Man v. Food Nation Season 4 Episode 20: Rochester New York
Adam heads to Rochester, New York to mentor NASCAR driver Joey Logano as he takes on the Sticky Lips Barbecue 5-pound Atomic Bomb Challenge. Joey must finish a double cheeseburger topped with spicy Rochester hot sauce that uses insanely hot habanero chilies, and a pound of French fries in order to finish the challenge in 30 minutes. Adam is concerned when he learns that of 200 challengers in the Atomic Bomb Challenge the challenge has never been defeated.
Adam’s first stop is Campi’s, known for their famous oversized bombers sandwiches. Adam checks out the kitchen where they are assembling these tasty sandwiches. The chef creates the steak bomber, adding sliced chuck steak to bread then topping it with sauteed mushrooms, grilled bell peppers, banana peppers, and onions, crowning the sandwich with Provolone cheese and Rochester’s signature hot sauce made of a rich meat sauce mixed with spices. Adam mouth is watering as he dives into the steak bomber and finds it divinely delicious.
Next Adam heads to Nick Tahou’s where they are known for their famed Garbage Plates, a regional staple. The Garbage Plate is a mix of oh too yummy comfort foods. Adam visits the kitchen where the chef cooks up Adam’s Garbage Plate: four bases consisting of French fries, macaroni salad, home fries, and baked beans, covered with cheeseburgers and red hots. The Garbage Plate is then topped with mustard, chopped onions, and Nick Tahou’s version of Rochester hot sauce. Adam digs into the mound of meat and side dishes and is in heaven.
Adam meets Joey at Sticky Lips Barbecue for the Atomic Bomb Challenge. Joey must down the 5 pound Atomic Bomb Challenge in 30 minutes to defeat the challenge. Adam heads to the kitchen to see how the Atomic Bomb is made. The chef grills up a double cheeseburger then loads it up with bacon, pulled pork, red onions, lettuce, tomatoes, complete with a half-pound of spicy habanero-based Rochester hot sauce and a pound of fries also topped with the hot sauce. The Atomic Bomb sandwich looks deceivingly appealing until Adam takes a taste of the Atomic hot sauce and is stunned at how hot it is.
Adam and the crowd cheer as Joey begins the Atomic Bomb Challenge. Joey makes his mark by finishing the first pound of sandwich in just 5 minutes. Adam coaches Joey to hit the fillings of the sandwich first and leave the bread and fries for last. As Joey arrived at the 20 minute mark he hit the food wall, slowing down but determined to complete the challenge. As the crowd cheered him on Joey downed a half-pound of fries in 60 seconds but it wasn’t enough to finish the sandwich in the 30 minute allotted time. Adam announces that today, in the battle between man and food, food won. Adam cheers Tony up by presenting him with an official Man v. Food Nation title belt.
