Bobby Flay Throwdown versus Vermont Brownie Co. Shawna Lidsky + Katherine Hayward

Throwdown: This week’s episode, Bobby Flay challenges Shawna Lidsky and Katherine Hayward of the Vermont Brownie Co. to a brownie throwdown. The two partnered up in 2008 and work out of the small kitchen of Katherine’s cousin’s bagel shop. Wow, talk about small business!

Food Network describes the show: “Shawna Lidsky and Katherine Hayward started the Vermont Brownie Company on New Year’s Day 2008 after deciding they wanted to start their own business. Shawna and Katherine believe Food Network is bringing back the show “Recipe for Success” and they have been selected to feature their signature Dark Chocolate Chevre Brownie. Little do they know that as they prepare to do a demo for their loyal supporters, Bobby Flay will be showing up with his own brownie recipe. Stay tuned to see whose chocolate brownie melts the competition!” Bobby, who is 4-4 for the season, seeks to rebound from last week’s loss to the Wafel Guy.

Dishes: Shawna and Katherine made their signature goat cheese (chevre) brownie–which uses local Vermont ingredients, including a layer of goat cheese in the center of the brownie. The brownie also includes cocoa powder sprinkled in, as well chocolate chunks and a dash of salt on top. Yes, salt!

By contrast, Bobby Flay made peanut butter, caramel sauce brownies. Bobby used three chocolates–unsweetened, semisweet, and bittersweet chocolate. The peanut butter was mixed into a reduced caramel sauce, and then added and mixed into the rest of the brownie mix. Yum, yum!

Judges: Gesine Bullock Prado (author of Confections of a Closet Master Baker) and Adrian West—. Judges tried the Vermont Brownie Co. goat cheese brownie first. Gesine seemed to like it more than Adrian, or at least did most of the talking, particularly liking the goat cheese and the salt on top. The judges noted that the goat cheese brownie was flaky and moist in texture, but the top of the brownie was not as brownie-like as expected. The judges then moved onto Bobby’s peanut butter brownie, which they noted was more dense like a traditional brownie. Judges liked the chocolate, but noted that it was really sweet.

Winner: Vermont Brownie Co. Shawna and Katherine win!

Bobby’s record: Bobby slips to 4-5 for the season.

Here’s a video of Shawna and Katherine:

Bobby Flay Throwdown v. the waffles guy – Thomas DeGeest of Wafels & Dinges

Throwdown: This week, Bobby challenges NYC’s street vendor “waffles guy” to a Belgian waffle challenge. Food Network describes the challenge as follows, “Belgium native Thomas DeGeest is known as ‘the waffles guy’ to most New Yorkers. This IBM consultant turned waffle connoisseur traded in his briefcase for a waffle iron, and has been selling Belgian waffles like hot cakes ever since. He operates his biz from his now famous canary yellow Wafels and Dinges truck, which he’s been driving around NYC streets for the past two years. On Mondays he parks by Columbia University’s campus, to feed the throngs of hungry college students.”

This was a really great episode! Very educational. Thomas explained that in Belgium there are 2 kinds of wafels: (1) Brussels wafels, which are more light and airy, and (2) Liege wafels, which are denser and sweeter (Bobby said almost like a donut). Both Thomas and Bobby chose to make the Liege wafels. As Thomas touted, “It’s a pastry, it’s a piece of art.”

Dishes: Thomas made a classic Liege wafel with a special sauce (name forgotten) that looks like peanut butter, but tastes like a Graham cracker. Bobby made a Liege wafel with Marscapone, cinnamon sugar, and strawberries.

Judges: Pastry chef David Carmichael of Gilt and Chef Mathieu Palimbino were the judges. They didn’t like Bobby’s Liege wafel–thought it was not properly carmelized and maybe too dry. But they really liked his Marscapone topping. The judges thought Thomas’s Liege wafel was lighter and airer, and properly cooked. One judge criticized how Thomas’s sauce didn’t seem to hold together.

Winner: Thomas DeGeest. The judges liked the classic, authentic Liege wafel from Thomas, which was cooked to perfection. But, wow, the judging was closer than we expected. Bobby is now 4-4 for the season.

Here’s a video of the waffles guy on CBS:

Bobby Flay Throwdown: another win over John Addis in Manhattan fish chowder

Wow. Bobby Flay is on fire this year, Season 7 of Throwdown. Right now, Bobby has a 4-3 winning record after beating John Addis of Brooklyn’s Fish Tales last week in Manhattan fish chowder. To put things into perspective, in 6 previous seasons, Bobby has never finished with a winning record. His best record was last year, at 5-8. Go Bobby! For all of our recaps of Bobby this season, click here.

A very confident John Addis responded to Bobby’s challenge with a classic line: “They don’t call it a throwdown in Brooklyn. They call it a beatdown!”

Highlights: Both Bobby and John Addis used halibut in their chowder, but Bobby cooked his before dumping it into the soup. John, however, threw his raw into the chowder to cook. Bobby’s secret ingredient was bacon!

Judging: Jennifer Meadows, chef of Fishbar on the Lake, and Matt Hovey, a seafood purchasing agent at Wild Edibles, were the judges. In another huge upset, they picked Bobby’s chowder over John Addis’s. The judges thought that John’s chowder was a bit too bland–which may not be surprising since they tried Bobby’s bacon-infused chowder first!

Judge Jennifer Meadows below:

The Apple of Montauk Fishermen’s Eyes: Chef Jennifer Meadows of Fishbar from SkeeterNYC on Vimeo.

Throwdown: Bobby Flay loses the Feast of Seven Fishes v. Rao’s Restaurant

Last week’s episode of Bobby Flay Throwdown was a special 1-hour holiday episode in which the Pellegrino family of Rao’s restaurant in New York challenged Bobby to a throwdown in the Feast of Seven Fishes, an Italian speciality. Both sides picked 3 seafood dishes to cook. In a close battle, the Pellegrino family beat Bobby.

The episode was different in 2 respects: it lasted 1 hour, and Bobby was challenged to a throwdown instead of the other way around. We didn’t like either change, to be honest. The show was slower and less fun. Sorry, Bobby, not to get into the “holiday” spirit.

Bobby Flay Throwdown v. Michele Albano pumpkin pie

Hey, folks, a new episode of Throwdown tonight! Can’t wait. Just in time for Thanksgiving, Bobby Flay challenges Michele Albano of Michele’s Pies in Norwalk, CT. Michele’s Pies has won numerous awards for its pies, which look amazing! To be honest, Bobby Flay doesn’t have a chance tonight!

Michele’s pie: Maple Pumpkin with Pecan Streusel Pie. Wow, the judges criticized the crust! Not flaky enough. Not good.

Bobby’s pie: Maple bourbon cream topping. But Bobby used canned pumpkin. Wow, judges like Bobby’s cookie crust better and say decision will not be easy.

Winner: Bobby Flay wins. Holy mackerel!!!! Biggest Throwdown upset ever!!!!!

Video of Michele Albano on Good Morning America:

Also check out Resident Foodies’ review of L2O restaurant in Chicago: