Man v. Food Nation Season 4 Episode 8: Gulf Coast
Adam heads to the Gulf Coast to Calypso Beach Cafe to mentor local musician, Navy rescue swimmer, and Blue Angel crew chief A.J. Fratto as he takes on the Muffaletta Sandwich Challenge. Adam discovers hundreds of people have tried the Muffaletta Sandwich Challenge but none have succeeded. The chef at the restaurant tells Adam he’s seen one person finish half of the platter, as far as anyone has gone to demolish this massive muffaletta sandwich.
First Adam travels to Mississippi to visit The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint, known for their awesome BBQ. The Shed specializes in pork BBQ, and are famous for their lip smacking ribs. The chef/owner takes Adam back to his custom smoker made of a vintage jeep, surprising Adam. The owner has a whole pig roasting in the smoker. The chef and Adam try every piece of the pig, including the cheeks, which Adam loves, and the bacon area of the belly. Adam is blown away with the flavor of the roasted pig. Adam heads back into the kitchen to see how the famed ribs are made. The senior pittmaster rubs down the ribs with The Shed’s house BBQ spice rub, then they are marinated in the spice rub for 24 hours. The ribs are brought back out and given another coating of the sweet and savory spice rub, then the ribs are wrapped in foil and set them in the smoker to cook for 2 hours. When the ribs come out of the smoker Adam takes a taste and says “Oh, man!” Adam comments that the rib rub has very complex flavors of the level you’d find in a fine dining restaurant, he’s impressed.
Next Adam visits the Original Oyster House in Gulf Shores, Alabama to taste the Gulf’s freshest seafood. Adam is given the opportunity to create The Man v. Food Nation Platter, customized with stuffed crab, shrimp scampi, fried oysters and crawfish, and seared Bourbon-glazed ahi tuna. Adam watches as the chef cooks up the fried oysters and crawfish in the deep fryer. Adam notes that the breading for the oysters and crawfish is made from ground crackers, which gives the fried goodies a more home style taste. Adam tells the audience that he’s never seen a fried oyster as big as a chicken tender. The stuffed crab mixture is put into an empty crab shell to bake, and the tuna is put on the grill and basted with a Bourbon-glaze. Adam digs into each item, smiling and making happy eating sounds, proclaiming them all delicious. Adam tries the Bourbon-glazed tuna and says “This tuna should come with a choir because it’s the gospel!”
It’s time for Adam to head to Calypso Beach Cafe in Panama, Florida, to watch contestant A.J. take on the Muffaletta Sandwich Challenge. A.J. must eat the entire sandwich and one side dish of red beans, rice, and Andouille sausage to win a free meal and be named the first winner of the challenge.
Adam heads back to the kitchen to see how this 6-pound sandwich monstrosity is made. The sandwich consists of 1 pound of ham, 1 pound of Cotto salami, 1 pound of Genoa salami, 1/2 pound of melted mozzarella and 1/2 pound of melted provolone cheeses, all layered with a tasty olive salad. The chef starts the sandwich by building 4 layers of meats and cheeses on sheet pans to put in the oven along with a 9 inch toasted Sicilian roll. After the meat and cheese are melted and the bread is toasted the chef assembles the sandwich. The chef puts chopped olive salad on the bottom of the bun, a layer of meats and cheese, more olive salad, more meats and cheeses, and builds up the sandwich into four layers of yummy goodness. The top of the bun is applied and the sandwich is cut into 4 quarters, accompanied by a 1/2 pound side of red beans and rice and Andouille sausage. Adam is stunned by the mouth-watering ingredients and the towering size of the sandwich.
A.J. is seated at the table as the enormous muffaletta sandwich is brought to the table. A.J. tells the crowd “Just another day at the office.” Adam and the crowd countdown 3-2-1 as the challenge begins. A.J. tears into the first quarter of the sandwich. Adam tells A.J. he should add the red beans and rice into the sandwich pieces now otherwise the beans and rice will be cold at the end of the challenge and much harder to eat. A.J. takes Adam’s advice and divides up the rice and beans on the sandwich, then gets back to chomping down. A.J. states that the sandwich is “Very rich, lot’s of cheese, and very thick!”
After 10 minutes A.J. is almost done with his first quarter of the sandwich. At 13 minutes into the challenge A.J. has devoured the first quarter of the sandwich. A.J. dives into the second quarter of the sandwich only to be slowed by the richness of the meats and cheeses. A.J.’s kids cheer him on.
A.J. has hit the muffaletta sandwich wall at 30 minutes, halfway through the challenge. As A.J. tries to keep eating, Adam encourages him to go one bite at a time, and the “one bite at a time” turns into a chant by the crowd. With 15 minutes to go, Adam decides to join in with A.J. and picks up a quarter of the sandwich, chowing down, telling A.J. he is with him every bite he makes. As Adam and A.J. destroy the quarter sandwiches time runs out.
Adam tells the crowd that A.J. ate 3 pounds of the sandwich and side, more than anyone else has ever managed to eat in the Muffaletta Challenge! Adam announces that today, in the battle between man and food, food won. Adam then gladly presents A.J. with an official Man v. Food Nation title belt.
