Ep 28. Deep Fried Treats

Take a deep dive into the sizzling world of fried treats with the Unwrapped season 8 episode 28, appropriately titled Deep Fried Treats. Join host Marc Summers as he explores the inner workings of some of America's favorite deep-fried foods, from Oreos to corn dogs and everything in between.

The episode starts with a trip to the State Fair of Texas, home to the famous Fletcher's Corny Dog stand. Marc gets the inside scoop on what makes a perfect corn dog, from the batter to the hot oil used for frying. He even gets to try his hand at dipping and frying a corn dog himself!

Next up, the show takes a trip to the Krispy Kreme headquarters in North Carolina to see how their iconic doughnuts are made. But this time, they're not just making regular doughnuts – they're making deep-fried doughnut holes. Marc gets to see the process from start to finish, from the mixing of the dough to the final product being dunked in hot oil. These little bites of heaven are then topped with powdered sugar and served warm.

Moving on from doughnuts, the show takes a trip to the Pennsylvania Dutch country to learn about funnel cakes. An Amish family-run business demonstrates how these delicious treats are made, with their secret batter recipe and how they pour it through a funnel before deep frying. Marc even gets to try it out himself, and learning the traditional Amish method.

But it's not just sweet treats that are making an appearance on this episode – savory deep-fried snacks are also on the menu. The show heads to Louisiana to explore the world of deep-fried alligator on a stick. A local restaurant gives Marc a taste of this southern specialty, and shows how they prepare and deep-fry the alligator bites to perfection.

At the Minnesota State Fair, Marc discovers one of the quirkiest deep-fried treats around – deep-fried hotdish. Hotdish is a classic Minnesota casserole made with tater tots, ground beef, and cream of mushroom soup. The chefs at the fair have found a way to take this dish to the next level by coating it in a batter and deep-frying it. Marc gets to try it out, and explains how the flavors all come together when fried.

And last but not least, the episode takes a trip to a Los Angeles restaurant that specializes in deep-fried Oreos. These classic cookies are dipped in batter and fried until golden brown, and then served hot with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Marc talks to the chef about how this popular dessert came to be, and the secret to achieving the perfect balance of crispy and creamy.

Throughout the episode, Marc explores the science behind deep-frying and the various techniques used to achieve the perfect crispy texture. He also talks to chefs and proprietors about the history of these foods and how they've evolved over time. And of course, he gets to taste all of these delicious treats along the way!

Overall, Unwrapped season 8 episode 28, Deep Fried Treats, is a fun and informative journey through the world of deep-fried foods. Whether you're a fan of sweet or savory, there's something for everyone in this episode. From state fairs to local restaurants, Marc takes you on a delicious adventure that will leave you craving some deep-fried goodness.