now in its ninth season. In episode four of season nine, titled "Brilliantly Baked," the focus is primarily on delicious baked dishes that are sure to have viewers drooling.

The episode starts with host Alex Guarnaschelli, the renowned Chef and mastermind behind the Butter restaurant in New York, elucidating the secret of a perfectly baked goods dish to her colleagues. She goes on to elaborate on key factors like ingredient selections, time and temperature control for baking, oven settings, and more. Alex shares her thoughts with the viewers about her favorite baked dish, the brioche donut from Supermoon Bakehouse in New York City. She mentions that the donut is a true masterpiece and is the perfect balance of flakiness, crunchiness, and sweetness.

Next up is celebrity chef Michael Voltaggio who reveals his preference for a sourdough sandwich from Clark Street Bread in Los Angeles. He explains that the bread is an integral part of the sandwich, and that the right kind of sourdough makes all the difference. Michael also shares his recipe for his own sourdough bread, and gives viewers an idea of just how back-breaking the process is.

The show then introduces Chef Duff Goldman, the founder of Charm City Cakes in Baltimore, who talks about his pick, baked Alaska. Duff gives a step-by-step guide on how to make the ideal baked Alaska and talks about how his own bakery began by making precisely this dish for a client's party. Duff explains that baked Alaska is always a hit at parties as it combines a classic dessert with a sort of show-stopping presentation.

Another celebrity chef, Jet Tila, introduces the audience to his go-to favorite dish, a baked spicy crab hand roll from Sushi Gen in Los Angeles. Jet shares that he has been a fan of this dish for over 20 years, and that he considers it an artistic masterpiece. He describes how the flavors are balanced perfectly and also elaborates on why this dish is known to be so tricky and challenging.

Finally, the proprietor of Biscuit Love in Nashville, Karl Worley, shares his favorite baked dish, a biscuit sandwich called "The Wash Park." Karl recalls how it all started in his grandmother's kitchen, and how he gained the inspiration to recreate her flavors in his own bakery. His biscuits are made in a specific way that he describes in detail during the show, and his sausage gravy recipe is something that viewers are sure to want to try.

Overall, "Brilliantly Baked" is another fantastic episode of The Best Thing I Ever Ate series. Each of the dishes introduced in the show is pure genius, clearly the result of years of experience and lots of research and hard work. The diverse range of baked goods showcased has something for everyone, from donuts to sandwiches, from biscuits to baked Alaska. For anyone looking to elevate their baking skills and broaden their horizons within the baking sphere, this episode is definitely worth watching.