Throwdown! with Bobby Flay

Last updated
Throwdown! with Bobby Flay
Genre Reality TV, Cooking
Starring Bobby Flay
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes92
Production
Running time30 minutes (with commercials)
Original release
Network Food Network
ReleaseJuly 13, 2006 (2006-07-13) 
March 10, 2010 (2010-03-10)

Throwdown! with Bobby Flay is a Food Network television program in which celebrity chef Bobby Flay challenges cooks renowned for a specific dish or type of cooking to a cook-off of their signature dish.

Contents

At the beginning of each show, Flay receives – via bicycle messenger – a package detailing the chef he is to compete against as well as the dish. Examples of opponents include a skilled chili maker or a famous wedding cake designer. After practicing and preparing the item in question, Flay shows up for a surprise competition (or "Throwdown"). During the competition, both chefs prepare their particular version of the dish, and both are then evaluated by local judges to determine a winner.

Format

Each show includes a mini-biography about the chef who is to be challenged, shown before the challenge takes place. The content for the biography is actually collected as part of an elaborate ruse or setup, where the chef or cook is told that they are going to be featured on a fictitious Food Network show. As part of the show, the featured chef (and their associated restaurant, if any) hosts a small party, which is then unexpectedly "crashed" by Bobby Flay. Upon Flay's arrival, he reveals the true nature of the show, and the "Throwdown" is initiated.

In the Food Network's test kitchen, Flay and his two sous-chefs (Stephanie Banyas and Miriam Garron) experiment and prepare the particular dish, often opting for a variant of the dish.

When Flay makes his appearance at a rival's event, he is usually greeted with surprise and confusion, although there has been one occasion where the challenged chef figured out that Flay would be appearing for a throwdown and ended up challenging him. Flay's comment was that he "had been set up." [1] However, the rival usually quickly gets over the initial shock and warms up to the challenge. After the dishes are prepared, the two chefs taste each other's creations and are usually quite complimentary towards one another. Finally, the dishes are evaluated by one or more connoisseurs or notable veterans in that field (via a blind taste test), with the winner then being announced.

Each episode ends with a challenge from Flay looking directly into the camera and saying, "All you chefs keep doing what you do, but ask yourself this..." Finished by the featured chef saying "are you ready for a Throwdown?"

The format of the show does not edit or disguise Flay's lack of knowledge of technique regarding cooking for the challenge. He often makes use of New York City-area experts to teach him basic techniques. In other instances, he acknowledges the traditional approach to the dish but then explains how he will make it more modern or more his own style of cooking with various added ingredients.

Flay's record is 32 wins, 1 tie, and 68 losses. Flay has a winning record (5 wins and 4 losses) with cake challenges, winning throwdowns for cheesecake and cupcakes in season 2, coconut cake and red velvet cake in season 5, and German chocolate cake in season 6. Flay lost throwdowns for wedding cake in season 1, Bûche de Noël in season 5, and Carrot cake and Pineapple Upside-down cake in season 8.

As of 2021, Bobby Flay wins about 66% of the time on Beat Bobby Flay.

Episodes

Season 1

EpisodeShow numberFoodChefRestaurantLocationWinner
1BT0101 Chowder Benjamin SargentHurricane Hopeful Surf Bar Brooklyn, New York Bobby Flay
2BT0102Wedding cakeMichelle DollMichelle Doll CakesBrooklyn, New YorkMichelle Doll
3BT0103ChiliCindy Reed WilkinsCin Chili & CompanyHouston, TexasTie
4BT0104 Jerk chicken Angela Shelf Medearis Austin, Texas Angela Shelf Medearis
5BT0105SteakEric Dominijanni Twentynine Palms, California Eric Dominijanni
6BT0106BreakfastLynn Winter Lynn's Paradise Cafe Louisville, Kentucky Lynn Winter
7BT0107BurgersSusan MelloQueens, New YorkBobby Flay
8BT0108 Jambalaya Emile StieffelNew Orleans, LouisianaEmile Stieffel
9BT0109CocktailsTobin EllisLas Vegas, NevadaBobby Flay
10BT0110DoughnutsMark IsraelDoughnut PlantNew York City, New YorkMark Israel
11BT0111 Cheesesteak Tony Luke, Jr. Tony Luke's Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaTony Luke
12BT0112Ice creamJeff SommersIzzy's Ice Cream Saint Paul, Minnesota Jeff Sommers
13BT0113Fried chickenJasper AlexanderHattie's Restaurant Saratoga Springs, New York Jasper Alexander
14BT0114 Barbecue Butch Lupinetti Mount Laurel, New Jersey Butch Lupinetti
15BT0115PizzaGiorgio GioveBrother's PizzeriaStaten Island, New YorkGiorgio Giove

Season 2

EpisodeShow numberFoodChefRestaurantLocationWinner
1BT0201ChocolateFritz KnipschildtChocopologie / Knipschildt Chocolatier Norwalk, Connecticut Fritz Knipschildt
2BT0202 Bulos Flavored Ice Cream Keith YoungNew York City, New YorkKeith Young
3BT0203MeatloafJack and Rocco CollucciCollucci Brother's Diner Hyannis, Massachusetts Jack and Rocco Collucci
4BT0204Macaroni and cheeseDelilah WinderDelilah'sPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaBobby Flay
5BT0205Fish and chipsMat ArnfieldA Salt and BatteryNew York City, New YorkMat Arnfield
6BT0206 Cheesecake Alan Rosen Junior's Brooklyn, New YorkBobby Flay
7BT0207 Cuban roast pork Roberto GuerraRoberto Guerra
8BT0208 Spare ribs Buz GrossbergBuz and Ned's Richmond, Virginia Buz Grossberg
9BT0209CupcakesTerri WahlAuntie Em's KitchenEagle Rock, CaliforniaBobby Flay
10BT0210Hot dogsRichard, Gloria, and Beverly Pink Pink's Hot Dogs Hollywood, CaliforniaBobby Flay
11BT0211 Buffalo wings Drew CerzaThe Anchor Bar Buffalo, New York Drew Cerza
12BT0212 Sticky buns Joanne Chang Flour BakeryBoston, MassachusettsJoanne Chang
13BT0213 Hot browns Joe and John Castro Brown Hotel Louisville, Kentucky Joe and John Castro

Season 3

EpisodeShow numberFoodChefRestaurantLocationWinner
1BT0301 Crepes Nessa Higgins & Andrea Day BoykinFlip Happy Crepes Austin, Texas Nessa Higgins & Andrea Day Boykin
2BT0302 Puffy tacos Diana Barrios-TrevinoLa Hacienda/Los Barrios San Antonio, Texas Diana Barrios-Trevino
3BT0303 Jerk ribeye Nigel SpenceRipe Kitchen and Bar Mount Vernon, New York Nigel Spence
4BT0304 Chicken fried steak [lower-alpha 1] Paula Deen Uncle Bubba's Oyster House Savannah, Georgia Paula Deen
5BT0305PieJanet LaPosta & Ally TaylorPie Moms Rockland, Maine Bobby Flay
6BT0306 Crab cake Mitch WeissThe Lobster Dock Boothbay Harbor, Maine Bobby Flay
7BT0307 Muffuletta Mike and Jack Serio [lower-alpha 2] Serio's DeliNew Orleans, LouisianaMike and Jack Serio
8BT0308 Blondies Tom Finney and Mark BallardSugardaddy's Sumptuous Sweeties Columbus, Ohio Tom Finney and Mark Ballard
9BT0309MeatballsMike MaroniMaroni Cuisine Northport, New York Mike Maroni
10BT0310Ice cream sundaeJulia ReynoldsIce Cream Man Greenwich, New York Bobby Flay
11BT0311LasagnaMark BoveBove's Café Burlington, Vermont Bobby Flay
12BT0312Turkey and dressingRenee Ferguson Geneva, Illinois Bobby Flay
13BT0313 Gingerbread Johanna Rosson Macomb, Illinois Johanna Rosson
  1. Highlights aired on Paula's Party
  2. Jack Serio died soon after this episode aired. [2] A remembrance graphic appeared at the end of the program.

Season 4

EpisodeShow numberFoodChefRestaurantLocationWinner
1BT0401Biscuits and jamCarol Fay Loveless Cafe Nashville, TennesseeBobby Flay
2BT0402 Ice pops Irma and Norma PazLas PaletasNashville, TennesseeIrma and Norma Paz
3BT0403Chocolate chip cookiesPam Weekes and Connie McDonaldLevain BakeryNew YorkPam Weekes and Connie McDonald
4BT0404 Eggplant parmesan David GrecoMike's DeliBronx, New YorkDavid Greco
5BT0405 Chicken and waffles Melba Wilson Melba'sHarlem, New YorkMelba Wilson
6BT0406PretzelsThe Pretzel BoysThe Pretzel BoysPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaBobby Flay
7BT0407 Arroz con pollo Jorge AyalaLa Fonda BoricuaNew YorkJorge Ayala
8BT0408Grilled cheese sandwichThe Pop ShopThe Pop Shop Collingswood, New Jersey Bobby Flay
9BT0409 Dumplings Sohui KimThe Good Fork Red Hook, New York Sohui Kim
10BT0410 Pulled pork Lee Ann Whippen Wood Chicks BBQ Chesapeake, Virginia Lee Ann Whippen
11BT0411 Arepas Maribel and Aristides BarriosCaracas Arepas BarManhattan, New YorkMaribel and Aristides Barrios
12BT0412 [lower-alpha 1] Grilled pork tenderloin
vegetable skewers
grilled whole fish
cocktails
Butch Lupinetti
Delilah Winder
Nigel Spence
Tobin Ellis
Miami, FloridaBobby Flay
  1. A special "Rematch on the Grill" episode featuring 3 former Throwdown contestants. Ellis showed up at the Throwdown itself to challenge Flay separately.

Season 5

EpisodeShow numberFoodChefRestaurantLocationWinner
1BT0501Coconut cakeRobert CarterPeninsula Grill Charleston, South Carolina Bobby Flay
2BT0502 Moules frites Teddy FolkmanGranville MooreWashington, D.C.Teddy Folkman
3BT0503 Seafood gumbo Poppy TookerNew Orleans, LouisianaPoppy Tooker
4BT0504 Paella Gerard NebeskyGerard's Paella Occidental, California Gerard Nebesky
5BT0505 Chile relleno Ramiro Arvizu and Jaime Martin del CampoLa Casita MexicanaLos Angeles, CaliforniaRamiro Arvizu and Jaime Martin del Campo
6BT0507Brown bag apple pieDan Scheel and John BauerThe Elegant Farmer Mukwonago, Wisconsin Dan Scheel and John Bauer
7BT0506 Red velvet cake Raven Dennis Cakeman Raven Confectionery Brooklyn, New YorkBobby Flay
8BT0513 Bûche de Noël François Payard PayardNew YorkFrançois Payard
9BT0508H Deep-dish pizza Marc Malnati Lou Malnati's Pizzeria Chicago, IllinoisMarc Malnati
10BT0509H Falafel Einat AdmonyTaim Falafel and SmoothieNew YorkBobby Flay
11BT0510H Chocolate bread pudding Jerome Chang and Chris ChenDessert TruckNew YorkJerome Chang and Chris Chen
12BT0512H Cioppino Phil DiGirolamoPhil's Fish Market Moss Landing, California Phil DiGirolamo
13BT0511HSushiPhilip YiSushi CentralLos Angeles, CaliforniaPhilip Yi

Season 6

EpisodeShow numberFoodChefRestaurantLocationWinner
1BT0601H Pad Thai Nongkran DaksThai Basil Chantilly, Virginia Nongkran Daks
2BT0602HRavioliRobert Durso Sr. & Robert Durso IIDurso's Pasta & Ravioli Company Flushing, New York Bobby Flay
3BT0603H Chicken pot pie Sandy Pollock & Crystal CookCasserole QueensAustin, TexasBobby Flay
4BT0604HBlueberry pancakesNeil Kleinberg and DeDe Lahman Clinton St. Baking Company & Restaurant New YorkBobby Flay
5BT0605H Chicken matzoh ball soup Jeff NathanAbigael'sNew YorkJeff Nathan
6BT0606H Shrimp and grits Joe Barnett Washington, Georgia Joe Barnett
7BT0607H North Carolina ribs and baked beans Ed MitchellThe Pit Raleigh, North Carolina Ed Mitchell
8BT0608 German chocolate cake Aliyyah SmithMake My CakeHarlem, New YorkBobby Flay
9BT0609H Fried fish escovitch Sheron BarnesMo Bay RestaurantHarlem, New YorkSheron Barnes
10BT0610H Country Captain Lee BrosCharleston, South CarolinaLee Brothers
11BT0611HFish tacosCesar GonzalesMama Testa TaqueriaSan Diego, CaliforniaCesar Gonzales
12BT0612H Green chile burger Bobby OlguinManny's Buckhorn Tavern San Antonio, New Mexico Bobby Olguin
13BT0613H Sloppy Joes Andrew and John SchnipperSchnipper's Quality KitchenNew YorkBobby Flay

Season 7

EpisodeShow numberFoodChefRestaurantLocationWinner
1BT0701H Fajita Father Leo Patalinghug Emmitsburg, Maryland Father Leo Patalinghug
2BT0702HBarbecue chickenBrad Turner Fort Lee, Virginia Bobby Flay
3BT0703H Lobster club sandwich Lynn ArcherThe Brass Compass Cafe Rockland, Maine Lynn Archer
4BT0705HPumpkin pieMichele AlbanoMichele's Pies Norwalk, Connecticut Bobby Flay
5BT0704H Feast of the Seven Fishes The Pellegrino FamilyRao'sLas Vegas, NevadaThe Pellegrino Family
6BT0706HManhattan fish chowderJohn AddisFish TalesBrooklyn, New YorkBobby Flay
7BT0707H Liege Belgian waffles Thomas DeGeestWafels & Dinges TruckNew YorkThomas DeGeest
8BT0708HBrowniesShawna Lidsky & Katherine HaywardVermont Brownie CompanySouth Hero, VermontShawna Lidsky & Katherine Hayward
9BT0709HBurritosVictor & Miguel EscobedoPapalote Mexican GrillSan Francisco, CaliforniaVictor & Miguel Escobedo
10BT0710HOmeletsMisty YoungSqueeze In Truckee, California Bobby Flay
11BT0711HStuffed French toastOmar GinerLa Isla Restaurant Hoboken, New Jersey Omar Giner
12BT0712H Cuban Sandwich Nick VazquezAzucar Cuban Cuisine Jersey City, New Jersey Nick Vazquez

Season 8

EpisodeShow numberFoodChefRestaurantLocationWinner
1BT0801HHot dogsNick SuarezBrooklyn's Cheesiest DogBrooklyn, New YorkNick Suarez
2BT0802H Quiche Rodney HenryDangerously Delicious PiesBaltimore, MarylandBobby Flay
3BT0803HChicken Tikka MasalaChef MariannaSaffron Hudson, New York Bobby Flay
4BT0804H Pineapple upside-down cake Marilyn and Sheila BrassCookbook authors Cambridge, Massachusetts Brass Sisters
5BT0805HCarrot cakeVera StewartVery Vera Augusta, Georgia Vera Stewart
6BT0806H Huevos rancheros Teresa and David MatiasMosaic Cafe Tucson, Arizona Bobby Flay
7BT0807HBanana cream pieMatt Lewis and Renato PoliafitoBaked BakeryBrooklyn, New YorkBobby Flay
8BT0808HChicken wingsColette BurnettSuper Wings NYBrooklyn, New YorkColette Burnett
9BT0809H Chicken-fried steak Kent RollinsRed River Ranch Chuckwagon CateringTexasKent Rollins
10BT0810H Whoopie pies Carol Ford and Karen HaaseCranberry Island Kitchen Portland, Maine Carol Ford and Karen Haase
11BTO811H Moussaka Diane Kochilas New YorkBobby Flay
12BT0812HLobster Mac and CheeseCal HancockHancock Gourmet Lobster Company Cundy's Harbor, Maine Cal Hancock

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References

  1. Episode BT0209H "Cupcakes"
  2. "Jack Serio Obituary - New Orleans, LA | The Times-Picayune". Obits.nola.com. Retrieved 2016-09-06.