The Food Fight Tonight!
The Food Fight Tonight!
Jump to RecipeTonight is a big night. As you might have heard, I’m going to be one of the home cooks on the new, hit NBC cooking show, “Food Fighters.”
Well, my episode airs tonight at 8/7c on NBC!
It’s going to be a crazy hour of cooking.
Read on to learn more about the show and also a sneak peak of my episode!
Food Fighters Basics
If you haven’t watched an episode of “Food Fighters” yet, you can catch up on the NBC website, but essentially, the show combines compelling competition and game show fun with a cool twist – giving every day home cooks a once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete against world class chefs in the ultimate culinary showdown.
Instead of $10,000 or $15,000, the eight competitors each get a chance to win a whopping $100,000.
A Chef Sneak Peak!
NBC gave me permission to share with you the five chefs I went against in my episode. Keep in mind that I had no idea which chefs I would be going against until they walked through the door!
In no particular order:
Casey Thompson– Casey was on Top Chef Season 3 and now specializes in American cuisine focusing on fresh, organic and local produce.
Vic “Vegas” Moca– Owner of Vic’s restaurant in Vegas and a generally intimidating dude. He specializes in American classic comfort food.
Elise Wims– Known as “The Diva Chef” was featured on Hell’s Kitchen Season 9. She is known for her Italian and Creole fusion.
Kent Rollins– Chuck wagon cook who specializes in western cooking and grilling. Don’t let the cowboy hat fool ya. The man can cook.
Duff Goldman – Bakery chef – Ace of Cakes Master. You all know Duff.
Each one of these chefs will have a prize amount associated and if I beat them in the “food fight,” I’ll bank that amount of money! And, because there has been some confusion, if I lose a round, it doesn’t mean that the game is over. It just means I don’t win the money for that round.
The Dishes I Make
While I can’t tell you all the dishes I made, here are a few of the dishes I make for the show!
Eggs Benedict – I make mine with smoked salmon on puffed pastry for a lighter twist on the classic.
Veggie Burger and Fries – I use a lot of various mushrooms to make a super savory veggie burger. The host of the show, Adam Richman, called it one of the best veggie burgers he’s ever eaten. I served it with sweet and spicy sweet potato fries because why not?!
Mashed Potato Pizza – One of the first pizzas I ever learned to make. It’s a strange regional dish that I’ve really only seen in New Haven, CT. Now it’s going national though!
Here’s a quick preview of the show tonight!
And here’s another preview of the Mashed Potato Pizza battle!
I can’t even begin to say what a cool experience this show was. It was amazingly stressful and competitive, but at the same time one of the most fun days of my life! I can’t wait to see the final product tonight!
Leave a comment. Ask questions. Share this with your friends, but most importantly… TUNE IN.
thanks for the reminder, just set the dvr!
I’d love to watch, but we don’t have cable! Do you know if the show will be available anywhere after it airs?
Hey Jessica, it’ll be available tomorrow (i think) on the NBC website and I think also on Hulu. Thanks for the support!
I’ll definitely be tuning in. Good luck! (Even though it’s already happened)
Ha! Thanks Jared. I can still use the luck. ;)
Will definitely be watching tonight. Hope you win a lot!
DVR is set…good luck!
Oh man, I have been MIA for so loooooong, and haven’t been keeping up with my favorite food blogs. But what are the odds that I choose today of all days to catch up, and what do I see?!?!?! That you are going to be on tv, tonight. So stoked!!!! I have it preset on my dvr and can’t wait to see the show. Best of luck!
Aw thanks! Very excited about it. Thanks for the support!
We can’t wait
Hope you kick some ass dude! Kate and I are rooting for you.
Really excited to see this, and glad you had fun! I don’t know that I could handle the stress of being in front of the camera. But I guess that’s why I work behind it. Hope to see that you won a lot tonight, and would love to hear more about your thoughts on competing in reality TV!
Go get ’em Nick! I know you can handle the pressure…!! Hope you win big.
Hello nick! We can see the show down here in Peru so we will be watching you as well…cool!!!!
Can’t wait to watch, Nick! My favorite part about the shows so far has been in the intro when you say you’re cooking eggs benedict and Duff is like, “What an idiot!” or something along those lines. Gets me every time.
Enjoy the show tonight. This is awesome!
Katie and I didn’t get a chance to watch until last night, and we were on the edge of our seats the whole time. I couldn’t believe how nervous I was!
When you won the last round, we both threw our arms in the air and screamed with excitement. Even gave each other a high-five. You’d think we had won ourselves. Congrats man. What a great job!
We’re watching you right now!! Love this show and love that you’re on it!! Go, Nick, go!!!
Thanks for the support Paula!
CRUSH THEM Nick!!!! Nyc contingent super psyched and cheering you on!
Would love the mushroom burger recipe!
Hey Jaime, here’s the full recipe. I made a few small changes to it for the show but this is the recipe I use when I make it at home:
https://www.macheesmo.com/2012/09/mushroom-burgers/
Thanks!
Watching Food Fight right now! Please please please share your veggie burger recipe with us, I can’t wait to try it!
Hey Katherine! NBC will post all the recipes but here is the veggie burger one:
https://www.macheesmo.com/2012/09/mushroom-burgers/
Thanks for the support!
I would like the recipe for Caseys veggie mushroom burger.
I love the show!!!!
MARGARET
Hey Margaret, here’s the mushroom burgers I made (https://www.macheesmo.com/2012/09/mushroom-burgers/) If you want the burgers that Casey made, you can probably ask her for the basic recipe on Twitter?
Awesome job congratulations!
Veggie Burger recipe please… looks delish!
Found Nick’s recipies from the show on NBC’s website:
http://www.nbc.com/food-fighters/blog/food-fighters-blog/nick-evans-recipes
Here’s the basic recipe Donna. I changed it a tiny bit for the show to speed it up but this is the recipe I use at home still. https://www.macheesmo.com/2012/09/mushroom-burgers/
Congrats on your show! So fun!
Thanks Jen!
Just saw you win the 3 rounds. Congrats. Will you share your veggie mushroom burger recipe?
Heya! Absolutely. Here ya go: https://www.macheesmo.com/2012/09/mushroom-burgers/
Way to go Nick!!! I talked to the tv through the whole show and actually screamed a cheer when you beat Duff. (The cat wasn’t too awfully happy with me.) I’m so glad you let us know…it was fun cheering for you. I’m so happy for your wins.
Pamela
Tucson
Ha! That’s awesome Pamela. Thanks for the support and cheering!
Watching yiyouu on Food Fighters now! Your tacos looked amazing!! I decided to google search & found your blog lol
Back to the show…
*you
Crazy autocorrect on my phone lol
Ah! Thanks for stopping by Joey and for watching!
Nice going the eggs Benedict looked good
Thanks Gary! I practiced a lot for those… ;)
You did great! So fun to watch and root for you… Congratulations!
Thanks Alison!
Yay, you won the Benedict!! So great to see you on the show! (I caught the end at work since I don’t have TV:) You rock!
Awesome Quenna. Thanks! I’m pretty sure the full episode will be on nbc.com or hulu later if you wanted to catch up. ;)
You were awesome on the show last night!! You did great, was a joy watching you!
Thanks Billie!
Awesome job tonight.
Wow, was watching TV, flipping channels, and saw you on. It was already the start of round 3, and was sad to see you lose those first 2. But wow, I got to see you crush the other 3. Great job!!!!
Thanks Matt! Yea… first two rounds were rough. It happens. Can’t complain though. It was a super fun experience.
Way to go Nick!! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! Congrats on the wins!! You looked like you were born to be on TV!
Ha! Thanks Kate. :)
Congrats! Great job. Also, pickled onions and smoked salmon sounds great to me, so not sure what the complaint was!
Thanks Simon! I know right? It was kind of my twist on bagels and lox which almost always have onions and capers. You can’t please them all! :)
Congrats Nick!
Thanks Rex!
Congrats man. Might want to work on game theory though. A guy literally walks out in a cowboy hat, and you go to a Texmex dish? Then a guy with the flag of Italy tattooed on his arm comes up, and you go with pizza? Bold choices brother.
Ha! Yea… I got a bit frazzled on the dish choices. To be honest, I knew I was making the tacos first really no matter what because it was my easiest dish to make and I wanted to start with it so I could familiarize myself with the kitchen and where stuff was.
Sounds like a good game plan. I do like it when the pro chefs lose (even if the first two didn’t).
Watching the show right now. Too bad about the tacos! That diva chef most certainly has attitude.
I enjoy your writing, though I haven’t tried your recipes yet – I have one picky eater in the house, one who will eat anything I prepare and I myself am gluten, corn and soy intolerant and I react to a ton of food chemicals. I make almost everything from scratch. I will definitely have to take a closer look at your recipes after seeing this.
You did great, Nick! But I think they showed a picture of Seattle when they were supposed to show the Denver skyline lol. I loved the recipes you chose to make on Food Fighters. I’m going to try the veggie burgers first. :-)
Ha! I didn’t notice that. I know they filmed some stuff in Denver so maybe just an editing mistake.
Nick, congratulations on your victories! I have not had a chance to see the episode yet because I don’t have cable, and I am not able to find it yet up here in Canada. I read a recap, and you kicked ass. I wish I would have known, I would have LOVED to be around to cheer you on LIVE.
Congrats again mon ami!
Jason
We need your recipe for the veggie burgers. Please post it here Nick. And congratulations!!!
Our send it to my email. Thank you!!
Nick…I’ve been reading your blog for years and it was a joy watching you cook last night. Congratulations. I really think you got robbed with the tacos. Thanks for sharing your love of cooking and your recipes. Every one I try is a hit!.
Thanks for the support Diana!
What was up with the guy in a suit eating tacos with a fork?
Ha. Very valid question Steve…
I rewatched the episode with Josh this morning, and we agree that you got robbed on the tacos (yours looked so much better!) I was yelling at my TV as I was watching you last night — mostly for Richman to get out of your way, cause 15 minutes seems like NO TIME AT ALL to get those recipes together, that was crazy! And I giggled every time he asked you what you were gonna use the money for – it seemed like he expected you to change your answer as you won or something. :) So excited for you & your fam! :)
Thanks Melly! Yea… the time goes quick, but I had practiced all of them a ton so it was just getting used to the new kitchen and stuff.
Congratulations on your awesome win! It really made me want a personal lesson on how to make such an awesome Benedict here in Denver!
Hey Kara! Thanks for the support. Benedicts aren’t hard. Give them a shot (off the clock). ;)
Nick, love the Macheesmo blog, watched the show last night. My wife walked out after you got beat twice by people that didn’t even follow the basic premise of the recipe (Chorizo tacos with chicken sausage? What happened to chorizo?) But I’m glad I stuck it out to the end to see you validated. Keep up the good work!
Ha! Thanks Jeff. It happens, but glad you stuck around to the end with me. ;)
Congrats Nick! Just finished watching the show online (don’t have cable)–great job persevering under pressure and coming all the way back from 0-2! Been following your blog for years; it’s crazy to see someone you “know” on TV haha.
Thanks Jeremy. YEa… I was a bit nervous after two quick (and close) losses, but new I had some strong dishes left.
Congratulations Nick! I make your mushroom veggie burgers all the time, my husband and I love them.
Thanks Kat! They are really one of my fave recipes!
I was rooting for you! Congratulations!
Hooorah! Way to go! It was fun to watch you on TV, after reading your blog for several years. I thought you brought great dishes and I think every one looked like a winner. $70K is a great prize!! You brought a lot of personality as well as looking extremely professional. You did your readers proud.
Thanks so much Meghan and thanks for the support and reading over the years. :)
Hey Nick,
I just watched the show and have become obsessed with your blog!! Great win! My husband and i were so excited for you, sitting on the edges of our seats and rooting for ya! I’m just dying of curiosity; Did you get the cake that Chef Duff owes you?!?!?!?!?
Ha! Thanks Abby! Glad you enjoyed the show! I haven’t got the cake yet, but Duff told me he would bring me one the next time he delivers to Denver. :)
OMG, I missed this and just saw it from your link today — this is awesome! Congrats.